The Marblehead Independent exists because this community stepped forward first.
The Founders' Circle honors the early contributions that made it possible for us to begin publishing with memory, context and care. These were the gifts that lit the spark.
We are deeply grateful to every person listed here. Their generosity is not just financial — it is a statement of confidence in the value of local, independent reporting. The names on this page represent a wide cross-section of our community, united by one conviction: local journalism matters.
Many have given more than money. They have offered their time, expertise and encouragement, helping us build this newsroom from the ground up. We would like to especially thank Douglas Hill, Bette Hunt, Alexander and Nora Falk, Pam Peterson, Elaine Leahy, Discover Marblehead's Melissa Stacey, Jack Kabrel, Judith Black, Anthony and Jo Ann Silva, SCORE mentors — Michael Thompson and Jeff Averick — Nick Ward, Nick Kent, Chris Stevens, Paul Zabroske and Mary Kate Cullinane. We are eternally grateful to Jessica and Andrew Barnett, who’ve allowed us to operate the Independent out of the basement of their Humphrey Street home.
This digital wall of gratitude will remain open for one year. As more readers join, new names will be added, showing the growing strength of this community's belief in journalism that connects past promises to present actions. When the year closes, this page will remain permanently visible as part of The Independent's history — a lasting record of the people who believed first and made this newsroom possible.
With deepest gratitude,
Will Dowd
Editor and founder
$5,000+
- Nora & Alexander Falk
$2,500+
- Bette Hunt
$1,000+
- Charles & Susan Gessner
- William Park
- Meredith & Dana Tufts
- Douglas Hill
- Eric & Iris Reines
- Don & Laney Dowling
$500+
- Edward & Julie Moore
- Lee Mondale
- Maureen & Rick Ashley
- Michael Goldman
- Karyn & Gary Lang
- Mimi Lemay
- Dr. Kenneth Taylor
$250+
- Melissa Stacey
- Buck & Beth Grader
- Nancy & Larry Gwin
- Mimi Hollister
- Jeanne Lambkin
- Stephen & Cheryl Saltzman
- Marine & Perrin Regnault
- John G. DiPiano
- Nan Dumas
$100+
- David & Marla Meyer
- Eric Knight
- Pat & Mary Franklin
- Kathleen Leonardson
- Jennifer Uhl
- Lesley Hart Tracy
- Jessica & Andrew Barnett
- Margo W. Steiner
- Allen & Susan Waller
- Katherine Howe
- Kevin Collins & Laurie Swope
- Bonnie & Ronald Grenier
- Katherine Van Dorpe
- Lynn Nadeau
- Walter Horan
- Teri Allen McDonough
- Tom Samuelson
- John E. Whipple
- Sharman Pollender
- Jane Casler
- FM Widener
- Xhazzie Kindle
- Dr. Keith Taylor
- Cathy Marie Michael
- Judith Black
Add your name — and fuel the future
It's not too late to join the Founders' Circle. Every contribution — large or small — ensures Marblehead has a journalist who shows up week after week. Your name will become part of the permanent record of The Independent's first year.
Founders' Circle gifts provide the spark to launch this newsroom. But recurring monthly memberships provide the steady fuel that keeps it alive. Even $15 a month is an anchor that supports consistent reporting, while higher tiers allow for deeper coverage and growth. Together, these one-time and recurring contributions guarantee that Marblehead has the sustainable, independent coverage it deserves.