Lighthouse Credit Union will kick off the capital campaign with a $5,000 donation!
The Lighthouse Credit Union in Dover, NH, is leading the way within the local community by generously supporting FPHL’s 2025-26 capital campaign to rebuild the footbridge at Portsmouth Harbor Light.
(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Portsmouth, N.H. – July 18, 2025 – The Friends of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses have announced an upcoming celebration in recognition of National Lighthouse Day on August 7, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor in New Castle, N.H. The event will mark the official kickoff of a capital campaign to raise $100,000 over the next 12 months to fund critical repairs to the historic Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses including the pathway for public access at the U.S. Coast Guard location.
“This year we’re celebrating National Lighthouse Day by bringing awareness to our beautiful lighthouses in the Portsmouth Harbor and addressing the urgent need for funding to help rebuild a new pathway at the New Castle location, crucial for public access,” said Michelle Shaw, Chairperson of the Chapter Leadership Committee of Friends of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. “We invite the community to join us in this effort to save, honor and celebrate our lighthouses.”
Since 2023, severe storms have caused significant damage to the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse’s pedestrian footbridge, resulting in its closure to the public. As no government funding is currently available for repairs, the Friends of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, is rallying community support to restore safe access to this cherished maritime landmark.
Thanks to strong support from community members like the Lighthouse Credit Union, the footbridge at Portsmouth Harbor Light will be rebuilt at the conclusion of the FPHL capital campaign.
(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Lighthouse Credit Union has stepped forward as the first donor, launching the campaign with a generous $5,000 contribution. Its support underscores the importance of preserving local heritage and ensuring public accessibility to these iconic New England lighthouses.
“National Lighthouse Day” Event Details:
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor, 25 Wentworth Road, New Castle, NH
Tickets: $25 per person and includes picnic-style sandwiches, side dishes, non-alcoholic beverages, historical presentations, a silent auction, and the debut of the “Save Our Lighthouse” t-shirt.
All proceeds from the event, silent auction, and merchandise sales will go toward fundraising, with the goal of reopening the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse to the public as soon as repairs can be completed.
To purchase tickets or make a donation, please visit www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org.
About Lighthouse Credit Union
Lighthouse Federal Credit Union (formally Northeast Credit Union) is a member-owned and not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enrich and nourish the lives of others including members, employees and communities. The credit union’s services and banking tools help facilitate real structural change in communities and help members build healthy finances. Lighthouse Credit Union provides a cooperative banking experience that invites other to help with accessible and affordable housing, eliminating food insecurity, and supporting education initiatives. From its humble beginnings at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1936, the credit union has grown to approximately $2 billion in assets, over 165,000 members and 17 branches throughout New Hampshire and Maine.
People love lighthouses, and they also love to visit them! FPHL’s 2025-26 capital campaign will raise the necessary funds to rebuild the footbridge that leads from Fort Constitution to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse – thus restoring public access to this one-of-a-kind historic site. THANK YOU Lighthouse Credit Union for taking a leadership role in the community by supporting this campaign with a very kind $5,000 donation! (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Media Contacts:
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses
Michelle Shaw, FPHL Chairperson: shells994@gmail.com
Lighthouse Credit Union
Diane Carragher: diane.carragher@lighthousecu.org
American Lighthouse Foundation
Bob Trapani, Jr., ALF Executive Director: bob@lighthousefoundation.org
