(L to R) ALF President Eric Davis and Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses' Chairman Ross Tracy present E.J. Warren with a 2012 ALF "Len Hadley Volunteerism Award" (Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani)
The American Lighthouse Foundation held its annual lighthouse gala at the Four Points by Sheraton in Eastham, MA, on April 28, 2012.
The organization’s signature event featured some wonderful lighthouse camaraderie, fundraising, a great meal and some Cape Cod lighthouses open for climbing (Nauset, The Three Sisters and Highland), but the highlight of the evening event was the presentation of awards to well-deserving individuals and groups for their amazing dedication to lighthouse preservation and education.
One of the awards presented was the 2012 ALF “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award,” which was presented to twelve outstanding volunteers throughout the organization.
The Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (FPHL) recognized E.J. Warren with this honor for her above and beyond contributions to ALF/FPHL’s mission this past year.
FPHL volunteer E.J. Warren made a real difference at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse open houses in 2011 (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
The following text was read to attendees at the lighthouse gala as E.J. Warren was presented with her 2012 “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award”…
“For almost the entire 2011 open house season at Portsmouth Harbor Light, E.J. was the only volunteer who was there every single week. She stopped coming at the end of the season only because her new job prevented it. Until then, she was the first person at the lighthouse every Sunday. E.J. helped set up the merchandise tables and literature, and she staffed the merchandise table most of the time.
We had some of our biggest days sales-wise in the history of the organization with E.J. at the sales table. It’s been said that E.J. could sell ice to an Eskimo. E.J.’s friendly banter with visitors created a favorable first impression for many visitors, and that was the impression they took away with them.”
Did you know?
The American Lighthouse Foundation’s “Len Hadley Volunteerism Award” was named after Len Hadley, one of the original volunteers of the organization in 1994. Len possessed a wonderful personality and ability to connect with others, and was a stellar volunteer for a number of ALF projects throughout the years.
The vital pillar supporting the American Lighthouse Foundation’s success in preservation, education and public access programs over the past eighteen years has undeniably been the dedication of ALF volunteers such as Len Hadley.
When Len sadly passed away in October 2000, the ALF board of directors honored his uncommon dedication to volunteerism by naming an award after him that would recognize other outstanding ALF volunteers for the same passion, selflessness and commitment to lighthouse preservation for which Len stood for.
Volunteers like FPHL's E.J. Warren are "shining lights" for lighthouse preservation (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
