Proposed GVSU Library to be named for Mary Idema Pew

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees and President Thomas J. Haas announced that in honor of the generosity and legacy of a woman who links two important families in the history of Grand Rapids, the university's proposed Learning and Information Commons will be named in memory of Mary Idema Pew.  The facility on the Allendale Campus will be known as the Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons. 

Mary Idema Pew, who passed away in December, is the late wife of Robert C. Pew II, chairman emeritus of Steelcase Inc.   She is the daughter of Walter and Mary Idema, also regarded as one of the founding families of Steelcase Inc. 

Robert and Mary have been generous benefactors of Grand Valley.  Robert was instrumental in gaining support from Steelcase Inc. for land and funding that helped enable the creation of the Grand Rapids Campus, beginning with the Eberhard Center and Meijer Public Broadcast Center and culminating in what is now the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.  It now encompasses half a dozen university facilities serving the metropolitan area.

They also established the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center at Grand Valley.  Mary and Bob were strong supporters of public education and local communities. They established the Mary and Robert Pew Public Education Fund in Palm Beach and Martin Counties and supported many organizations in Michigan and Palm Beach, Florida, where they retired.

The Mary Idema Pew Library is named as a tribute to Mrs. Pew and members of her family who have been major supporters of Shaping Our Future, the comprehensive campaign for Grand Valley State University.  The campaign's centerpiece goal is funding for the library, which will use new technology and learning design to serve as an incubator for 21st century skills.  The new facility is central in the university's plans for preparing students to compete globally in the information age, as they help to power and transform the Michigan economy.

Support for the library and campaign came from Robert C. Pew II, Mary's husband, and Kate Pew Wolters, the daughter of Bob and Mary.  Kate is a member of the University Board of Trustees of Grand Valley.  Robert served on this board during the university's early years, after serving on the citizen's council that helped found Grand Valley in 1960. Their combined gift to Grand Valley for the library is a substantial seven-figure gift and their largest gift to the university.

"It's very meaningful to us that Grand Valley would honor my mother in this way," said Kate Pew Wolters.  "The new library stands for education and knowledge, and it also represents the pride that West Michigan takes in learning.  We are proud to have her name associated with this building and Grand Valley's deep-rooted commitment to education." 

"My wife cared about education because of what it could do for people's lives," said Robert Pew. "Her compassion was with everyday people.  We know this library will ultimately benefit everyone in this region as it raises the academic achievement of Grand Valley students."

"We applaud the Pew family for this gift," said President Haas. "Their patience, persistence and vision spans the better part of Grand Valley's history.  They helped make us who we are, and who we will be.  We're proud to be a steward of their generosity."

The library is expected to cost $70 million, with $30 million in private donations and the rest coming from state appropriations. University officials hope the state support for construction of this project will be approved by the legislature next year.