2010 Essex Heritage Hero Award Dinner

The 2010 Heritage Hero Honorees were Nicholas Costello, Amesbury MA; Maria Miles, Salisbury, MA; Byron Matthews, Newburyport MA. Hundreds of people joined in celebration in recognition of the honorees' significant civic accomplishments on May 20th, 2010 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury.

Essex Heritage is sincerely grateful to all attendees, “toast-makers”, sponsors and program patrons who helped to make the evening a sparkling success. Essex Heritage is particularly thankful to Charlie Cullen, President & CEO of The Provident Bank, who artfully served as the event Master of Ceremonies. Thanks go out to The Provident Bank as Presenting Sponsor, to Wayne Capolupo and his terrific staff at the Blue Ocean Music hall, our Host Sponsor, to Banner Sponsors the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank and the Institution for Savings and to lead sponsors Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation and Saugusbank, Sheriff Cousins Committee and National Grid.

The awards were presented within a tribute dinner format, with the opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of the recipients and to share recollections and inspiring moments with an expanded circle of friends and supporters.

Proceeds from the event (ticket sales/sponsorship) help sustain the many programs of the Essex National Heritage Commission which support heritage non-profit organizations and municipalities in Essex County. Individual and table tickets can be paid for online here.

If you would like to pay by check but did not receive an invitation in the mail, please download a response card (PDF) to mail in with your check.

An Honorary Committee comprised of community and business leaders from Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and beyond will help drive audience, sponsorship and prestige to the event.  Sponsorship package levels range from $250 - $5,000. Program Book Ads $50-$1000. Program Book Advertising Specs can be found here. Tickets will be priced at $100 each.

The 2009 Honoree was former Lynn Mayor and US Postmaster, Thomas P. Costin of Nahant. Over 250 guests participated in celebrating Tom’s legendary political and civic contributions at the Hawthorne Hotel on May 21st.

The inaugural recipient of the 2008 Essex Heritage Hero Award was Jim McAllister, the locally beloved historian, author, columnist and owner of Derby Square Tours, who, over the last 25 years, chronicled the region’s legacy through the odd or little known fact, colorful character, unusual place or event. 200 guests attended the celebration at the Hawthorne Hotel on May 28, 2008.