Ed and Nancy Hanenburg Recognized with United Way’s G.W. Haworth Strength of the Communit Award

February 21, 2005 - On Thursday, March 3, 2005, Greater Ottawa County United Way will recognize Ed and Nancy Hanenburg of West Olive with the G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award at the annual United Way Celebration Dinner. The couple’s broad philanthropic and volunteer endeavors reach across Ottawa County.

The G.W. Haworth Strength of the Community Award recognizes the company and/or individual who embodies and exemplifies the United Way’s leadership spirit of volunteering, philanthropy, and community problem-solving. “The impact that Ed and Nancy have had on Ottawa County is immeasurable,” says Sylvia Geisler, President of Greater Ottawa County United Way. “Their roles as community leaders are truly a benchmark and model for others to emulate.”

The philanthropic and volunteer endeavors that this couple participate in span 20 years. Their proudest achievements include agricultural preservation and advocacy, United Way, local Community Foundations, youth services, and their church, just to name a few. Their past recognition as Coopersville Businessman of the Year, Counterpart Woman of the Year, and United Way’s Night of 100 Stars honorees are appreciated, yet as many community leaders believe, recognition is not the reason they give of themselves. It is the strong sense of responsibility and commitment that drives them.

“We both feel that we’ve been blessed and have always felt a responsibility to give back to the community,” explains Nancy Hanenburg. “If everybody did a little something to give back in a positive way, how amazing it would be.”

Without realizing it, their separate lives were running parallel before even meeting and eventually marrying in 2001. As a local farmer and businessman, Ed was naturally passionate about Michigan agriculture and land use. His appointment by Governor Engler to the Michigan Dairy Marketing Program Board and the Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program Committee symbolizes his passion. Ed was also a member of the Ottawa County Planning Commission for about eight years. But the first of Ed’s proudest philanthropic achievements is the Coopersville Area Community Foundation that he co-founded and helped govern for 10 years. The second and dearest to Ed’s heart is the Coopersville Farm Museum that he built “in memory of my parents and in honor of agriculture in Ottawa County.”

“My father was a farmer, then myself and now my son,” says Ed Hanenburg, “I wanted to not only create a place for the community to call their own and take pride in, but I also wanted to share the rich history of agriculture in Ottawa County. I think the museum achieves both.” Hanenburg is currently in the process of making the museum a registered nonprofit.

Nancy got her jumpstart into the philanthropic world and evolved her passion for improving the community by getting heavily involved with United Way. Nancy was also instrumental in founding the Tri-Cities Volunteer Center in order to give community members an easy avenue to get volunteer help and give help. While holding all executive positions on the United Way board for six years, she also sat on the board of trustees for the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Turning one of her passions into a full-time job, Nancy became the Community Foundations Executive Director in 1991 and held that position until her retirement in 2003. In her 19 years of leadership with the Foundation, Nancy saw the Foundation’s funds grow from $400,000 to nearly $40 million.

After supporting each other in their individual volunteer activities, the Hanenburgs have finally taken on a task together. With a mutual passion for youth and youth services, they are now co-chairing the capital campaign for the Children’s Advocacy Center, a United Way funded child abuse intervention program, where Nancy is the current Board President.

“Aside from feeling that it is simply our responsibility to help others, there is a Bible verse that mirrors our thoughts on why we invest our time and money into our community that is so dear to our hearts,” explain the Hanenburgs. “’Much is expected from those who have much.’ It is simply what we have to do.”

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