Betsy DeVos
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth "Betsy" DeVos is an American
politician and school choice
activist from the state of Michigan
. She is a former chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party
.
, the daughter of Elsa Zweip Prince (later, Broekhuizen) and Edgar Prince, a self-made industrialist noted for his right-wing politics and strict Christian
values. Edgar was the founder of Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier based in Holland, Michigan
, which at one time employed almost one-quarter of the population of the town. DeVos' mother has been a philanthropist and has been active in conservative social causes, including supporting an anti-gay marriage ballot proposal in California
. DeVos' brother, Erik Prince
, founded Blackwater USA
, a private security firm which has operations in Iraq
.
After graduating from Holland Christian High School
, DeVos attended Calvin College
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
where she earned a bachelor's degree
in business administration and political science
. In the 1980s, she married Dick DeVos
, an heir to the Amway
fortune, who ran its parent company Alticor
, from 1993 to 2002 and was the 2006 Republican nominee for governor of Michigan
. The couple has four children.
over Engler's refusal support a school voucher ballot proposal sponsored by DeVos called Kids First! Yes!. The proposal was defeated by Michigan voters. DeVos resumed the Party chairmanship in January 2003.
A press release issued by DeVos in April 2004 blamed Michigan's economic woes on, "high wages and a tax and regulatory structure that makes this state uncompetitive," leading to a backlash from members of the Michigan public who disagreed with DeVos that Michigan workers were overpaid.
A successful fundraiser, DeVos raised more than $150,000 for the 2004 Bush reelection campaign, and hosted a Republican fundraiser at her home in October 2008 that was headlined by President George W. Bush
.
DeVos was appointed by Bush to the board of directors of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2004, serving until 2010. While on the board, she and her husband funded a center to teach arts managers and boards of directors how to fundraise and manage their cultural institutions. The couple donated $22.5 million to continue the endeavor in 2010, which was named the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. "We want to help develop human capital and leverage that capital to the greatest extent possible," she said.
Long a proponent of school choice
and privatization
, DeVos is chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice She heads 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. Over the years, DeVos and her husband have provided millions in funding for the organization, but the PAC has also taken in contributions from others, including a for-profit charter school operator. In 2007, the organization was fined $5.7 million by Ohio
elections commission for failure to properly register a transfer of funds in Ohio and for exceeding a legal limit on contributions. DeVos attorneys said they would appeal the decision. As of March 2011, the fine had not been paid, according to the Associated Press
.
Her other activities on behalf of public school reformation have included membership on the boards of directors of the Advocates for School Choice, the American Education Reform Council, and the Education Freedom Fund. She has chaired the boards of Choices for Children, and Great Lakes Education Project. She has also been on the boards of the Acton Institute, the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Compass Arts, Board and was finance co-chair of the American Dream PAC.
As of 2008, DeVos and her husband run The Windquest Group, a company which manages their investments including a closet storage company which employs 150 people in Holland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and school choice
School choice
School choice is a term used to describe a wide array of programs aimed at giving families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. As a matter of form, school choice does not give preference to one form of schooling or another, rather manifests itself whenever a student...
activist from the state of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. She is a former chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party
Michigan Republican Party
The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan. It is sometimes referred to as MIGOP, which simply means Michigan Grand Old Party....
.
Family background and education
DeVos grew up in Holland, MichiganHolland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, the daughter of Elsa Zweip Prince (later, Broekhuizen) and Edgar Prince, a self-made industrialist noted for his right-wing politics and strict Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
values. Edgar was the founder of Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier based in Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
, which at one time employed almost one-quarter of the population of the town. DeVos' mother has been a philanthropist and has been active in conservative social causes, including supporting an anti-gay marriage ballot proposal in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. DeVos' brother, Erik Prince
Erik Prince
Erik Dean Prince is the founder and formerly the sole owner of the private military company Xe Services LLC, formerly Blackwater Worldwide. On March 2, 2009, Prince announced that he was stepping down as CEO of Xe. He is currently living abroad in the United Arab Emirates, where he is creating a...
, founded Blackwater USA
Blackwater USA
Xe Services LLC, better known by its former names, Blackwater USA and Blackwater Worldwide, is a private military company founded in 1997 by Erik Prince and Al Clark.. Xe is currently the largest of the U.S. State Department's three private security contractors...
, a private security firm which has operations in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
After graduating from Holland Christian High School
Holland Christian Schools
Holland Christian Schools is a private Christian school system located in Holland, Michigan. The Holland Christian Schools educate students ranging in age from Pre-K through 12th grade...
, DeVos attended Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
where she earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In the 1980s, she married Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos
Dick DeVos is a businessman and Republican politician from Michigan. The son of billionaire Amway co-founder Richard DeVos, he served as CEO of the multi-level marketing consumer goods distribution company from 1993–2002...
, an heir to the Amway
Amway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
fortune, who ran its parent company Alticor
Alticor
Alticor is a privately held corporation, owned and run by members of the DeVos and Van Andel families. It was established in 1999 to serve as the parent company for a handful of business ventures, most notably the direct selling company Amway and Quixtar and a manufacturing and distribution...
, from 1993 to 2002 and was the 2006 Republican nominee for governor of Michigan
Michigan gubernatorial election, 2006
The Michigan gubernatorial election of 2006 was one of the 36 U.S. gubernatorial elections held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm was re-elected over Republican businessman Dick DeVos, Libertarian Gregory Creswell, Green Douglas Campbell, and U.S. Taxpayer Candidate...
. The couple has four children.
Political career and advocacy
DeVos was a Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan between 1992-1997. She served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000, quitting in a dispute with then-governor John EnglerJohn Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
over Engler's refusal support a school voucher ballot proposal sponsored by DeVos called Kids First! Yes!. The proposal was defeated by Michigan voters. DeVos resumed the Party chairmanship in January 2003.
A press release issued by DeVos in April 2004 blamed Michigan's economic woes on, "high wages and a tax and regulatory structure that makes this state uncompetitive," leading to a backlash from members of the Michigan public who disagreed with DeVos that Michigan workers were overpaid.
A successful fundraiser, DeVos raised more than $150,000 for the 2004 Bush reelection campaign, and hosted a Republican fundraiser at her home in October 2008 that was headlined by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
DeVos was appointed by Bush to the board of directors of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2004, serving until 2010. While on the board, she and her husband funded a center to teach arts managers and boards of directors how to fundraise and manage their cultural institutions. The couple donated $22.5 million to continue the endeavor in 2010, which was named the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. "We want to help develop human capital and leverage that capital to the greatest extent possible," she said.
Long a proponent of school choice
School choice
School choice is a term used to describe a wide array of programs aimed at giving families the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. As a matter of form, school choice does not give preference to one form of schooling or another, rather manifests itself whenever a student...
and privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
, DeVos is chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice She heads the All Children Matter PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
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. Over the years, DeVos and her husband have provided millions in funding for the organization, but the PAC has also taken in contributions from others, including a for-profit charter school operator. In 2007, the organization was fined $5.7 million by Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
elections commission for failure to properly register a transfer of funds in Ohio and for exceeding a legal limit on contributions. DeVos attorneys said they would appeal the decision. As of March 2011, the fine had not been paid, according to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Her other activities on behalf of public school reformation have included membership on the boards of directors of the Advocates for School Choice, the American Education Reform Council, and the Education Freedom Fund. She has chaired the boards of Choices for Children, and Great Lakes Education Project. She has also been on the boards of the Acton Institute, the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Compass Arts, Board and was finance co-chair of the American Dream PAC.
As of 2008, DeVos and her husband run The Windquest Group, a company which manages their investments including a closet storage company which employs 150 people in Holland.
External links
- Betsy DeVos at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...