Steele and Mary Taylor

Steele and Mary Taylor discovered a mutual commitment to education when they married, and have developed a tradition of support for organizations that help community members.

"It's so important to start early, to give kids a chance," Mary explains. The couple has found numerous ways to support children, and has extended that to provide a scholarship to students attending Grand Valley State University.

The Taylors are members of the Gillett Society and have included Grand Valley in their estate plans. Both Steele and Mary appreciate how transforming the university has been for Grand Rapids, serving as a growth center and strengthening point for the whole community. "Grand Valley puts us on a different level," Steele says.