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Dick DeVos, a Life Devoted to Serving the World

Dick DeVos is an American national best known for his role in helping reform the education sector of the United States. Above all, Dick is renowned for being a wealthy businessman, who has a vested interest in matters philanthropy concentrating mainly on leadership, politics, art, and culture. As the devoted husband to Betsy DeVos, the power couple have gone ahead to have four lovely children of which they adore. When Dick puts his mind on something, he goes full throttle. Although Dick DeVos was born from a wealthy family, he has always had the passion for working hard just like any other ordinary person.

 

 

At the moment, Dick DeVos actively performs as the President of The Windquest Group, a corporation he joined in 2002. Other institutions that Dick currently works for include the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Spectrum Health System, RDV Corporation, Willow Creek Association, Grand Action Committee, and the West Michigan Aviation Academy that Dick founded in 2010. Before attending to any of the above corporations, Mr. DeVos was once an active member of the duty roster of companies like the Amway (family owned business), the Health Care Foundation, Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan, The Thunderbird School of International Management, Orlando Magic, and Amway International.

 

 

In 2006, Dick DeVos tried his luck in being the Governor of Michigan, but unfortunately, life had other plans for the billionaire. At one point in time, Dick was also a member of the Michigan State Board of Education, the Grand Valley State University Board of Control, the Education Freedom Fund, and the “Kids First! Yes!” campaign committee. As an active philanthropist, Dick DeVos in partnership with his wife Betsy has created what is now known as the Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation where Mr. Dick headlines as President. Taking hold of different roles and responsibilities, Dick DeVos has been passionate about delivering quality and value in all the positions that he has so graciously held over the years.

 

 

Even at 62 years of age, Dick DeVos is as energetic and resilient as ever. In his role as President of The Windquest Group, Dick has helped the company venture forth into manufacturing and technology. As President, Dick DeVos has significantly advocated for the use alternative energy since it one of the simplest ways of realizing a sustainable environment. By exploiting alternative energy and all its parameters, Dick DeVos has been able to make The Windquest Group more profitable due to a reduction in manufacturing expenses.

 

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How Betsy Devos has Facilitated the Transformation of the Education Sector

Betsy DeVos is one of the leading businesswomen in the United States. She has made many accomplishments that have made her a public figure. Betsy has been involved in philanthropy and is devoted to supporting the education sector. The outstanding contributions that she made enabled her to be appointed as the U.S secretary of education in February 2017. Mrs. DeVos was born in Holand, Michigan and her father, Edgar Prince, is the proprietor of Prince Corporation. The firm is among the United States’ leading manufacturers of automobile parts. Betsy completed her undergraduate education at the Calvin College, and she is the wife of Dick DeVos.

Betsy DeVos has been making positive contributions to the political sector since 1982. She started by serving as one the Michigan Republic Party’s members and was made a party delegate in 1986. Betsy later joined the Michigan’s Republican National Committee in 1992 and served as one of its members for about five years. She was one of the volunteers who offered to take part in raising money to facilitate the re-election of the President George W. Bush during the 2004 elections. The Republican Party appreciates her family for the financial support that it has been offering to its candidates. They have donated a total of the $17 million to the party. Read more about her philanthropy at MLive.com.

Dick and Betsy DeVos have been taking part in philanthropic undertakings since 1989 when the created a family philanthropy foundation that is called the DeVos Family Foundation. The organization is devoted to facilitating activities such as arts, justice, education, and leadership. Their family is regarded among the most generous in the United States, and they have offered $139 million since they started supporting charity undertakings. Betsy DeVos is a strong Christian, and she uses the DeVos Family Foundation in facilitating operations of Christian missions, Christian schools, medical research, hospitals, and many other institutions.

President George W. Bush acknowledged the excellent contributions of Betsy DeVos to the art sector and made her a member of Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. She worked with her husband in establishing a $22.5 million facility that is known as the DeVos Institute of Art. Another major accomplishment of the couple is creating the ArtPrize, which has been serving an art competition in Michigan since 2009. Read her interview with Philanthropy Table

According to Betsy, the current American education system is not structured well, and this has made her offer support to for-profit charter schools. She believes that many students in the country will have a broad array of opportunities if the sector is transformed. Mrs. DeVos has been campaigning for school vouchers that will enable children to use public funds in paying for their education in private institutions. She believes that this move will make it possible for children from low-income families to attend good schools.

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How Dick DeVos’ Passionate Philanthropy is Shaping Michigan

I am a highly successful businessman and philanthropist based in Michigan. Betsy DeVos, the eleventh US Secretary of Education, is my wife. I have had the pleasure of holding numerous executive positions in highly successful companies. I am the president of the Windquest Group, an investment services company established in 1989 in Michigan with interests in biotechnology, hospitality, manufacturing, and hospitality among others.

 

 

I have also served as the CEO and President of the famous basketball franchise, Orlando Magic. I am the founding Chairman of the West Michigan Aviation Academy, the first public charter flying school. I also work as the vice chairman of Willow Creek Association, a Christian ministry dedicated to the development of world-class leadership globally. I have served as the President of Amway Corporation, a consumer goods retailer and e-commerce firm based in Michigan.

 

 

My support for needy causes far outweighs my political donations. This is why I decided to be transparent and disclose my funding activities towards worthy charities. I hope this encourages others to join us to improve the lives of the needy and foster stronger leadership and education. Through our family foundation, the Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, we spent more than $11 million in 2015 alone.

 

 

Over $3 million went to support educational causes. My family is dedicated to improving the quality of education American children receive. Let me point out that our donations help people directly as opposed to advancing political ideologies. I also support the arts community worldwide. I spent over $22 million to establish the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. Additionally, I donated more than $2 million to arts and culture causes in 2015.

 

 

For a long time, I have supported Christian charities serving the underprivileged and promoting responsible leadership. In 2013, I helped the Willow Creek global leadership summit with $1 million. In the same year, our total contributions crossed the $90 million mark. This number rose to over $94 million in 2014.

 

 

Other causes that enjoy our support include civic causes, leadership, and development, public policy, health, and churches. I have a strong focus on development projects in Michigan. Some of the organizations I continue to support Grand Valley State University, Hope College, and Spectrum Hospital Health Foundation.

 

 

Besides financial donations, I also spend time on the boards of numerous charitable organizations and facilitate consultations on much more. I am an active civic leader and published author. My book, “Rediscovering American Values,” was released in 1998 and went on to become a bestseller. I am also committed to mobilizing other like-minded individuals who share our values and our desire to develop the great state of Michigan. This multiplier strategy is extraordinarily resourceful in establishing a framework that ensures sustainable giving.