Volume 2, Issue 1 - January 2024

President's Letter

Happy New Year, Dear Friends!

As we stand at the threshold of a new year, I am grateful for the remarkable journey we've shared throughout 2023. Your unwavering support and commitment have been the wind in our sails, propelling us toward incredible accomplishments to Preserve, Restore, and Celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.  

It was just two years ago, in January 2022, when I first started to research the status of the deteriorating Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, leading us to where we are today -- having filed our NHLPA Application in the last several days to transfer ownership and control of this 130-year-old iconic structure to the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

In 2023, your generosity and belief in our mission manifested in extraordinary ways. We were fortunate to receive support from 280 passionate donors, whose combined contributions amounted to an incredible $75,925 in funds raised. Your trust and dedication have been the cornerstone of our success, enabling us to carry out crucial efforts.

Beyond financial support, our community expanded and thrived. We welcomed over 500 new subscribers to our newsletter, enriching our circle with fresh perspectives and enthusiasm. 

Additionally, our presence on social media experienced tremendous growth, reaching an impressive monthly Facebook reach of nearly 28,000 and monthly post engagement of over 12,000. Your likes, shares, and comments have amplified our message, spreading awareness of our cause far and wide.

These achievements are not just milestones; they represent a collective effort, a shared commitment to preserving history and safeguarding the legacy of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. 

Your support fuels our passion for education, outreach, and the meticulous care of this iconic beacon.

As we step into 2024, I extend my deepest gratitude to each one of you. Your support has been the guiding light that has led us through challenges and inspired us to reach greater heights.

May the new year bring with it renewed hope, boundless opportunities, and continued success in our mission. Let's continue this incredible journey together, nurturing the legacy of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse for generations to come.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication, support, and belief in our cause.

Be Safe and Be Well!

Regards,



Kurt Lentsch

Chief Dreamer and President, 

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

If you are part of an organization that has an interest in financially supporting our efforts to Preserve, Restore, and Celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, please reach out to Nick Naber (nicknaber@savethelighthouse.org), our treasurer and a member of our fundraising working group.

Your contribution will enable us to offset the start-up costs for the

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

and begin the work of preservation and restoration...

We are very grateful for your generosity.

The Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is a 501c3 organization

so please make a tax-deductible gift to help us Save the Lighthouse!

www.SaveTheLighthouse.org

If you are part of a group of 25 or more interested in learning more

about the history of our lighthouse and our efforts, please contact

Steve Clements (steveclements@savethelighthouse.org) to discuss the possibility of scheduling a presentation for your group.

Photo Credit: Barry Butler

Preparing to Leave the Dock – FOCHL 2023 Recap

January is here, and with it comes optimism and excitement of new beginnings. While it’s far from Chicagoan’s favorite month with its bleak winter weather, January brings a renewed sense of adventure, as the voyage to preserve, restore, and celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse takes its course.  

The word voyage best describes the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse’s mission. With a clear starting point and destination, the group deftly maneuvers through ports of call along this journey to save and celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

In preparation for the next leg of this voyage, it helps to reflect on the challenges and triumphs FOCHL has navigated thus far – a sort of “dead reckoning” to chart the group’s progress to this point.

Since FOCHL’s inception, the team has grown from a dedicated board of four members, whose steady direction at the helm has guided the crew through the last 22 months. Along the way, the group has welcomed 14 additional crew members, serving in various roles focusing on Historic Preservation, Construction, Communications, Community Outreach, and Fundraising.  

In preparing to disembark on the voyage, here are FOCHL’s accomplishments thus far: 

• Made six presentations at various maritime and civic organizations to over 370

attendees, with four more scheduled for 2024.

• Generated coverage of efforts to save the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse on CBS

2 Evening News, Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago-Sun Times, WGN

Radio, Block Club Chicago, and Scuttlebutt Sailing News.

• Dispersed over 1,600 SaveTheLighthouse.org pins,

• Distributed over 5,000 postcards.

• Issued marketing materials to Chicago Harbor’s 4,500 slip holders with the help

of Chicago Harbors & Westrec

• Provided a Tour Guide Fact Sheet and other materials to Chicago’s tour boat

fleets. 

• Enlisted the help of 280 individual donors.

• Raised over $77,000.

• Gained 1,111 Facebook followers.

• Earned 12,500 website impressions.

These milestones, in the aggregate, set FOCHL up for an incredible 2024. The efforts to raise funds and awareness have been met with great enthusiasm.

Preparation to cast off the lines culminated with the submission of a 120+ page application to the National Parks Service to facilitate ownership transfer of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and the transfer of the burden of restoration from the City of Chicago to Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. 

With the application submitted under the National Historic Preservation Act to the National Park Service, the FOCHL’s ship has officially left the dock.

Big Thanks to Our Silent Keeper

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse would like to thank the "Silent Keeper" for a generous 2023 Christmas gift -- the anonymous donation of $40,000!

Through your humble generosity, you validate and escalate FOCHL’s efforts to preserve, restore and celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. Thank you for your belief and commitment to this mission. 

Chicago Sailing Director Joins Volunteer Crew of Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

As a solo Mac Race sailor, Graham Sauser knows well the sense of safety and comfort provided by the beam of a lighthouse. During the many times he has passed the Point Betsie lighthouse, marking the third leg of his journey to Mackinac Island, Graham recalls a sense of relief and personal bearing provided by brilliant flashes from the shores of Frankfurt, Michigan.

"Even with modern navigational aids, lighthouses will always be a beacon of comfort to mariners around the world," says Graham. "That's why I jumped at the chance to help save our Chicago Harbor Lighthouse when I learned about this preservation group. This iconic structure is a symbol of Chicago's deep maritime history and needs to be preserved and celebrated."

An avid Chicago sailor and former operations director for Chicago Sailing, Graham is the newest volunteer to join the crew of Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. With his innate marketing skills and valuable maritime connections, Graham will provide content for the group's social media platforms and the monthly newsletter. 

Graham has been actively involved in sailing since his childhood growing up in Lake Forest. He began taking lessons at the age of 8 at Lake Forest Sailing, and after several years of learning, he started teaching sailing at 16-years-old. After college, Graham obtained his USCG Captain’s License and started captaining charters for Chicago Sailing. Along with teaching and captaining, he is also an avid racer, competing in races like the NOODs, Verve Cup, Antigua Sailing Week, and the Chicago Yacht Club Mackinac Race.

"During the summer months, as I teach people to sail on Lake Michigan, we often pass the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse," says Graham. "I'm so proud to be a part of the effort to restore this fading beauty."

Welcome to the crew, Graham.

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND TALENT

Photo credit: Barry Butler

We need your help, and we are asking you to volunteer and join us in our mission to save the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and keep its legacy alive for generations to come. 

We are a passionate organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and celebrating the historic Chicago Harbor Lighthouse for future generations. Our mission would not be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers who share our passion and commitment to this iconic landmark.

As a volunteer with Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience, meet new people, and make a meaningful impact in preserving a historic Chicago landmark that is cherished by our city.

If you are interested in donating your talents and joining our team, please visit our volunteer page at savethelighthouse.org/volunteer to learn more.

Currently, we are seeking talented and experienced part-time volunteers to assist us in the areas of fundraising (especially grant writing), construction, and community outreach to help us build and maintain our connections to local and national organizations.

Some of the talented volunteers, who are building this dream.

41°53'22"N 87°35'26"W

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