On the first Sunday of June, Denville families hit Broadway and check out crafts, indulge in culinary treats, let the little ones go on a carnival ride, and all ages dance in the street to local bands. It’s the Denville Rotary Club’s annual Street Fair—a beloved town tradition for the past 42 years.
Although some residents may not realize it, Denville owes much of its close-knit, community-driven spirit to the Rotary Club. This dedicated group of service-minded individuals has made a lasting impact—from organizing cherished annual events to awarding scholarships and funding vital local projects. And that’s just the beginning of the many ways they continue to enhance life in our town.
Without the Rotary Club, there would be no meeting spot at the Clock Tower in the downtown area and no mosaic Madonna, made in Italy, to adorn the outer wall of Saint Clare’s Hospital. Can you imagine Denville without Santa Land bringing holiday cheer each December? Thanks to the Rotary Club, it remains a treasured tradition.
While many of us are familiar with the good the Rotary Club does, fewer know the people behind the work. Tony Toriello—former club President and current Membership Chair—is the perfect person to shed some light.
“Rotary is an organization of business and professional people united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world,” Toriello explained.
The Denville chapter was chartered in 1947, now providing “Service Above Self” for 78 years. Its mission is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
Toriello noted that Rotary was the world’s first service organization, formed in Chicago on February 23, 1905. Four friends started the club, wishing to bring the friendly spirit they had felt among businesspeople in their small hometowns to the big city. Their weekly meetings "rotated" among their offices, inspiring the name, Rotary. From its humble beginnings, Rotary now has 46,000 plus clubs and over 1.4 million members across the globe.
Locally, the Denville Rotary Club stays active year-round with a wide range of community initiatives. Highlights include: a $5,000 Community/President’s Project, the annual holiday tree lighting and beloved Santa Land (since 1963), $9,000 in scholarships, Citizen of the Year and Vocational Service awards, a luncheon for seniors, atlases for all third graders, over $5,000 to support local families in need, and school supply drives.
It’s this deep-rooted commitment to community that inspired Toriello to join the club in the first place—wanting to give back to the town that had given so much to him and his family.
With now over 30 years of involvement, the Denville Rotary Club has greatly enriched his life, from “lasting friendships through service and fellowship” to solidifying his "belief in the need to give to the less fortunate and the community at large, allowing me to learn about a multitude of areas through weekly program presentations and the opportunity to learn from fellow Rotarians.”
As for what he most enjoys about the club, he revealed, “The diversity of my fellow members, the participation of serving where needed, the service projects needed to accomplish our goals, the social and fellowship events, and the comfort in knowing that Rotarians are here for each other.”
The Denville Rotary Club meets weekly for fellowship and exposure to speakers dealing with topics of both local and global importance. For more information on how to get involved, contact Tony Toriello at ttoriello@yahoo.com.