Ocean County Library Foundation Receives Generous Donation From the Toms River Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation

TOMS RIVER – The Toms River Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation has donated $100,000 to the Ocean County Library Foundation for the activities of the Sparks’s Lab at the Toms River Branch.

The Ocean County Library Foundation will provide $10,000 annually from this endowment gift to support the equipment and supplies for the Sparks’s Lab.

“The Toms River Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to improve life in our society since 1988,” Ryan Caswell, President of the Rotary Foundation said, “In 2003, when the Toms River Branch was expanded, our club and several members, including Hecht Trailers and Hometown Dairy, sponsored three new reading rooms. The 100th Anniversary seemed like a perfect time to help this wonderful library system, celebrate this milestone, and hopefully with this $100,000 donation, spur others to make their own contributions.”

The Rotary is making the donation to the Foundation in honor of Ocean County Library’s 100th Anniversary: $1,000 for 100 years.

“As the current Chairperson of the Ocean County Library Foundation, I speak for our whole Board to say we are humbled and honored that the Toms River Sunrise Rotary has chosen our organization to receive this most generous gift, said Jonathan Z. Petro, Esq. “The Toms River Sunrise Rotary has been a vital part of our community for decades and has contributed to youth development in so many ways.  We acknowledge the trust they have put in us to steward this gift for the betterment of our library system and patrons of all ages. Our Foundation relies on donations to provide services beyond taxpayer dollars, as we continue to serve, educate, and bring people together."

Ocean County Library Commissioner Susan L. Hutler, who serves as the liaison to the Ocean County Library Foundation said, “The Library Commission is pleased to rename the makerspace in the Toms River Branch as the Toms River Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation Sparks’s Lab in recognition of this generous donation which will support STEAM education activities for students of all ages for years to come.”

“We would like to thank the Toms River Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation and the Ocean County Library Foundation for this extraordinary gift, said Ocean County Library Commission Chair Timothy McDonald. “This money will go a long way to improving the services we provide to the children. Thank you so much for your generosity.”

Susan Quinn, Library Director said, “The mission of the Ocean County Library is Connecting People, Building Community, Transforming Lives and this generous donation by the Toms River Sunrise Rotary to the Ocean County Library Foundation for the Toms River Branch furthers this mission in a significant and meaningful way. We are truly grateful for this gift as our library celebrates its centennial of service to the community.”

OCL turns 100 this year and you’re why we’re celebrating! See details on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Spotify, Pinterest and theoceancountylibrary.org.