The Dreamland Announces Laurie Richards and Charley Walters as Award Recipients for 2025
Lillie Simpson •
The Nantucket Dreamland has named Laurie Richards as the recipient of its annual Fred Rogers Good Neighbor Award, which will be celebrated during the non-profit performing arts center's DreamBIG Gala on July 18.
This award honors an individual who embodies the kindness, humility, and selflessness of Fred Rogers, a beloved former Nantucket resident, and is given to a member of the community whose contributions have made a lasting impact on the island.
Richards has been a year-round island resident for over 20 years, working as a professional photographer and owner of Pixel Perfect. Beyond her work creatively, she is known for her consistent commitment to community service on Nantucket island. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she coordinated meal support for two dozen local households and continues to be a reliable source of help, whether organizing fundraisers, securing emergency housing, or connecting families with vital resources. She volunteers with The Warming Place, serves on the boards of Nantucket Education Trust her neighborhood HOA, and is often found spreading everyday joy through small acts of kindness. Laurie’s work reflects the heart of the Dreamland’s mission: building community through compassion and connection for the island.
“I can’t believe it,” Richards said. “I am so incredibly grateful to have landed in a place that appreciates and celebrates and values kindness. I am so lucky that I live here. It's the greatest gift. This community of people has looked after me so much for so long.”
The Dreamland also announced Monday that Charley Walters, a Nantucket Dreamland board member and the voice behind the popular weekly column Cinemathon, has been named the 2025 DreamBIG Honoree. A celebrated music critic and longtime island resident, Charley has spent decades championing the arts on Nantucket. His early career included bylines in Rolling Stone and the Boston Phoenix, where he reviewed legendary albums with wit and candor. He first managed Nantucket’s only record store—Nantucket Sound—before purchasing and running it as Musicall, a beloved cultural hub for island music lovers. Whether it’s his co-programming of the weekly film column Film for Thought, his broadcasting on WACK-FM, or his tireless contributions to local nonprofits, Charley exemplifies the Dreamland’s mission to bring people together through the arts, culture, and lifelong learning.
"I feel incredibly honored. I have been working with the dreamland for about 10 years," Charley said. "It was a bit of a shock to receive this award, and its especially meaningful to me because the first time I went to a movie in the Dreamland was in 1958. I have been enjoying movies there for 70 years, so it has a special meaning because of that."
The Dreamland also announced Monday that Charley Walters, a Nantucket Dreamland board member and the voice behind the popular weekly column Cinemathon, has been named the 2025 DreamBIG Honoree. A celebrated music critic and longtime island resident, Charley has spent decades championing the arts on Nantucket. His early career included bylines in Rolling Stone and the Boston Phoenix, where he reviewed legendary albums with wit and candor. He first managed Nantucket’s only record store—Nantucket Sound—before purchasing and running it as Musicall, a beloved cultural hub for island music lovers. Whether it’s his co-programming of the weekly film column Film for Thought, his broadcasting on WACK-FM, or his tireless contributions to local nonprofits, Charley exemplifies the Dreamland’s mission to bring people together through the arts, culture, and lifelong learning.
"I feel incredibly honored. I have been working with the dreamland for about 10 years," Charley said. "It was a bit of a shock to receive this award, and its especially meaningful to me because the first time I went to a movie in the Dreamland was in 1958. I have been enjoying movies there for 70 years, so it has a special meaning because of that."