OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2016. A Newaygo resident who has dedicated herself to helping those with mental health issues and the elderly to live with dignity was named Senior Citizen of 2016 today on the Capitol lawn.

Adele Hansen, 87, accepted the award during Older Michiganians Day celebrations, which Consumers Energy sponsors. The award from the Area Agencies on Aging and Network Partners includes a Certificate of Proclamation from Gov.

Rick Snyder and a \\$1,000 check from Consumers Energy.

"Adele's generous and genuine spirit is a great example of how Michiganians of any age can contribute to improving the quality of life we enjoy in our Great Lake State," said

Whitney Skeans, Consumers Energy's customer assistance manager, who presented the check on behalf of Consumers Energy. "What a humbling honor it is to offer a heartfelt thank you and help give something back to a compassionate individual who has given so much of herself to her community."

For more than 20 years, Hansen has served on the board of directors of the Newago County Community Mental Health Authority. She has assisted the aging network many years as a foster grandparent in Newago, as an advisory board member of the Newago County Commission on Aging and as an advisory council member of the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan.

The mother raised nine children and is the caregiver to her husband of 50 years. She also actively helps neighbors in need on an informal basis, providing transportation to medical appointments and shopping, preparing soup for neighbors and advising those in need of available community resources.

Consumers Energy is an Older Michiganians Day sponsor and a Senior Citizen of the Year award partner. Businesses, community service and faith-based organizations, associations, fraternal organizations and other public and private entities can make nominations for the Senior Citizen of the Year award. Individuals 60 or older are eligible for nomination for uncompensated work performed in the community.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.