Heirs Of Amway Pledge 22 Million To Kennedy Center

• Posted by System May 3, 2010 - Filed in Archive - 326 views
  Betsy and Dick DeVos including the son of Amway Corp.?s co-founder, have pledged over $22 million to expand training of U.S. arts administrators at the John F. Kennedy Center.

  The president of the center, Michael M. Kaiser, said that the gift will aid in acquiring specialized training for arts administrators of nonprofit organizations.

  "I?m thrilled," Said Kaiser in a phone interview.

  ?We believe every city should have a vibrant arts and culture environment,? Betsy DeVos, 52, said in an interview. ?We can?t think of a better way to have a positive impact and make that happen.? He added.

  Funds will be utilized by the Kennedy Center?s 9-year-running arts management institute that runs programs in New York, Chicago and Washington.

  The Kennedy Center will recieve $500,000 in each of the next five years in addition to a $20 million endowment that will pay the center about $1 million a year, thanks to the DeVoses . The arts institute has now been officially renamed the DeVos Institute of Arts Management.