The Batavia Chamber of Commerce announced that the 2022 Donna Dallesasse Award recipient is Mary Anne Callahan, a Batavian who works for Kuhn Counseling Center, P.C. and is an active board and committee volunteer for multiple Batavia organizations.
Every year, the Batavia Chamber holds a Harvest Celebration to gather community members together to celebrate one Chamber member who has displayed an outstanding commitment and dedication to the Chamber’s mission, vision, and values. This member is recognized as the annual Donna Dallesasse Award recipient.
In her letter of nomination, Batavia Chamber of Commerce member Amberlyn Vaughan of Catalyst Physiotherapy, Performance, & Wellness, touted Mary Anne Callahan’s community commitment.
“She is a key member in our community and has been serving this city humbly for years,” wrote Ms Vaughan. “As a member of the Well Batavia committee, she demonstrated that she is a crucial player for the wellbeing of this city.”
Her commitment to wellness is evident in the active role she played in the development and marketing of the Batavia Counselors’ Collaboration, a group of local counselors who combined forces in 2020. Shortly after the COVID shutdown, the counselors were partners with the Batavia Chamber of Commerce to help the community during the pandemic, particularly with stress and mental health.
One important discovery was that no one organization had a substantial list of area resources, especially where to find mental health services. Thus, under the direction of Mary Anne, the Kane County Area Resources Guide was put together and is continually updated.
Margaret Perreault, president and CEO of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce said that Mary Anne Callahan’s selfless nature is evidenced by all she does.
“Mary Anne is the type of person that sees a need and steps up to help, much like Donna Dallesasse was known to do,” she explained. “Mary Anne displays such positive energy; it is a privilege to get to work with her. We are so pleased to honor her with this award.”
As to Ms Callahan, she was “totally surprised” when she learned she was selected for the Donna Dallesasse Award by the Chamber’s board of directors, stating, “I am certainly appreciative, but there are so many others I would think are more qualified.”
—Batavia Chamber of Commerce