Jay Van Andel was born on June 3, 1924, and passed away on December 7, 2004. He was an American businessman who became very wealthy. He is most famous for helping start the Amway Corporation with Richard DeVos. Additionally, he worked as the chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1979 to 1980.
Early life
Jay Van Andel was born on June 3, 1924, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to James and Petronilla (Van der Woude) Van Andel. His grandparents, Christian and Elizabeth, moved to America from the Netherlands in 1909.
Jay’s parents were very religious Christians and members of the Christian Reformed Church. Jay believes his Christian background was important for his life as a Christian. He once said, "Christianity involved living out Bible values like honesty, generosity, and respect for others in everyday life."
Jay attended Grand Rapids Christian High School. Later, he studied at Calvin College and Pratt Business School in Kansas.
When World War II began, Jay worked as a United States Army Air Force officer. He was appointed as a second lieutenant and trained crews for B-17 and B-29 bombers that flew missions over Japan.
Jay met his wife, Betty Jean Hoekstra, during a visit to a home for a sales call in the spring of 1951. They married on August 16, 1952.
Amway
Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos met while attending Grand Rapids Christian High School before World War II. In 1949, they began selling Nutrilite dietary supplements. In 1958, they added cleaning products, such as Liquid Organic Cleaner, to their main line of products. In 1959, the "American Way Association" started in the basements of their homes. Later that same year, "Amway Sales Corporation" was created. In 1960, a former service station became Amway's first office building outside their homes.
Today, Amway is a direct-selling company that sells health, beauty, and home care products worldwide. It is the largest direct-selling company in the world. In 2019, Amway reported having over 3 million independent business owners (IBOs) in more than 100 countries.
Van Andel Institute
In 1996, Van Andel and his wife, Betty, started the Van Andel Institute. This nonprofit organization, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, works to study diseases and teach science. Scientists at the institute search for better ways to diagnose and treat illnesses, especially cancer and diseases that affect the brain and nervous system, such as Parkinson's. Education programs aim to encourage and prepare students to become future scientists and researchers.
Since 1996, the Van Andel Institute has been led by Jay's son, David Van Andel, who serves as chairman and CEO.
Political activity and philanthropy
In 2004, Van Andel, a supporter of the Republican Party, donated $2 million to Progress for America, a 527 committee (sometimes called a political action committee) created in 2001 to help President George W. Bush’s re-election campaign. That same year, he gave $475,000 to the Michigan State Republican Party, mostly for candidates running for state legislature positions. He was known for his friendship with former President Gerald R. Ford, who was born in Grand Rapids. Ford expressed sadness over Van Andel’s death, calling him "a great family man and a worldwide leader in the business arena." Steve Forbes wrote, "Whether in business or philanthropy, Van Andel understood that the main goal was to help others. He showed the best qualities of America."
Awards
In 1981, Van Andel was given the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement. In 1993, Jay Van Andel received the Edison Achievement Award for his work in innovation over his career.
Death
Van Andel and his wife, Betty, both died in 2004. Betty had Alzheimer's disease, and Jay had Parkinson's. Van Andel was 80 years old when he died.