Article written by: Baileigh Hannah

At the Chez Veterans Center, we are deeply grateful for unwavering support and generosity of community members, people who make a powerful, lasting impact on military-connected lives. Today, we want to shine a well-deserved spotlight on two incredible donors, Mike and Susan Haney.

About Mike and Susan:

Mike Haney’s professional journey began at the University of Illinois, where for 30 years he was an academic professional and teacher who made groundbreaking contributions in the field of research engineering. He worked with several research groups and spent the majority of his time developing electronics. One of his most impactful projects was designing and building nuclear accelerators. After he retired in 2010, Mike on occasion returned to campus to teach. He is fully retired now, but his work in bioengineering and computer science made a lasting impact at the university and in those fields.

Susan Haney calls herself “a professional volunteer,” and she has advocated for her community. One of the many examples of her outreach was helping to raise $1 million to repair her church’s infrastructure. Susan also served as the treasurer of a food pantry, and her passion for Japanese arts is unparalleled. Among her interests are Kabuki dancing, traditional tea ceremonies, painting and Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. She is enrolled at a college in Japan so she can teach Ikebana and she is one of the first members of this program who is an English speaker, as the college recently opened its doors to English-speaking students. She has been to Japan more than 15 times and loves visiting the gardens there.

Ronnie’s Lasting Legacy:

The couple’s first donation to the Chez Veterans Center was made in memory of Susan’s cousin, Ronald Paulsgrove, who served in the Vietnam War. Paulsgrove’s story is one of courage, sacrifice and the lasting impact of service on a soldier’s life.

Paulsgrove voluntarily enlisted in the Army to fight in the Vietnam War. He was a “Screaming Eagle,” a member of the 101st Airborne Division, which is the only air assault division the U.S. Army has. According to Susan, Paulsgrove rappelled into enemy territory.

“The Screaming Eagles were called the ‘tip of the spear’ in Vietnam, as well as the ‘Nomads of Vietnam’ as they went everywhere and were the forward-most scouts and spies,” Susan said.  “Ronnie was very proud of his service and his Bronze Star.”

Ronald Paulsgrove in Vietnam (photo provided)

Paulsgrove joined the Air Cavalry, a specialized unit that performed perilous helicopter operations. However, Susan said, he was exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide widely used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War. Pauslgrove was sprayed by this chemical many times, which left him with physical disabilities that mostly affected his motor functions, such as speaking and walking. But despite the immense physical challenges and complications caused by his exposure, Paulsgrove remained positive and maintained his hopeful smile.

The final 10 years of Paulsgrove’s life were difficult due to the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Despite these challenges, his resilience and positivity were evident. He died in his 70s, leaving behind a legacy of character and patriotism.

Susan and Mike were at the Celebration of Life in Western Illinois, and there was a list of organizations to which they could make a donation. In honor of Paulsgrove, the couple decided to donate to the Chez Veterans Center. Susan and Mike had been unable to attend his funeral and felt strongly about supporting a cause that honors veterans such as Paulsgrove, who give so much in service to their country.

In fact, Susan and Mike were so moved, they helped create an emergency fund at the Chez Veterans Center.

“After we gave a couple of large memorial gifts to Chez in memory of Ronnie, we were approached by the School of Social Work to become lead donors to an emergency fund at the start of COVID,” she said.  “At that time, the only colleges on campus that might have had these emergency funds were (the Gies College of Business) and (The Grainger College of Engineering).  That is what gave us the idea for creating our emergency fund at Chez.”

Why the Chez Veterans Center?

Susan and Mike said that the active engagement of bringing in Veterans in and providing support for them is what resonates for them about the CVC. Susan had the opportunity to visit Chez when the building was under construction and she had the opportunity to see the disability accommodating rooms. She witnessed the thoughtful decisions being made for service members with physical challenges, which was especially important to her because of Ronnie. It was during this visit that Susan fully decided to support the Chez Veterans Center.

Susan and Mike are involved in a number of philanthropic efforts, but for them, there is an element that governs their giving decisions.

“It’s not simply about pouring money into buckets, but about truly helping individuals and making a meaningful impact,” Mike said.

With brothers and nephews who have served in the Army, Air Force and Marines, Susan understands the commitment required to serve and the relatively low compensation that comes with such a challenging role. She also understands that pursuing an education, especially at a high-tier university, can be costly. That’s why she believes it’s important for students to have the resources and support they need.

The Haneys understand that, with so many donation options and good causes to support, it can seem overwhelming to potential donors.

“You’re not giving to a college, like Gies or Grainger,” Susan said. “You’re giving back to someone who has served America. It feels patriotic to give to Chez, and truly benefits the people who have done so much to serve the country.”

And Mike added, “This may sound redundant, but just know you too can make a difference!”