Nantucket teacher, entrepreneur, and long-time resident Leah Bayer has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award. This esteemed accolade recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and selflessness in making Nantucket a better place through their unwavering commitment to the community. Leah Bayer will be honored at the Dreamland’s annual fundraiser, The DreamBIG event this Sunday, July 28.
Selected by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Dreamland’s board of directors and prominent community leaders, Leah Bayer of Aunt Leah’s Fudge, has exemplified the compassion and service fostered by Fred Rogers throughout her life. With unparalleled contributions and tireless efforts, Leah Bayer has left an indelible impact on the lives of countless individuals in Nantucket.
Among the numerous testimonials submitted in support of Leah Bayer’s nomination, her dedication to our local community’s first responders stood out. One nominator expressed, “Aunt Leah marks every major holiday on her calendar and makes sure she delivers fudge to the Nantucket hospital, fire station, and police departments, rain or shine. She takes care of so many service workers with drinks and snacks who are out doing their daily duties. She takes the time to get to know people and their family and always asks how they and their families are doing.”
Leah Bayer has been owner and operator of Aunt Leah’s Fudge for more than 40 years. During her many years as a teacher in the Nantucket school system, she has nurtured many young islanders who love to stop by her shop on Straight Wharf to say hello and show her how much she meant to them.
“Leah Bayer’s exceptional qualities of compassion, community service, and selflessness truly embody the spirit of the Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award,” commented Alicia Carney, executive director of Nantucket Dreamland. “Her love of this community and the thousands of lives, including generations of families, that she has impacted is incredible. Just stop by her shop and ask her about the hundreds of holiday cards she has received from families over the years, and she will show you their personalized wedding or special occasion ‘favors box’ for cranberries that she has designed for children of the families who have frequented her shop for decades. She is truly a ‘good neighbor’ and an absolute gift to this community. She takes immense pride in the relationships she has fostered on this island and we are truly lucky she has made this island her home. We are honored to recognize her and celebrate her outstanding contributions and efforts in spreading love and joy to those in this community.”
The 2024 DreamBig Honoree Elin Hilderbrand will present the award to Leah Bayer during this Sunday’s DreamBig event. This year promises to be an unforgettable evening, with music and dancing poolside to DJ Lazy Boy, summer cocktails, and dinner- by-the-bite. The theme is Endless Summer, which is loosely based on the 1966 American surf documentary Endless Summer. Island surfer attire is encouraged. In line with the 2024 theme, for this year’s auction Dreamland staff has collaborated with Nantucket artists and brands to create one-of-a-kind surfboards.
More than 45 pieces of surfboard wall art by well-known and aspiring artists are being auctioned as part of the 2024 DreamBig event. Because the auction is also online, anyone on- or off-island can participate. To join the bidding, simply register at nantucketdreamland.org/join-support/the_dream_big_event.
Funds raised at this event are critical to the year-round operation of the Dreamland, supporting their mission of building community on Nantucket year-round through shared experiences in film, the arts, culture, and learning. At press time tickets and sponsorships were still available, visit the “support” page of NantucketDreamland.org.
