Center for Health Sciences Named for Cook and DeVos

Grand Valley State University has announced that in recognition of their generosity and leadership, the Center for Health Sciences in downtown Grand Rapids will bear the name of two of the project's major contributors, Peter C. Cook and Richard M. DeVos.

The two community leaders and benefactors gave a combined gift of $10 million and served as honorary chairs of the Building for Life Campaign, which provided one-third of the funding for the $57.1 million project.
The 215,000-square-foot center at the corner of Michigan and Lafayette streets will house all of Grand Valley's health professions programs. 1,500 students in the School of Health Professions, the Kirkhof School of Nursing and Life Sciences will learn and conduct research in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences when it opens in the fall of 2003.

'My wife Pat and I never questioned the need for a facility like the Center,' says Cook. 'Healthcare is important and we need qualified, highly skilled professionals. The training that students will receive at the Center will be fantastic. Pat and I have been supporters of Grand Valley every since it was founded as the first state university in western Michigan. We are very pleased that Grand Valley is the institution providing this education. God has blessed us to be able to provide this support.'

The DeVos family continues its support of education and health care. Rich says the Center combines both to the benefit of all. 'Helen and I have supported education for many years. You can have the finest hospitals, the most technologically advanced equipment, the latest breakthroughs in medical research, but without those who provide the care and support, the system fails. Nearly all of us will depend on that system at some point in our lives, maybe many times. We thank God that we were blessed to be a blessing. Giving is part of our Christian heritage and we share this joy with the many others who gave to this building.'

Each of the five floors of the Center will be named in recognition of other leading donors. Frederik and Lena Meijer, Leslie Tassell, Donna and James Brooks, Jay and Betty Van Andel, and Jack and Nancy Batts will be recognized for their support.

The state of Michigan committed $37.1 million to the project, leaving $20 million to be raised privately. Vice President of Development Maribeth Wardrop says, 'Thanks to the leadership of Cook and DeVos, and the generosity of many, just $325,000 remains to be raised to complete the project. The investment will yield an innovative program with an interdisciplinary, team approach that will distinguish the school and its graduates.'

'This building will be a resource for all of us,' said Karen Loth, Director of Campaigns and Special Giving. 'We invite others in the community to support this project, and all gifts will be acknowledged on our donor wall of recognition.'