2026 HCA Annual Town Dinner
The Annual Town Dinner, hosted by the Haddonfield Civic Association (HCA), is one of Haddonfield’s most cherished traditions. Each year, this special evening brings together neighbors and friends to celebrate community, connection, and civic pride in a festive setting.
Since 1937, the Annual Town Dinner has honored individuals or organizations whose leadership and dedication have made a meaningful impact on the Haddonfield community. The highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award (renamed in 1975), which recognizes those who selflessly inspire others and encourage broader participation in civic life.
In addition, the dinner celebrates the talents of students from Haddonfield Memorial High School (HMHS) by awarding three HCA scholarships: Bradshaw Literary Award, the Quanci Visual Arts Award, and the Kaufmann Performing Arts Award, which recognizes a student’s participation in the performing arts.
The Haddonfield Civic Association is proud to announce that the 2026–2027 Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award will be presented to Joe McElroy. The HCA Board of Governors recognizes Joe for his deep commitment to Haddonfield and his extensive volunteer work across numerous community organizations and initiatives.
Read Joe McElroy's Legacy of Service and Community Spirit
Joe McElroy’s journey to Haddonfield began in Rockville Centre, New York, where he was raised as the ninth of eleven children in the home of Frank and Peggie McElroy. After graduating from Southside High School and attending Marist College, Joe began his career at the American Stock Exchange. However, his path took a definitive turn toward service in July 1970 when he was drafted into the United States Army. Joe served with distinction as an infantryman in Vietnam and later as a Ranger in an Airborne Ranger Company, conducting critical long-range reconnaissance missions.
In 1972 Joe met his future wife, Marge Hutchinson, at a party in Pennsylvania. They were married in 1978 at Christ the King Church and established their home in Haddonfield the following year, joining Marge’s family as they took the helm of The Beechwood School. Together, Joe and Marge raised four children—Frank, Patrick, David, and Meg—all of whom are proud graduates of Christ the King School and Haddonfield Memorial High School (HMHS).
Joe’s professional life became an anchor of the Haddonfield business community. After working on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, he opened Professional Printing Co. in 1992. For nearly three decades, Joe’s business was a local fixture, characterized by a commitment to excellence and community connection until his retirement in 2020.
Joe’s retirement has only deepened his civic engagement. A pillar of local veteran and service organizations, he is a dedicated member of the Haddonfield Lions Club and the American Legion, where he has served with honor as both President and Post Commander. A familiar face at Memorial Day and Fourth of July ceremonies, Joe has also served as the longtime emcee for the Legion’s annual Last Man’s Dinner.
His faith and desire to help others extend beyond Haddonfield’s borders. At Christ the King Church, Joe has contributed his talents as a choir member, cantor, lector, and Parish Council member. He currently leads a men’s faith group and travels to Camden twice a week to teach ESL to adults.
Just as impactfully, Joe serves as a living bridge between Haddonfield’s history and its future. He regularly speaks to students at HMHS about his experiences in Vietnam, ensuring the lessons of service are never forgotten. This dedication culminated in his co-founding of Project Poppy, a poignant community display that honors the very sacrifices that gave Haddonfield Memorial High School its name.
Joe McElroy embodies the selfless spirit of the Alfred E. Driscoll Award, proving that a community is defined not just by where we live, but by how we choose to serve those around us. He is a man who truly calls Haddonfield home, and Haddonfield is all the better for it.
Click HERE to see the 2025 Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award Recipient
Click HERE to see the 2025 HCA Scholarship Award Recipients!
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of these wonderful Haddonfield citizens by joining the HCA
- Click HERE Alfred E. Driscoll Community Service Award to learn more and see past winners.
- Click HERE Bradshaw Literary Award to learn more and see past winners.
- Click HERE Quanci Visual Arts Award to learn more and see past winners.
- Click HERE Kaufmann Performing Arts Award to learn more and see past winners.
We Have Our 2026 HMHS Seniors Scholarship Selected - Click Here to See
Congratulations to our 2026 HMHS seniors scholarship!
Bradshaw Literary Award – Benjamin Osawa
Quanci Visual Arts Award – Anna Sell
Kaufmann Performing Arts Award – Drew Cataldo
Click HERE to see the 2026 HCA Scholarship Award Recipients!
- Click HERE Bradshaw Literary Award to learn more and see past winners.
- Click HERE Quanci Visual Arts Award to learn more and see past winners.
- Click HERE Kaufmann Performing Arts Award to learn more and see past winners.