Dick DeVos – Entrepreneur, Businessman, and School-Choice Advocate
Around the early ’90s, talks of the construction of a multi-purpose arena were being spread around the city of Grand Rapids. The arena was said to be constructed just north of the downtown area of the city. Talks of this project quickly led to Dick DeVos lobbying against the idea. Dick DeVos was at the time preparing to take over as CEO of long-time family business Amway.Co. Dick DeVos stated that his position on the arena project was due to the fact that his has already been done before within other cities and has failed. An example of this includes the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Silverdome was quickly abandoned and left a financial loss on the city. The lesson was not lost on us, says Dick DeVos.
The fight against the project would lead to the formation of the Grand Action Group. The group consisted of members of the Grand Rapids business community. The group would end up doing more than just lobby against the multi-purpose arena. They would also be critical in the growth of Grand Rapids itself. In fact, many have credited the group as the main cause for the sprawling suburbs that occur and the changing skyline of the city.
Dick DeVos would also go on to marry another heiress to a vast family fortune in Betsy DeVos. For many years, the two have dedicated their time to bring about change to various areas of the state. As one of the largest donors to the GOP, the couple has quickly become a major influence in how legislation is created and passed. Betsy DeVos was instrumental in passing legislation that allowed the expansion of charter schools within Michigan. Dick DeVos has also experienced his own victories. DeVos was able to flip the state where labor unions were born into a right to work state.
However, the DeVos family has also used their influence and wealth to give back to the community. Through their charitable foundation, the DeVos family has provided funds to various causes around Grand Rapids and the state of Michigan itself. Although their use of philanthropy to increase their public opinion into a positive has not always worked. In 2000, Betsy DeVos failed to convince voters to allow the state to use taxpayer money to fund charter schools. Six years later, Dick DeVos would fail to win his bid for the governorship of Michigan.