Helping people live better lives.  It’s a simple phrase that can mean so much.  To our company’s founders, it’s a way of life.

Jay and Betty Van Andel

Jay and Betty Van Andel supported numerous arts, cultural, and educational institutions in their hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, through the Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation.

Their major philanthropic effort was establishing the multimillion-dollar Van Andel Institute, one of the world’s pre-eminent biomedical research facilities, in Grand Rapids. In launching the institute, Jay Van Andel said: “I can think of no better way to touch the lives of people than to support medical research that extends human life and reduces pain and suffering, God helping us.”

Additional projects included the Van Andel Arena and the Van Andel Museum Center of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Jay and Rich DeVos, co-founders of the Alticor family of companies, also restored the former Pantlind Hotel, now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, which spurred the revitalization of Downtown Grand Rapids.

The Van Andels also were strong supporters of education, providing financial gifts to Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan; Hope College, Holland, Michigan; and the Van Andel Education Institute, in Grand Rapids.

In the area of health care, Jay and Betty were major supporters of the Pine Rest Christian Hospital, on whose board Betty served for many years.

People of deep religious faith, the Van Andels supported Christian institutions and education, serving in leadership positions on the Ada Christian School Board, Grand Rapids Christian School Development Council, Grand Rapids Association of Christian Schools Fund Drive, and LaGrave Christian Reformed Church.

Rich and Helen DeVos

The enthusiasm Rich DeVos has for the revitalization of downtown Grand Rapids and the Greater Grand Rapids community began in the 1980s when he and Jay Van Andel restored the former Pantlind Hotel, now the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.  His passion has never faded.

Rich and Helen DeVos, through their foundation, are major contributors to the downtown and Greater Grand Rapids community. Some of the areas in which they provide support are primary and higher education, health and human services, arts and culture, and outreach and community service. Their leadership and generosity to many Grand Rapids institutions has helped and continues to help develop state-of-the-art facilities, including DeVos Children’s Hospital, DeVos Hall (home of the Grand Rapids Symphony) and DeVos Place Convention Center. In addition, they support Christian ministry and education and one of the many examples of that support is the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Arts and Worship which is utilized by Grand Rapids Christian Schools and other groups.

Rich and Helen maintain a permanent home in Florida, where they support southern and central Florida civic and religious organizations.  Their contributions reach beyond the local levels of Michigan and Florida and include national organizations such as the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia; the National Organization on Disability in Washington D.C.; Mount Vernon Estates & Gardens (home of George & Martha Washington) in Mt. Vernon, Virginia; Prison Fellowship Ministries, Offices Nationwide; and Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Wilmington, Delaware.