Cook-DeVos Center Campaign a Success

Honorary Chair of Grand Valley State University's Building for Life Campaign, Richard M. DeVos, announced May 7 that the community's record-breaking generosity will open the doors of the $57.1 million Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences this fall.

DeVos, and fellow honorary co-chairs, Peter C. Cook, Audrey M. Sebastian and Jay Van Andel, spearheaded the community wide effort to raise $20 million in private funds for the downtown Grand Rapids' center, which will house all of Grand Valley's health professions programs and research. They raised that and also received a $1 million deferred gift for the project. The center is named for Peter and Pat Cook and Rich and Helen DeVos, who contributed the lead gifts to the campaign.

'A successful partnership of the private and public sectors along with our community's heart for giving have helped us surpass our goal for another major campaign,' said DeVos. 'We're thankful for the quality of our health care and understand the importance of investing in the training of medical professionals who will be ready to provide top-notch care.'

Combined with a $37.1 million commitment from the state, individual donors have helped create a $57.1 million state-of-the-art facility for training and research. The 215,000-square-foot center is located at the corner of Michigan and Lafayette streets.

'One of the really exciting pieces to come out of this campaign is the show of support from so many people,' said Maribeth Wardrop, vice president for development at Grand Valley. 'More than 460 people recognized the value of the center by giving gifts, and 150 of those donors gave to Grand Valley for the first time.'

The Building for Life Campaign is the largest private campaign Grand Valley has ever conducted. Grand Valley President Mark A. Murray expressed great appreciation for the outpouring of support from the community.

'The nearly 60 members of the campaign committee worked to make the Cook-DeVos Center a reality,' said Murray. 'The hundreds of donors, including many first time donors, were so generous in support of professional health education. I'm confident they will be pleased with the results.'

A celebration and dedication of the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences is planned for the week of September 15. 'We look forward to presenting the beautiful new facility and the cutting edge health programs to West Michigan,' said Karen Loth, campaign director.