Jay Van Andel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Van Andel
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Van Andel at the White House in 1975
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| Born | June 3, 1924 |
| Died | December 7, 2004 (aged 80) |
| Education | Calvin University, Pratt Business School |
| Known for | Amway co-founder |
| Spouse(s) | Betty Van Andel |
Jay Van Andel (born June 3, 1924 – died December 7, 2004) was an American businessman who became a billionaire. He is best known for starting the Amway company with his friend, Richard DeVos.
He also led the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as its chairman from 1979 to 1980.
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Jay Van Andel's Early Life
Jay Van Andel was born on June 3, 1924, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His parents were James and Petronilla Van Andel. His grandparents had moved to America from the Netherlands in 1909.
Jay's parents were very religious Christians. They belonged to the Christian Reformed Church. Jay often said that his Christian background was very important throughout his life. He believed in living by Christian values like honesty, generosity, and respecting others every day.
Jay went to Grand Rapids Christian High School. After that, he studied at Calvin College and Pratt Business School.
When World War 2 began, Jay joined the United States Army Air Force. He became an officer and helped train crews for large B-17 and B-29 bomber planes. These planes were used to reach the Japanese mainland during the war.
Jay met Betty Jean Hoekstra in the spring of 1951. They were dating soon after and got married on August 16, 1952.
Starting Amway
Jay Van Andel met Rich DeVos when they were both students at Grand Rapids Christian High School, even before World War 2. In 1949, Van Andel and DeVos started working together. They became distributors for Nutrilite, a company that sold health supplements.
In 1958, they added cleaning products, like a special Liquid Organic Cleaner, to the items they sold. The next year, in 1959, they started the "American Way Association" from the basements of their homes. Later that same year, they officially formed "Amway Sales Corporation." By 1960, Amway had its first real office building, which was a converted service station.
Today, Amway is a huge international company that sells many different products. These include health, beauty, and home care items. Amway became the biggest direct selling company in the world. In 2019, Amway reported that it had over 3 million independent business owners (IBOs) in more than 100 countries.
Van Andel Institute for Research
In 1996, Jay Van Andel and his wife Betty started the Van Andel Institute. This is a nonprofit organization located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its main goals are to do disease research and provide science education.
Researchers at the institute look for better ways to find and treat diseases. They mainly focus on cancer and brain diseases like Parkinson's. The education programs at the institute aim to inspire students and prepare them to become the next generation of scientists and researchers.
In 2019, Jay's son, David Van Andel, was the Chairman and CEO of the Van Andel Institute.
Helping Others and Politics
Jay Van Andel was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He gave a lot of money to political campaigns. For example, in 2004, he contributed $2 million to help President George W. Bush get re-elected. He also gave money to the Michigan State Republican Party.
He was good friends with former President Gerald R. Ford, who was also from Grand Rapids. When Jay died, President Ford said he was "a great family man and a worldwide leader in the business arena". Steve Forbes, a famous businessman, wrote that Jay Van Andel understood that the main goal in business and in helping others was to serve people's needs. He said Jay showed the best of America.
Awards and Recognition
Jay Van Andel received several awards for his work and contributions.
- In 1981, he got the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
- In 1993, he was honored with an Edison Achievement Award. This award recognized his dedication to new ideas and inventions throughout his career.
Death
Jay Van Andel and his wife Betty both passed away in 2004. Betty had Alzheimer's disease, and Jay had Parkinson's disease.
See also
In Spanish: Jay Van Andel para niños
