Governor taps GH couple for philanthropy award
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 
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Ed and Nancy Hanenburg of Grand Haven received the 2009 Michigan Community Foundation Philanthropy Award from Gov. Jennifer Granholm at a ceremony Thursday at the governor's residence in Lansing.
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The distinguished award was established by the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Community Service Commission to honor philanthropy and volunteerism in the state. It recognizes individuals for their service as both volunteers and donors to community foundations to help grow community philanthropy.
The Hanenburgs — individually and as a couple — have given their time, talent and treasures to building community philanthropy in West Michigan, according to Grand Haven Area Community Foundation President Ann Tabor.
"We were honored to nominate such a generous and dynamic couple," she said. "We are very proud to call Ed and Nancy our friends; and very fortunate to have them as volunteers, fundraisers and philanthropists in our community."
Nancy Hanenburg served as a Grand Haven Area Community Foundation trustee before she was asked to join the staff. She led the foundation as executive director for 13 years before retiring in 2003.
Ed Hanenburg was a founding member of the Coopersville Area Community Foundation Board, an affiliate of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. He also founded the Coopersville Farm Museum and donated it, with the contents, to the city of Coopersville; along with an endowment fund to help with the ongoing museum operations.
The Hanenburgs created a scholarship fund at Grand Valley State University to enable all Coopersville school district graduates to receive financial assistance with tuition. They have created donor advised funds at both the Grand Haven and Coopersville community foundations, as well as a designated fund to support the work of the Children's Advocacy Center.
Granholm also presented the Outstanding Mentoring Program Award to the Michigan State University Extension Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program of West Olive. This award honors a mentoring program for developing and maintaining high-quality experiences for both the mentor and mentee. It recognizes a program that effectively utilizes the Mentor Michigan Quality Program Standards in all aspects of program delivery.
The MSU Extension Journey 4-H Youth Mentoring Program of West Olive has been focusing on positive youth development since its creation in 1992. The program pairs Ottawa County youth exhibiting delinquent behavior with caring adult mentors in an effort to reduce criminal behavior. Youth participate in the program voluntarily and are referred by probation officers, therapists and other community agencies through a partnership with the juvenile court system.
