She has served as chair of the board of the Alliance for School Choice and the Acton Institute and headed the All Children Matter PAC. [8], DeVos is married to former Amway CEO Dick DeVos. ADA, Mich. (AP) Billionaire Richard DeVos, co-founder of direct-selling giant Amway, owner of the Orlando Magic and father-in-law of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, died Thursday. [29], In October 2012, DeVos engaged in a series of public debates with Teamsters president James Hoffa, son of that union's legendary leader Jimmy Hoffa. Here are more details about the DeVos family. [17], DeVos is chairwoman of the Windquest Group, a privately held operating group that invests in technology, manufacturing, and clean energy. DeVos and his wife became co-chairs of the Education Freedom Fund in 1993. [163], DeVos in 2001 listed education activism and reform efforts as a means to "advance God's Kingdom". They are also major private equity investors through their own Ottawa Avenue Private Capital and as investors in others funds, including billionaire Robert Smiths Vista Equity Partners and AEA Investors, a firm partly founded by the Rockefeller and Mellon families. [5] Donations [ edit] [138] Hours after her resignation, Senator Elizabeth Warren later called her the worst Secretary of Education on Twitter, saying she never done anything to help students, and saying she would rather quit than invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. [139], DeVos was listed for many years on IRS form Form 990s as the foundation's vice president (hitherto called the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation). DeVos and his school friend Jay Van Andel founded Amway in 1959 as a multi-level marketing business to distribute cleaning products, following the business model they had observed in a previous venture together. Doug was born in 1964 and is a businessman and President of Amway since 2002. ", The article also pointed out that "newspapers have divided their support along party lines, with the Detroit Free Press endorsing Granholm and The Grand Rapids Press siding with DeVos." We've made a commitment to do that. ", "Michigan Effort Shows G.O.P. DeVos is known for her conservative political activism,[1] and particularly her support for school choice, school voucher programs, and charter schools. DeVos was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Job cuts were one of several cut backs made during the corporate restructuring of Amway in order to expedite the return to profitability and prevent further downsizing or the possible loss of the company. Family spokesman Nick Wasmiller says DeVos died at his Ada, Michigan, home due to complications from an infection. [59], Former presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney respectively called DeVos an "outstanding pick" and a "smart choice". [171] The fine remained unpaid as of 2017[update], prompting calls by Democratic Party lawmakers for DeVos to settle the debt. [62], DeVos served as chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice. "[164] DeVos believes that opening up the education market will offer parents increased choice, a view that critics call a drive to privatize the American public education system. [2][3][4][5] She was Republican national committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, and again from 2003 to 2005. [166] Until November 2016,[167] she headed the All Children Matter PAC which she and her husband founded in 2003 to promote school vouchers, tax credits to businesses that give private school scholarships, and candidates who support these causes. They continued to run the dealership and by 1958, the duo had managed to build a network of more than five thousand distributors. See more onMike Pence,William Barr,Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross. [144] Forbes ranked the DeVos family No. While Dan is a sports executive and an entrepreneur, Doug is the Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors at Amway along with Steve Van Andel. Learn More. Windquest was not interested in "glitzy and glamorous" ideas, he said, but in "technologies that were environmentally sound and economically sustainable" and thus more likely to be widely adopted. "Since collective bargaining is a federally protected right, Proposal 2 is really about special interests. Sway in State Contests", "The inside story from Dick DeVos on how right-to-work was passed in Michigan", "Right-wingers Koch, ALEC, pushed Michigan 'right-to-work' laws", "Dick DeVos launching aviation-themed charter high school at Ford Airport this fall", "West Michigan Aviation Students Tour DC", "Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Gets $22.5M Gift from DeVos Family", "DeVos Claims to be Public Education Advocate; Granholm Supports Militarization of the US-Mexico Border at Second Gubernatorial Debate", "NU offers scholarship for aspiring entrepreneurs", "$500K study looks at Lake Macatawa pollution sources", "Was There a Connection Between a Russian Bank and the Trump Campaign? Richard M. DeVos, Sr. is an American business magnate and best known as the co-founder of Amway along with Jay Van Andel. [16], On November 23, 2016, then-President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate DeVos to serve as Secretary of Education in his administration. [172][173], Her other activities on behalf of public-school reform have included membership on the boards of directors of the Advocates for School Choice, the American Education Reform Council, and the Education Freedom Fund. The DeVos family is one of Michigan's wealthiest. In 1991 Richard DeVos shelled out $85 million to buy the NBA's Orlando Magic. Sway in State Contests", "U.S. Panel on AIDS, Citing Challenges, Ousts Staff Chief", "At 83, Amway co-founder Richard DeVos prepares company's third generation, addresses church, gay-marriage concerns", How MLive analyzed DeVos family's $90.9 million in annual donations, "M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation", Richard DeVos Philanthropic Impact Reflected by Hope Campus, Sport Business About the DeVos Foundation, "Amway co-founder Richard DeVos dies at 92", Majority team owners in the National Basketball Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_DeVos&oldid=1135078359, Businesspeople from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Women's National Basketball Association executives, American members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 January 2023, at 14:21. [23] [24] Edgar was the founder of Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier based in Holland, Michigan. [33] She was a Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan between 1992 and 1997,[34] and served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000. Picks Raise Fears on Civil Rights Enforcement", "Some Hires by Betsy DeVos Are a Stark Departure From Her Reputation", "Education Department Unwinds Unit Investigating Fraud at For-Profits", "Betsy DeVos's Former Chief Of Staff Joins Anti-Trump Group", "DeVos sparks controversy with comments on black colleges", "Education Secretary Betsy Devos tours Valencia campus in Osceola", "Polarizing but enduring Cabinet member: Education head DeVos", "Betsy DeVos Calls for More School Choice, Saying Money Isn't the Answer", "Betsy DeVos pushes school choice in speech to advocacy group, gives no specifics", Analysis: 9 controversial - and highly revealing - things Betsy DeVos has said, Why it was so easy for '60 Minutes' to rebut Betsy DeVos's charter-school arguments, "DeVos: All schools that receive federal funds must follow federal law", "Betsy DeVos undoes Obama's student loan protections", "18 States Sue Betsy DeVos Over Student Loan Protections", "Eighteen states sue Betsy DeVos for suspending rules on for-profit colleges", "Betsy DeVos Loses Student Loan Lawsuit Brought by 19 States", "DeVos Funnels Coronavirus Relief Funds to Favored Private and Religious Schools", "DeVos downplays risks of return to schools", "Betsy DeVos won't say if schools should listen to CDC guidelines on reopening", "Campus Rape Policies Get a New Look as the Accused Get DeVos's Ear", Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbles during pointed '60 Minutes' interview, "DeVos proposals for campus sex misconduct rules are 'worse than we thought,' victims' advocates say", "Betsy DeVos moves to demolish Title IX, silence sexual abuse victims", "Three Reasons Why Betsy DeVos's Proposed Title IX Rules Would Hurt Survivors", "Trump Administration Gets An Earful On New Campus Sexual Assault Rules", DeVos rescinds 72 guidance documents outlining rights for disabled students, "Betsy DeVos accidentally promotes study showing teachers feel disrespected by her", "Secretary DeVos Forms School Safety Commission | U.S. Department of Education", "Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says school safety commission will issue 'best practices' by year's end", "Betsy DeVos' utterly botched call for Special Olympics funding cuts, explained", "Protesters briefly block Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's visit to a D.C. school", "Protesters block DeVos from entering DC school", "Protesters block DeVos from entering D.C. middle school", "In Miami, DeVos visits first public university since becoming education secretary, faces protesters", "Additional Security for DeVos May Cost Up to $7.8 Million", "Students boo Betsy DeVos as commencement speaker at historically black university", "Bethune-Cookman grads boo Betsy DeVos at commencement", "Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e)", Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "Betsy DeVos' Financial Disclosure Fails to Account for Divestiture of 24 Assets", "DeVos used personal emails for work in 'limited' cases, report finds", "DeVos under investigation for potentially violating Hatch Act because of Fox News interview", "pbs.twimg.com/media/ErFh1xdXMAA0r1_?format=png&name=medium", "Betsy DeVos resigns as Education Secretary", "Senator Warren Says that Betsy DeVos Resigned to Dodge the 25th Amendment", Trump Education nominee Betsy DeVos lied to the Senate, "School Choice, But Much More: Making Sense of DeVos Family Philanthropy", "Dick and Betsy DeVos lift the veil on their $139M in philanthropy", "America's Top 50 Givers: Meet the philanthropists who gave away the most money in 2015", "Betsy Devos wants to use America's schools to build "God's kingdom", "Trump's Education Pick Betsy DeVos Criticized for Donating Millions to Christian Organizations", "Speaker at Group Supported By Betsy DeVos Says Hitler Was Good at Reaching Children", "Betsy DeVos, Trump's Education Pick, Could Make Life Hell for LGBT Youth", "Betsy DeVos: Friend of "the Family" and Faith-Based Education - TheHumanist.com", "Group Funded by Trump's Education Secretary Pick: 'Bring Back Child Labor', "Dick and Betsy DeVos donate $22.5million to Kennedy Center training program in Washington", "Kennedy Center gets $22.5million gift from DeVos family", "Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Gets $22.5M Gift from DeVos Family", "How a Quirky Art Prize Tied to the DeVos Family Went Political", "Betsy DeVos: 'I did not want a place in Florida, but we fell in love with Windsor', "Six Future Northwood University Students Receive the Betsy and Dick DeVos Scholarship for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship", To Trump's education pick, the U.S. public school system is a 'dead end', "Paul Rolly: Pro-voucher group fined $5.2 million", "DeVos PAC fined record $5.2million by Ohio elections board", "School choice expanding as record fine languishes", "Democratic senators press Trump's education pick Betsy DeVos to pay years-old $5.3million fine", "Observers say latest affirmative action ruling may be overturned, but battle goes on in Michigan", "Group questions why right-wing Republican group is behind ads supporting Democrat Pam Byrnes", "Betsy DeVos to Address American Federation for Children", "100 Most Influential Women: Betsy DeVos", "Betsy DeVos and the Wrong Way to Fix Schools", "When Evidence and Science are Really Just Assumptions and Ideology", "Betsy DeVos Used Cherry-Picked Graduation Rates for Cyber Charters", "We Need to Talk About the Betsy DeVos Cartoon", "Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Addresses Twitter Typos", "Randy Rainbow Sits Down with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos", "Trump's presidency turns into a musical mockery on 'RuPaul's Drag Race', "Thank you, Betsy DeVos, for leading GOP charge against Dave Agema", "The Ultra-Rich, Ultra-Conservative DeVos Family", "Betsy DeVos, billionaire philanthropist, picked as Trump education secretary", "Faltering Economy Obstacle for Granholm", "God bless vouchers The DeVos family's crusade to change public education", Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betsy_DeVos&oldid=1139825443, Women members of the Cabinet of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected against vandalism, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2016, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2017, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 02:49. He and his Amway cofounder, Jay Van Andel, opened the Institute for Free Enterprise, a pro-capitalism advocacy group that worked to get free-market lesson plans taught in schools nationwide, and founded Citizens Choice, a short-lived answer to Ralph Naders Common Cause group. She, her husband and their four adult children are worth an estimated $2 billionmostly in Amway stock. Dick DeVos Dick was born on 21 October, 1955. According to Ponnuru, the study referenced by Harris, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, did "not sound nearly as helpful to Harris's case as he suggests". Public records show it's owned by an entity connected to members of the billionaire Michigan-based DeVos family, whose patriarch, Richard DeVos, is a co-founder of Amway. Dick was born on 21 October, 1955. [80] During an unusually early 6:30a.m. vote on February 3, 2017, cloture was invoked on DeVos's nomination in the Senate, requiring a final vote on the confirmation to happen after 30 hours of debate. "[38] In 2003, DeVos ran again for party chairman and was elected to the post without opposition. [136][137] She was the second cabinet member to resign following the insurrection, the first being Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. RDV Corporation, the family office set up by Richard Sr., handles the familys non-Amway or Magic activities from a discreet building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. His grandparents were Dutch immigrants. This was to be Amways first product. Books written by him include Compassionate Capitalism and Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons For Life. 24 on its 2015 list of America's top givers. It's a monopoly, a dead end. [55] In addition, they have a vacation home in Holland, Michigan, on the shore of Lake Macatawa. [98] She stated an interest in implementing choice policies directed toward children as individuals and criticizing the Obama administration's additional funding of $7billion for the U.S.'s worst-performing schools as "throwing money at the problem" in an attempt to find a solution. Still, they raked in money from at least 85 separate sources last year, according to an early draft of Betsys most recent financial disclosure obtained by Forbes. Together, Betsy DeVos, her husband and their four adult children are worth roughly $2 billion. [168] DeVos and her husband gave millions of dollars to the organization. "The unintended consequences of Proposal 2 will result in a $1.6-billion annual tax hike," said DeVos. [12], DeVos also formerly owned the Orlando Solar Bears, Grand Rapids Griffins, and the Kansas City Blades, three International Hockey League franchises before that league folded;[13] the Solar Bears and Blades were closed as a result of the league folding, while the Griffins moved to the American Hockey League, and are now under the ownership of Dan DeVos, one of Richard's sons. Salesmanship is how DeVos grew Amway, the company he cofounded in 1959, from a meager soap business into a multibillion-dollar worldwide conglomerate. Member, FAA Management Advisory Council, September 2017present. In fact, a huge donation was given to both Jeb Bush and Scott Walker in order to support their campaigns. DeVos explained that "Some time ago Windquest brought on a specialist in alternative energy. 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