Dan and Carol Goodwin named Philanthropists of the Year
The West Suburban Philanthropic Network recently honored local philanthropists from a variety of organizations and presented the 2015 Philanthropists of the Year award to Daniel and Carol Goodwin of Oak Brook for the expertise, time and resources they have given nonprofit organizations, including the DuPage County Historical Museum.
Michael Benard, executive director of the Wheaton Park District, which operates the DuPage County Historical Museum through an intergovernmental agreement with DuPage County, presented the Goodwins with the award.
"Our museum's slogan is, 'Your County, Your History," he said. "The slogan represents the shared commitment to service, professional leadership and individual passion each of us must take in keeping DuPage County's history alive for everyone to enjoy. Over the past year, this slogan has become more prevalent as the museum celebrated the 175th anniversary of DuPage County through the exhibition, 'Inheriting DuPage: A Family History.' The exhibition not only looks at our founding families in the county, but also commemorates modern day history makers who are making a difference, like Dan and Carol Goodwin."
One of the crucial areas the Goodwins have dedicated themselves to is affordable housing. Dan Goodwin wrote the only published study to date on affordable housing in DuPage County. This study, and his involvement with a local task force, aided in the implementation of an affordable housing policy for the county. The policy has continued to serve as a model in many communities throughout the nation. This work also led Dan Goodwin to form the not-for-profit New Directions Housing Corporation. Since its inception, New Directions has built or remodeled more than 500 affordable housing units throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Dan Goodwin also has been involved with the taxpayer-owned DuPage Airport Authority. Under his chairmanship, the airport was able to turn a decade of operating losses into operating profits. All airport debt was repaid, and for the first time, the government-owned airport is debt free. The airport now generates more than $106 million in income annually for the surrounding area.
The Goodwins' charitable reach in the community extends from their deep roots in education. In 2004, when Northeastern Illinois University contract negotiations stalled and faculty went on strike, the Goodwins committed their own personal funds to settle the strike and the semester was saved that year. The Goodwins also are funding the construction of The Hall of Learning on the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle.
As lifelong conservationists, the Goodwins recently assisted with the acquisition of hundreds of acres of open space in the suburbs with The Conservation Foundation.
"Dan and Carol Goodwin are synonymous with the definition of philanthropy - 'the love of humanity,'" Bernard said. "The Western suburbs are a better place, no doubt, because of the Goodwins."