Hansens named Batavia Citizens of the Year

A couple known for their devotion to health and educational causes was named Batavia Citizens of the Year Wednesday.

Richard and Joanne Hansen will receive the award Jan. 31 at the annual Batavia Chamber of Commerce awards dinner.

"I was fortunate to have been able to get a good education and pursue my chosen career," Richard Hansen said Wednesday of his favorite cause, education for young people, especially about manufacturing and business. "Education makes the difference."

Richard was a founding member of the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence, which provides "extras" for Batavia schools. He served for 20-plus years on the board of directors of the Experimental Aircraft Aviation Foundation, focusing on teaching youth about aviation. Richard, who grew up in Batavia, was chief executive officer of Furnas Electric.

Joanne is president of the Hansen-Furnas Foundation. It was established by Richard's grandfather Carl in 1961 to provide scholarships to children of employees of Furnas Electric, a longtime Batavia business. The Foundation has given more than $4 million to 3,000 students. It also provided seed money for the development of the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.

Joanne is also a trustee for Aurora University, and helped found the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva. She is a board member of the Delnor-Community Health Care Foundation, which oversees the center, and Delnor-Community Hospital.

"I think this award is long overdue," said Roger Breisch, executive director of the Chamber. "They have given so much, not just financially, but thousands of hours, to the entire Fox Valley."

Richard thinks that, even as the business world has grown more competitive, businesspeople should set aside time to volunteer. "I think it is even more important because the need is even greater," he said. Those with jobs owe society something, he feels.

The Batavia Citizen of the Year is selected by a committee of previous recipients of the award and is based on nominations from the community. The award is given for extraordinary contributions to the community over the course of the recipient's lifetime.