Jay Van Andel

Jay Van Andel (June 3, 1924 – December 7, 2004) was an American businessman, best known as co-founder of the Amway Corporation, along with Richard DeVos.[1]

Jay Van Andel
Jay Van Andel (left) and Richard DeVos (center) in the Oval Office meeting with President Gerald Ford in June 1975.
Born(1924-06-03)June 3, 1924
Grand Rapids, MI, US
DiedDecember 7, 2004(2004-12-07) (aged 80)
Ada Township, Michigan, US
NationalityAmerican
Known forAmway founder
Spouse(s)Betty Van Andel

He also served as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1979 to 1980[2]

Early life

Jay Van Andel was born on June 3, 1924 to James and Petronilla (Van der Woude) Van Andel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3] His grandparents, Christian and Elizabeth had immigrated to America from the Netherlands in 1909.[4]

Van Andel's parents were devout Christians and were members of the Christian Reformed Church. Jay credits his Christian background as being foundational for the rest of his life as a Christian. He once wrote, "Christianity "involved the living out of Biblical values of honesty, generosity, and respect for others in our everyday life."[5]

Jay attended Grand Rapids Christian High School. Later, Van Andel attended Calvin University and Pratt Business School in Kansas.

When World War 2 broke out, Jay served as a United States Army Air Force officer.[6] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and trained crews for B-17 and B-29 bombers that reached the Japanese mainland.[7]

Jay met Betty Jean Hoekstra while on a direct selling house call in the spring of 1951. Soon they were dating and they were married on August 16, 1952.[8]

Amway

While attending the Grand Rapids Christian school before World War 2, Jay Van Andel met Rich DeVos.[9] In 1949, Van Andel and DeVos became distributors of Nutrilite dietary supplements. They added cleaning products including Liquid Organic Cleaner, to their core line of products in 1958. In 1959, the "American Way Association" began in the basements of the Van Andel and DeVos homes, and later that year "Amway Sales Corporation" was formed. A converted service station became Amway's first outside office building in 1960.[10]

Today, Amway is a direct selling multinational company that sells a variety of health, beauty, and home care products. Amway went on to become the largest direct selling company in the world.[11] Amway corporate reports that in 2019, they have over 3 million independent business owners (IBO's) in over 100 countries.[12]

Van Andel Institute

In 1996, Van Andel founded Van Andel Institute with his wife Betty.[13] The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and focuses on disease research and science education. Researchers look for ways to better diagnose and treat diseases, primarily cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. Education programs seek to inspire and prepare students to become the next generation of researchers.[14]

In 2019, the Van Andel Institute was led by Jay's son, David Van Andel as Chairman and CEO.[15]

Philanthropy and public service

A strong supporter of the Republican Party, Van Andel contributed $2 million to the re-election campaign of President George W. Bush, and $475,000 to the Michigan State Republican Party (mostly for state legislature candidates) in 2004 alone. He was noted for his friendship with former President Gerald R. Ford, a native of Grand Rapids, who lamented his death and called him "a great family man and a worldwide leader in the business arena". Steve Forbes wrote about Van Andel, "Whether in business or philanthropy, Van Andel understood that the primary goal was to serve the needs and wants of other people. He exmplified the best of America."[16]

Awards

In 1981, Van Andel received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[17]

In 1993, Jay Van Andel was honored with an Edison Achievement Award for his commitment to innovation throughout his career.

Death

Van Andel and his wife Betty both died in 2004; Betty had Alzheimer's disease, and Jay had Parkinson's.[18]

References
  1. "Amway's 60th anniversary seeks to build on its 'pioneering spirit". MLive. 2019-09-10.
  2. "Amway Founders". Amway.
  3. Van Andel, Jay (1998). An Enterprising Life. New York, NY: Harper Business - Zondervan Publishing House. p. 2. ISBN 0-88730-997-6.
  4. Van Andel, Jay (1998). An Enterprising Life. New York, NY: Harper Business - Zondervan Publishing Company. p. 2. ISBN 0-88730-997-6.
  5. Van Andel, Jay (1998). An Enterprise Life. New York, NY: Harper Business - Zondervan Publishing. p. 3. ISBN 0-88730-997-6.
  6. "Amway Founders". Amway.
  7. Van Andel, Jay (1998). An Enterprising Life. New York, NY: Harper Business - Zondervan Publishing House. p. 13. ISBN 0-88730-997-6.
  8. Van Andel, Jay (1998). An Enterprising Life. New York, NY: Harper Business - Zondervan Publishing House. pp. 201–202. ISBN 0-88730-997-6.
  9. "Amway Founders". Amway.
  10. An Enterprising Life, by Jay Van Andel
  11. "One of the Wealthiest Self-Made Entrepreneurs Ever Believed in These 3 Things". Inc. Magazine. 2019-04-22.
  12. "Become a IPO". Amway.
  13. "Van Andel Institute About Us page". Van Andel Institute.
  14. "Van Andel Institute". Charity Navigator. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  15. "Legacy of Van Andel Institute". Van Andel Institute.
  16. Forbes magazine, 14 February 2005
  17. "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  18. "Jay Van Andel". Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
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