Matt Schorr Honored with Inaugural Anthony Franchini Community Builder Award

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough has established a new tradition of recognizing the people who make Hillsborough a better place to live, work and grow. Its first-ever Anthony Franchini Community Builder Award was presented to Matt Schorr, owner of Mailbox Business Center, in recognition of his longstanding commitment to strengthening the Hillsborough community and helping others.

Presented at a dinner at The Landing Restaurant last Wednesday, 21 September 2026, the inaugural award celebrates individuals whose leadership, generosity and service make a meaningful difference in the lives of their neighbors. The award reflects Rotary’s guiding principle of Service Above Self and aims to inspire others to become involved in building a stronger, more connected community.

The idea for the award came from Rotary Club President Abed Medawar, who believed Hillsborough needed a way to recognize the people who consistently give their time, energy and resources to help others, often without seeking recognition or financial gain. Medawar envisioned an annual celebration that would shine a light on these community builders while highlighting the compassion, creativity and cooperation that make Hillsborough special.

In Schorr, Medawar and the Rotary Club found an especially fitting first recipient.

“Our club could not have selected a more deserving individual than Matt to receive our first Anthony Franchini Community Builder’s Award,” Medawar said. “We hope that this recognition not only serves to honor Matt, but to inspire others in our community to follow his lead.”

Schorr’s commitment to service began during his school years in Hillsborough, inspired in part by his parents’ example of supporting their community. Over the years, he has contributed his time, financial support and professional services to a wide range of local organizations, including small businesses, non-profits, schools, recreational sports programs, faith-based organizations, and the local Police Benevolent Association. He has also served on nonprofit boards and advisory councils.

His impact extends well beyond financial contributions. Through his business, Mailbox Business Center, located in the ShopRite shopping center in Hillsborough on Route 206 North, Schorr has built relationships with residents, small businesses, community organizations and local leaders. Known for his willingness to go the extra mile, he offers a range of services, including shipping, printing, copying, banners and business cards, while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for customers. One example is the glass showcase at his store where local entrepreneurs display their products and services each month - two of whom created a video expressing their appreciation for this free support of their new businesses. Another example is going beyond the business transaction, the request. Schorr immediately thinks how he can help make the intended output better including by recommending and creating mock-ups of the request draft business card, poster, menu, conference boards, etc. He and his team provide the 'value add' of professional art services without asking or even the customers knowing, because Schorr wants the best for everyone who walks through his door.

A video presented during this award celebration brought Schorr’s reputation for generosity and community service to life. Community members representing nonprofit organizations, local businesses, schools, booster clubs, scouting programs, law enforcement, veterans’ groups, and other local organizations shared personal messages of appreciation. Among those featured were Lois Bennett, founder and executive director of Feeding Hands; Town Committeewoman Samantha Hands representing Hillsborough schools' booster clubs; Heather Achenbach, executive director of SAVE; Meghann Valeo, representing the VFW, Home & School Associations, and the Girl Scouts; the Belle Mead Coop team; local mandala artist Surabhi Khare; the Dan Herman Performance team; Jennifer Amaya of Visions & Pathways; and members of Hillsborough's local police team / PBA. Also, three young Girl Scouts shared how “Mr. Matt” helped them with their Bronze Award project. Together, these heartfelt messages illustrated how Schorr’s generosity touches people of all ages and reaches across the community. Special thanks to everyone who took the time to contribute a personal video and help make this tribute possible.

As part of the award, Schorr was invited to select nonprofit organizations to receive a total of $5,000 donated by the Rotary Club in his name. He chose Gigi’s Playhouse, which provides educational, therapeutic and career development programs for people with Down syndrome, and Feeding Hands, a Hillsborough-based food bank serving families in need. Each organization received $2,500.

For Schorr, community service is about recognizing that everyone has a role to play in creating a supportive place to live. “It takes a ‘village’ to create an environment like Hillsborough, that is supportive of every member of the community,” he said.

Honoring a Legacy of Service

The award also recognizes the remarkable example set by the man whose name it bears: longtime Rotarian Anthony Franchini.

A Rotarian for 22 years, Franchini has helped guide the club through a significant period of growth and community impact during its 70-year history. He has served multiple terms as club president and spent many years as treasurer, helping ensure the organization could continue delivering local and international service projects and supporting charitable causes. He is also a multiple-time Paul Harris award recipient, and his leadership has helped strengthen the club’s annual Rotary fair.

Franchini’s commitment to Hillsborough extends beyond Rotary. While serving as a local TD Bank branch manager, he developed an innovative fundraising partnership with the Hillsborough Middle School Home and School Association. The initiative generated a donation based on the average amount held in HSA members’ bank accounts and helped fund new bleachers for the school’s gymnasium. Many community members including a few mentioned in this article have TD accounts because of Franchini's innovative and welcoming approach.

Yet Franchini’s legacy is measured not only in projects and fundraising achievements, but also in the people he has supported and mentored. He has offered guidance, encouragement and time to fellow Rotarians and community leaders, helping others carry forward the spirit of service. His wife, Karen, has also supported his years of dedication, sharing in the sacrifices that community involvement can require.

Naming the award in Franchini’s honor recognizes this sustained and genuine commitment to Hillsborough and provides a lasting way to celebrate others who embody those same values.

The inaugural celebration was made possible by Rotarians Abed Medawar, Rich Salem, Michele Kidd, Ben Rozenblat and Tricia Marciano, along with Rotary friends Lisa Medawar and Emily Benadon, whose planning and creativity helped bring Medawar’s vision to life.

By honoring Schorr and celebrating Franchini’s legacy, the Rotary Club of Hillsborough has created more than a new award. It has established an opportunity to recognize the often-unseen work that holds a community together—and to encourage others to ask how they, too, can make a difference.

Strong communities are built by people who show up, lend a hand and look for ways to help. Hillsborough’s first Community Builder Award celebrates two generations of that spirit: a longtime Rotarian whose dedication helped shape the community, and a local business owner whose generosity continues to strengthen it.

Click here to learn more about the Hillsborough Rotary. Photos courtesy of Mike Williams of the Hillsborough Digital Photographic Society.