2014 Winter Highlights of Hope

winter 2014 van andel institute’s
Highlights of
HOPE
Cutting-Edge
Cardiovascular Research
Comes to Grand Rapids
pg 8
Discovery identifies novel
cancer treatment strategy
pg 10
Van Andel
Institute Graduate
School receives
accreditation
pg 12
Centerof
Attention
Introducing Dr. Peter A. Jones,
Director of Research and Chief Scientific Officer

Established by
Jay and Betty Van Andel
in 1996, Van Andel Institute
(VAI) is an independent
research and educational
organization based
in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Through biomedical research
and science education
Van Andel Institute is
committed to improving the
health and enhancing
the lives of current
and future generations.
Winter 2014 Van Andel Institute’s
Highlights
of
Hope
Table of contents
Van Andel Research
Institute (VARI)
VAI’s research arm is dedicated to
studying the genetic, cellular and
molecular origins of cancer, Parkinson’s
and other diseases and working
to translate those findings into
effective therapies.
Van Andel Education
Institute (VAEI)
VAI’s education arm is dedicated to
strengthening science education and
preparing and motivating individuals
to pursue science-related professions
through the educational spectrum.
Purple Community—100% Hope®
is Van Andel Institute’s grassroots
initiative to empower supporters in
businesses, communities, schools
and other organizations to increase
awareness, celebrate survivors, honor
loved ones and raise funds.
Van Andel Institute Giving
Join our fight! Learn how you can
support Van Andel Institute by contacting
the Development Department at
development@vai.org or 616.234.5120.
On the Cover
Dr. Peter A. Jones was appointed
Van Andel Institute’s Director of
Research and Chief Scientific Officer in
December 2013. Dr. Jones joins VAI from
the University of Southern California.
Read the complete story on pages 4-7.
3 A Letter from David Van Andel
4 Van Andel Institute is Proud to Introduce
Dr. Peter A. Jones, Director of
Research and Chief Scientific Officer
8 Cutting-Edge Cardiovascular Research
Comes to Grand Rapids
10 Recent Discovery Identifies Novel Cancer
Treatment Strategy
11 New Hires Broaden Van Andel
Institute’s Center
Dr. George Vande Woude Receives
Prestigious Award in Biological
Science
12 Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Receives Accreditation
14 Fourth Student Graduates from
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
15 Science Conference Draws Record Crowd
16 Students Exceed Five-Year, $100,000
Fundraising Goal
18 Fighting Cancer with Hockey
20 Couture for a Cure Event Photos
21 Hope on the Hill Event Photos
22 Van Andel Institute Breast Cancer
Luncheon Event Photos
Van Andel Institute National Initiative
New York Event Photos
23 Around the World Event Photos
25 Smart Cancer Research: Van Andel
Institute Receives National Media
Attention
26 Going to Bat for Breast Cancer
27 A Legacy of Caring
Board of Governors & J-Board Members
28 Upcoming Events

A Letter from
David Van Andel
Chairman & CEO, Van Andel Institute
A new year is filled with excitement, hope and the promise of new
beginnings. We set resolutions and goals, begin new routines and
seek to improve upon the previous year. I have never been more
enthusiastic for a new year thanks to the great strides in biomedical
research and science education happening at Van Andel Institute.
The efforts of the
passionate individuals
at Van Andel Institute
provide hope for
a new year; hope
to students for an
exciting future in the
sciences; and hope
to patients and
their loved ones that
improved treatments
are possible.
We are excited for the direction Dr. Peter Jones brings to Van Andel Institute as the
new Director of Research and Chief Scientific Officer. His work in epigenetics is a
valuable addition to the Institute and opens doors for new discoveries. We also
welcome Dr. Stefan Jovinge and our continued partnership with Spectrum Health.
The addition of Dr. Jones, Dr. Jovinge and others to Van Andel Research Institute’s
staff helps us expand our ability to research disease from different approaches
and disciplines.
Van Andel Institute researchers made key discoveries in cancer and neurodegenerative
diseases in 2013. A novel cancer treatment strategy that can slow tumor growth while
protecting normal tissue was recently featured on the cover of Cancer Research, and
advances took place in the fight against pancreatic and lung cancer, glioblastoma
and lymphoma, to name a few. Researchers are also developing a new “anti-diabetic
drug” that may be able to slow disease progression and prevent movement disorders
in Parkinson’s disease patients.
The scientists of the future are receiving an innovative education at Van Andel
Education Institute. This past year, Van Andel Institute Graduate School received
accreditation from the Higher Learning Council for its unique Ph.D. program and
celebrated the commencement of its latest graduate. Van Andel Education Institute’s
inquiry-based curriculum was integrated in 17 school districts and continues to be a
model for education reform.
The efforts of the passionate individuals at Van Andel Institute provide hope for a
new year; hope to students for an exciting future in the sciences; and hope to patients
and their loved ones that improved treatments are possible. Your support enables
us to continue our work and encourages us every day. Thank you for your continued
partnership in our mission.
Warm regards,
David Van Andel
Chairman & CEO
03

VAN ANDEL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
A Dynamic
Focus
for THE FUTURE
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
04
Dr. Peter A. Jones was recently appointed
Van Andel Institute’s Director of Research
and Chief Scientific Officer. Jones, an
internationally renowned researcher with more
than 40 year’s experience, has held numerous
roles in the fields of research and academia.

Introducing Van Andel
Institute Director of Research
and Chief Scientific Officer,
Dr. Peter A. Jones
Dr. Peter A. Jones was appointed Van Andel Institute’s Director of Research and
Chief Scientific Officer in December 2013. Dr. Jones, an internationally renowned
researcher with more than 40 years’ experience, has held numerous leadership
roles in research and academia.
Jones’ visionary concepts regarding basic and
translational research follow in the footsteps
of founding Research Director, Dr. George
Vande Woude. While Dr. Vande Woude’s MET
oncogene discovery in the 1980s helped
set the stage for the future of translational
research and personalized medicine, Jones’
research brings to light a new and exciting
way of viewing cancer, human disease and
the dynamic nature of DNA. Jones will join Dr.
Patrik Brundin, Associate Director of Research,
to advance the mission of improving human
health through research in both cancer and
neurodegenerative disease.
A New Way of Seeing
Jones, a native of South Africa, launched his
career as a Ph.D. student studying Biochemistry
at the University of Rhodesia. The university
was an island of multiracial dynamics in a
country torn apart by segregation, United
Nations sanctions and civil war. Often isolating
and difficult, his time spent at the university
helped him understand the importance
of creativity and self-reliance in scientific
research. In the midst of his Ph.D. studies, Jones
received a letter of encouragement, regarding
a paper he had published, from a researcher
at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The curious
student took the opportunity to inquire about
postdoctoral opportunities at the hospital with
the understanding that his current situation
was not conducive to furthering his research.
His inquiry paid off, and in 1973 Jones moved
to Los Angeles with his wife Veronica and their
five-month-old baby to work alongside the
author of the letter, Dr. Bill Benedict.
While working at Children’s Hospital Los
Angeles, researching various aspects of
chemotherapeutic drugs, Jones made a
discovery that would be the turning point
in his career. The postdoc and his team
were treating a mouse embryo cell line
with a series of drugs, keeping the cells
as monolayers to determine if they were
capable of converting into multiple foci
of cancer cells. During a routine Monday
morning, Jones was changing media in petri
dishes when he discovered what he thought
was a large mold growing in a dish that had
been exposed to a newly discovered drug
called 5-azacytidine (5azaC). To his surprise,
a significant grouping of cells was visible in
the dish, and upon further observation, Jones
concluded that the cells’ phenotype had been
changed from something non-descript into
cells that resembled muscle. The postdoc had
inadvertently discovered a drug capable of
‘reprogramming’ a cell’s destiny. Although this
discovery was significant, Jones was unsure
of how the cells had been reprogrammed.
After accepting a position at the Keck School
of Medicine at the University of Southern
California in 1977, he came to understand
the molecular mechanism for his discovery.
The secret was in the process of DNA
methylation, a process that stably alters gene
expression as cells divide and differentiate
05

“The reason we do this work is to impact people’s lives. When a patient comes up
to me and says, ‘you’re my hero’ because they are using a therapy I have been
working on, that is more exciting than anything that could happen. I want this
amazing gift the Van Andel family has given to make an impact on people’s lives.”
Dr. Peter A. Jones
Van Andel Institute’s Director of Research and Chief Scientific Officer
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
from embryonic stem cells into specific tissues. Dr.
Jones discovered that the drug 5azaC was a potent
inhibitor of methylation and was actually altering
the patterns of DNA in the cellular tissue. This
groundbreaking research discovery was the light
bulb moment that would transform Jones’ career
as a researcher and bring forth an exciting new
area in scientific research called epigenetics.
Epigenetics: The Turning Point
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene
activity which are not caused by changes in the
DNA sequence. Enzymatic on/off switches that are
layered on top of the human genome control how
genes will be expressed. Epigenetic functions can
be manipulated by outside environmental factors,
such as chemicals or certain drugs. The study of
epigenetics is an exciting new ground for researchers
like Jones who see it playing an important role in the
treatment of cancer and other diseases.
“I think epigenetics is important because most of the
research focus until now has been on the genetics
of cancer and disease. In the last ten years it has
been clear that epigenetics plays a very important
role in the development of human cancer,” Jones
said. “What that means is that genes that frequently
get mutated or broken so they don’t work might be
switched off by these epigenetic switches.”
These ‘switched off’ genes can often lead to
cancer, and Jones is interested in how they can be
manipulated and how once-damaged cells can be
epigenetically repaired.
“Epigenetics has a profound impact on cancer,
disease therapy and prevention because we now
understand that changes in genes that might cause
cancer can be reversed,” Jones said. “If you have
a mutation, it is difficult to reverse it in the cancer
cell, but you can switch on genes that have been
switched off, and that’s why I think epigenetics is
an important way to think about cancer and how
it’s going to be treated.”
A Center of Excellence
Jones brings to Van Andel Institute a history of
institutional leadership experience, including his
role as the Director of the University of Southern
California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
as a leading member of the International Human
Epigenome Consortium, an organization focused on
mapping thousands of human epigenomes in order
to better understand epigenetics’ role in cancer and
chronic illnesses. This experience will serve Jones
well as he begins to work with Van Andel Institute’s
leadership and staff, builds on the Institute’s cancer
and Parkinson’s disease research and develops a
new focus for future research.
It is Jones’ hope that Van Andel Institute becomes
known as a leader in basic and translational
epigenetic research. Jones posits that a tightened
focal point, centered on epigenetics, gives the
Institute a unique and powerful identity in the
scientific marketplace of ideas.
“I think Van Andel Research Institute would benefit
from an additional focus on epigenetics,” Jones said.
“I think the Institute has the potential to be known as
a strong-house of epigenetics in the world.”
This new focus on epigenetics includes a
concentration on translational research that
could lead to epigenetic therapies for cancer and
neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Jones
06

elieves this focus is in keeping with Van Andel Institute’s
tradition of supporting basic and translational research, and
views epigenetics as a way to strengthen the Institute’s
diverse research portfolio.
“I want to make the Institute a hub for basic research and
translational epigenetic therapies that will encompass
cancer and neurodegenerative disease research,” Jones said.
“Epigenetics’ role in cancer is something I have spent a good
deal of time working on, but I am also looking forward to
working with Dr. Patrik Brundin and his team in the Laboratory
for Translational Parkinson’s Disease Research to explore
the role epigenetics might play in Parkinson’s and other
neurodegenerative diseases.”
The concept of collaboration is going to play a significant role
in Jones’ strategy of creating a focus on epigenetics at the
Institute. The notion of collaboration is something Jones has
cultivated throughout his career, working on diverse teams
of researchers, geneticists, pathologists, biostatisticians,
chemists, informaticists, oncologists, surgeons and specialists.
At the nucleus of Jones’ concept is an epigenetics consortium,
bringing intellectual capital and new energy to the Institute.
“Initially, we are going to develop a consortium of five
academic institutions - four in the U.S. and one outside of the
U.S. - which will carry on the work of developing epigenetic
therapies that can be applied to human beings,” Jones said.
This consortium of experts will utilize Van Andel Institute as a
hub to meet, strategize and source funding for research and
targeted clinical trials. This spirit of collaboration is inherent in
the innovative, interdisciplinary approach to modern science that
Jones embraces. Jones aims to build collaborative relationships
with national and international academic and research institutions.
In addition to collaborative relationships, attracting top-level talent
to the Institute is another of Jones’ goals for the near future.
As Director of Research and Chief Scientific Officer, Jones
hopes to increase Van Andel Institute’s name recognition in
the scientific community. While general knowledge of the
Institute is important, Jones understands that the Institute’s
name must be elevated first in the scientific community by
leveraging significant research discoveries and scientific
impact. Van Andel Institute researchers like Dr. Jeff MacKeigan,
Associate Professor and Head, Laboratory of Systems Biology,
are excited about the future under Jones’ leadership.
“Dr. Jones is a world-renowned researcher with tremendous
scientific vision, and with his leadership at the helm we will
continue to build on existing research initiatives, explore
genomic strategies for innovative treatments and position
ourselves to impact human disease,” MacKeigan said.
A Great Gift
Van Andel Institute’s significance in the world of biomedical
research is something Jones feels very strongly about.
When asked about the philanthropic vision of the Institute’s
founders, Jay and Betty Van Andel, Jones states that they
have given the world of science a ‘great gift,’ one that can
have a lasting, powerful impact on the lives of patients and
the course of human health.
“The reason we do this work is to impact people’s lives. When
a patient comes up to me and says, ‘you’re my hero’ because
they are using a therapy I have been working on, that is more
exciting than anything that could happen. I want this amazing
gift the Van Andel family has given to make an impact on
people’s lives.”
For more information on Dr. Jones,
please visit bit.ly/WelcomeDrJones
07

Dr. Stefan Jovinge
Brings Game-Changing
Cardiovascular Research
to Grand Rapids
Dr. Jovinge
and his
team had
discovered
that it was
possible for
the heart to
repair its own
tissue.
In 2009, the field of cardiovascular research was upended with a paper
published in Science Magazine by researchers in Sweden. The paper, authored
by Dr. Jovinge, outlined a new way of viewing the regenerative properties of
the human heart.
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
Before the release, it was believed that the cells that
create heart muscle tissue might be limited to the
number given at the time of birth, and the potential
for postnatal cellular regeneration was not seen as a
viable treatment for cardiovascular disease. Jovinge’s
work with the heart’s cellular building blocks, known
as cardiomyocytes, and progenitor cells, which aid
with cell differentiation, completely changed the way
the medical and academic world views the heart’s
potential for reparative therapy. Jovinge and his team
had discovered that it was possible for the heart to
repair its own tissue.
A partnership between Van Andel Institute and
Spectrum Health, with significant support from
the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, recently
brought Jovinge to Grand Rapids in order to
continue his program focused on cardiovascular
research and regenerative medicine. The
collaborative program, which began in earnest in
January 2014, is comprised of four areas: basic
science with a focus on cell engineering, clinical
science, bioinformatics and the development of
scientific training procedures for interns, graduate
students and post-doctoral fellows. This program
connects Van Andel Institute’s world-renowned
intellectual capital and top-tier research facilities
with Spectrum Health’s clinical trial and cardiac
medicine expertise, creating a perfect atmosphere
for Jovinge’s cutting-edge research.
“Van Andel Research Institute is truly world-class,
and Spectrum Health is among the best in the
country when it comes to clinical performance in the
cardiovascular area,” said Jovinge. “Spectrum Health
has an impressive patient flow and extensive expertise
in cardiovascular medicine, and remarkably neighbors
Van Andel Research Institute, headquartered here in
Grand Rapids. For a clinical scientist like me, there is
a great opportunity in having these two organizations
work together.”
Jovinge views his move to Grand Rapids as one
molded in the entrepreneurial spirit and looks forward
08

“The only reparative therapy we have
today, if you want new cardiac muscle, is to
transplant a new heart. Our line of work is
actually aiming at using the competence of
your own heart to generate more muscle.”
Dr. Stefan Jovinge
to building a research program equally grounded in basic
research and clinical medicine. The researcher also views this
program as a way for both organizations to reap the benefits
of proximity and experience.
“It’s stimulating for me, and one of my main missions is to
get these two organizations together, because what I do is
connect basic science to medicine,” said Jovinge.
The core of Jovinge’s research in Grand Rapids focuses on
unlocking the regenerative codes found in cardiomyocyte
and progenitor cells. Through Jovinge’s work, he and his team
have uncovered just how diverse and unique cardiomyocytes
are in the development and regulation of heart tissue.
“One of the misconceptions is that all cardiac muscle is
homogenous and not created from different types of cells,”
said Jovinge. “It’s like the cells in bone marrow where there
are red blood cells and white blood cells; the heart also has
different cells that perform different functions.”
Through an involved process of identification, Jovinge is able
to identify a cell’s nuclei, DNA and RNA and begin fingerprinting
the gene expression found in the cell. This process allows the
team to identify different types of cardiomyocytes and isolate
the cells responsible for regeneration of heart tissue. Once
these specific types of cardiomyocytes have been identified,
the next step involves identifying how these cells can spur the
growth of new heart muscle tissue.
“Previously, all the focus has been on injecting cells into
the heart, but it is one thing to inject them, the second is
getting them to survive and thirdly to get them to integrate
and function well together with other cardiomyocytes,”
said Jovinge. “The vast majority of these injected cells
will die and even if they survive they need to couple to the
other cells because cardiomyocytes need to communicate
with each other to contract synchronously.”
In Jovinge’s research, he aims to identify the cells that are
responsible for regeneration, and to understand how to
stimulate the regenerative process and encourage cell survival.
Globally, cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause
of death for adults, and Jovinge’s research remains one of the
most novel approaches to addressing this pressing health issue.
The findings from Jovinge’s work have far-reaching implications
regarding therapies for those living with cardiovascular disease.
Jovinge remains encouraged by the program’s initial discoveries
and believes his research could one day provide treatment
options that would address the source of cardiovascular
disease, rather than current therapies that address symptoms.
“The only reparative therapy we have today, if you want new
cardiac muscle, is to transplant a new heart,” said Jovinge.
“Our line of work is actually aiming at using the competence
of your own heart to generate more muscle.”
The program, under the direction of Jovinge, is a testament
to the collaborative spirit of both Van Andel Institute and
Spectrum Health, and the collective desire to bring forth
therapies that change the way cardiovascular disease is
addressed in the future.
For more information on Dr. Jovinge or
his work at Van Andel Institute, please
visit bit.ly/VAIStefanJovinge
09

Intramimic-02
stabilizes the structure
(green) of colon cancer
cells and induces new
gene expression (red)
in the nucleus (blue) to
impair tumor growth.
Recent Van Andel Institute
Discovery Identifies Novel
Cancer Treatment Strategy
Van Andel Institute announces yet another discovery that changes the
course of research. A recent study identifies an innovative treatment
strategy that can slow tumor growth while protecting normal tissue.
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
Arthur S. Alberts, Ph.D.
Professor and Head
of the Laboratory of
Cell Structure and
Signal Integration led
the recent study on
cancer treatments.
Find out more about
Dr. Alberts and
support his work at
bit.ly/VAIArtAlberts.
The study was led by Arthur S. Alberts,
Ph.D., Professor and Head of the Laboratory
of Cell Structure and Signal Integration at
Van Andel Institute.
“This discovery could lead to novel cancer
therapies for hard-to-treat cancers and
potentially serve as an alternative to
existing drug agents which are commonly
used in chemotherapy to treat breast,
ovarian, lung, testicular and certain blood
cancers,” said Alberts.
It focuses on validating biological drug
targets, an important part of creating
new cancer therapies. Drug targets are
molecular structures that can be modified
by an external stimulus such as chemicals or
drugs, to treat or diagnose a disease. In the
early phases of drug development, a target
must be validated in the laboratory before it
can move to human clinical trials.
The study’s results describe a new class of
compounds called Intramimics that target a
family of proteins, formins. Thanks to unique
attributes of the compounds, researchers
hope that they can target specific cancer cells
and spare healthy cells without the doselimiting
side effects experienced with Taxol
and Vinblastine, existing chemotherapeutic
agents that target cell structure.
“Taxol and Vinblastine target structural
components found in all cells. Instead of
disrupting the bricks, Intramimics tackle the
masons of the cell that assemble the bricks.
We hope that we can tune Intramimics to
manipulate specific molecular masons in
cancer cells in order to spare healthy cells.
We are starting this tuning process now,”
said Alberts. “Intramimics will serve as
lead compounds for further exploration and
pharmacological development.”
Alberts’ research team plans to continue
developing Intramimics as well as learning
more about which cancers are vulnerable
to the strategy. “We are also committed
to using the Intramimic strategy to prevent
cancers,” said Alberts.
In initial experiments, the approach reduced
or slowed tumor growth, which suggests it
could be an effective strategy for treating
solid tumors. Other preliminary evidence
suggests a potential application for the
treatment of blood cancers as well.
The study was carried out at Van Andel
Institute in collaboration with scientists
from Grand Valley State University and
Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s
Michigan High Throughput Screening Center.
It attracted the attention of the journal
Cancer Research which published the report
and featured it on the cover of its November
15 edition.
010

New Hires Broaden
Van Andel Institute’s Centers
Van Andel Institute (VAI) continues to fill the ranks
with talented researchers. We welcome Dr. Ning
Wu in the Center for Cancer and Cell Biology and
Dr. Jiyan Ma in the Center for Neurodegenerative
Science to the VAI family. Their expertise diversifies
and strengthens VAI’s impressive research team.
Dr. Ning Wu received her Ph.D. in the
Department of Biochemistry at the
University of Toronto in 2002, and then
served as a Research Associate at the
Scripps Research Institute. In 2004,
Dr. Wu joined the Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center at Harvard Medical
School as a Research Fellow studying
signaling pathways that regulate normal mammalian cell
growth and defects that cause cell transformation.
Dr. Wu joins VAI as an Assistant Professor and Head of the
Laboratory of Cancer Signaling and Metabolism. Dr. Wu’s
laboratory aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms
governing glucose metabolism in cancer. Relative to
normal cells, tumor cells have very high energy needs.
By understanding tumor cell energy requirements and
regulatory pathways, more effective treatments can be
developed by optimizing existing therapies or identifying
new therapeutic targets.
Dr. Jiyan Ma received his Ph.D. from
the University of Illinois at Chicago in
1997. He then served as a Research
Associate at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Ma was appointed as an Assistant
Professor at Ohio State University in
2002 and was promoted to Associate
Professor in 2009.
Dr. Ma, who joins VAI as a Professor and Head of the
Laboratory of Prion Mechanisms in Neurodegeneration,
holds two R01 federal research grants from the National
Institutes of Health. His research focuses on prions,
which are the misfolded proteins that cause infectious
neurodegenerative diseases such as “mad cow disease”
and the human variant, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Dr. Ma’s research at VAI will expand to include the
prion-like behavior of misfolded proteins in other
neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Learn
more about
Dr. Wu’s lab
and support
her work
at bit.ly/
VAINingWu.
Learn
more about
Dr. Ma’s lab
and support
his work
at bit.ly/
VAIJiyanMa.
Van Andel Institute’s
Founding Director of Research,
Dr. George Vande Woude, Receives
Prestigious Scientific Award
Dr. George Vande Woude, Van Andel
Institute’s Founding Research Director,
recently received the Fellowship Award
in Biological Science from the American
Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS) organization. The AAAS bestows this
annual award to a select number of scientists
who are honored for their meritorious efforts
to advance science or its applications.
The AAAS is a non-profit organization with the
mission of promoting cooperation among scientists,
encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting
education and outreach initiatives that directly impact
human health. It is the world’s most prestigious
general scientific society.
In 1999, Dr. Vande Woude was appointed as the first
Director of Van Andel Research Institute. In 2009, Dr.
Vande Woude stepped down as Director and assumed
the title of Distinguished Scientific Fellow, retaining his
role as head of the Laboratory of Molecular Oncology.
Dr. Vande Woude is responsible for discovering the
human MET oncogene, a groundbreaking therapeutic
target utilized in personalized therapies for many
virulent cancers.
For more information on Dr. Vande Woude
and cancer research at Van Andel Institute,
visit bit.ly/VAIVandeWoude.
011

VAN ANDEL
EDUCATION INSTITUTE
Exceeding
Standards
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
students learn to think and act like
scientists through the program’s
unique curriculum.

Van Andel Institute
Graduate School
Receives Accreditation
Van Andel Institute Graduate School (VAIGS) has received institutional accreditation
from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for its Ph.D. program in cell, molecular
and genetic biology of human disease. The innovative inquiry-based curriculum
of VAIGS combines biomedical and translational research with professional
mentorship by the scientists of Van Andel Research Institute, with further advice
and evaluation from faculty members at other research institutes and universities.
“The accreditation represents affirmation
by the larger academic community that we
meet their standards and expectations,”
said Dr. Steven Triezenberg, President
and Dean of Van Andel Institute Graduate
School. “It reinforces that the innovative
and creative way we developed this
program is appropriate.”
VAIGS focuses on developing students to
become scientists and research leaders
early in their career by teaching them to
think and act like scientists. The problembased
curriculum developed by VAIGS is
unique; to Dr. Triezenberg’s knowledge, no
other program like this one currently exists.
VAIGS graduate students work alongside
experienced researchers and receive valuable
one-on-one training. On average, only one
graduate student is placed into each lab.
The program is still relatively small, and that’s
by design. “We don’t strive to be the largest,
but to be among the best,” said Triezenberg.
Currently twenty-two students are enrolled
at VAIGS and another six are expected to be
accepted into next year’s incoming class.
“I want to commend the students who put
their confidence and faith in us when they
signed up for a graduate program that wasn’t
tested,” Triezenberg said. The first students
joined VAIGS’s inaugural class in 2007. Last
year, two of those students graduated with
Ph.D. degrees and accepted postdoctoral
positions at first-rate university labs.
“I was warned before I accepted a position
at VAIGS that I was taking a risk if I chose
to attend an unaccredited institute for my
graduate work, especially one so distinctly
different from most other programs,” said
Laura Westrate, VAIGS student who joined the
program during its second year of existence
and graduated in December 2013. “However,
after interviewing at Van Andel Institute I
felt the risk seemed minimal. The training
program is uniquely designed to effectively
transition students to scientists.”
The Higher Learning Commission is
responsible for accrediting degree-granting
institutions of higher education, and is part
of the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools, one of six regional institutional
accreditors in the United States.
13

Fourth Student Graduates from
Van Andel Institute Graduate School
Graduate Dr. Laura Westrate (center)
with Van Andel Research Institute’s staff.
Laura Westrate, a fifth-year student at Van Andel Institute Graduate
School (VAIGS), graduated on December 2, 2013 with her Ph.D. in Cell
and Molecular Genetics. She is the fourth graduate from Van Andel
Institute Graduate School.
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
Dr. Laura Westrate conducted
her dissertation on mitochondria
and worked in the Laboratory of
Systems Biology at Van Andel
Institute.
While at Hope College, Westrate fell in love
with the research lab and addressing unknown
questions. “I’m a big problem solver,” said
Westrate. “I like puzzles and this really is the
ultimate puzzle in life — being able to take
these medical issues nobody knows and trying
to find an answer for them.”
Westrate’s dissertation, entitled “Quantitation
of Mitochondrial Dynamics Reveals Critical
Roles for Mitochondrial Morphology in Cell
Cycle Progression and Apoptosis,” focused
on mitochondria, the organelle structures
found in cells that are responsible for cellular
energy, growth and death. Westrate studied the
structures of mitochondria and how alterations
could affect the rate by which cells divide
and grow. She tested how the mitochondria
responded when presented with a number of
chemotherapeutic treatments.
By changing the structures of these
mitochondria, Westrate was able to change how
rapidly the cells divided. Her study found that
by elongating the mitochondria structures she
was able to prevent the division of cells. This is
applicable to cancer because if researchers are
able to prevent the cancer cells from dividing,
they can theoretically prevent the spread and
growth of cancers throughout the body.
Dr. Jeff MacKegian, Associate Professor and
Head of the Laboratory of Systems Biology
at Van Andel Institute, served as Westrate’s
mentor during her time at VAIGS and was
fundamental in leading her research. “Dr.
Laura Westrate is one of the most intelligent,
hardworking and professional scientists you will
encounter. Her research has allowed for new
innovative approaches for systems biology,
incorporating mathematics and cell biology to
make discoveries.”
After graduation, Westrate will fill a postdoctoral
fellow position at the University of Colorado
where she will continue to pursue her research
interests. Her future work will focus on another
organelle, the endoplasmic reticulum.
Westrate is very excited about her new position.
“I’m most interested in taking the things I’ve
learned here and applying them to a brand
new project,” she said. “I also want to teach
and mentor younger scientists so I can open up
their eyes to what this job is really like.”
14

Undergraduate students
present research at
the West Michigan
Regional Undergraduate
Science Conference.
Science Conference Draws
Record Crowd
More than 340 students and faculty poured through
Van Andel Institute’s doors on November 16, 2013
to attend the West Michigan Regional Undergraduate
Science Conference. The conference is the first opportunity
for many students to present their findings to peers
and professionals.
“It’s one thing to present your work to your class; it’s quite another to stand up
and present it in front of a few hundred people,“ said Dr. Nick Duesbery, Head
of the Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology at Van Andel
Research Institute.
The conference consisted of a number of faculty presentations where students
heard stimulating talks on current trends in biology, chemistry, physics and
other topics. The 2013 keynote address was presented by Scott Barolo, Ph.D.,
from the University of Michigan Medical School.
Students also had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from eleven graduate
schools, including the recently accredited Van Andel Institute Graduate School,
to learn about advancing their science education.
The conference is organized by Aquinas College, Calvin College, Grand Valley
State University, Hope College and Van Andel Institute Graduate School.
“The science conference is a wonderful collaboration from area institutions,”
said Dr. Steven Triezenberg, Director of Van Andel Education Institute. “It
provides students with a valuable professional experience at no cost.”
Please contact Van Andel Education Institute Development if you would like
to learn about sponsoring the 2014 West Michigan Regional Undergraduate
Science Conference at 616.234.5040 or vaeidevelopment@vai.org.
15

PURPLE COMMUNITY
GRADUATIONGift

Students Exceed
Five-Year, $ 100,000
Fundraising Goal
Many high school seniors are preoccupied with college applications,
the latest social media news, prom and spring break plans. Four
seniors at Forest Hills Central High School, however, spent their fall
differently. They were focused on an aggressive fundraising goal set
as eighth graders to support cancer and neurodegenerative disease
research at Van Andel Institute.
Participate or support
a Purple Community
event by visiting
PurpleCommunity.org.
Pictured above left to right:
Forest Hills Central High School
students Bella Fiorenzo, Allie Wittenbach,
Sydney Vinton and Mariah Otolski
present a check to Purple Community
Coordinator, Sara Hop.
After meeting with Van Andel Institute founding
Research Director Dr. George Vande Woude in
2009, Bella Fiorenzo, Mariah Otolski, Sydney
Vinton and Allie Wittenbach decided to make an
impact on cancer research by raising $100,000
before they graduated in 2014.
“Cancer affects the entire community,”
said Vinton.
They created the Purple Community Club and
hosted their first event as eighth graders when
they raised $5,000 at a middle school track
meet. Their fundraising events have grown
each year, culminating in their final event in
December 2013.
They planned an entire week of festivities
leading up to boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball
Purple Games TM . Students kicked off the week
with a hockey game and fundraiser at Quaker
Steak & Lube. They held spirit days, sold purple
t-shirts, hosted coin wars in the elementary and
middle schools and prepared for the basketball
game with a pep assembly.
The feature event was a great success. The
high school gym was standing-room only for the
basketball games. The students recruited 44
sponsors and exceeded their fundraising goal
with their cumulative total reaching $105,962.
The students take great pride in the fact that
100% of their donation benefits VAI research
labs where discoveries are made that could
lead to improved cancer treatments and
diagnostic tests.
Since getting involved with Purple Community,
the students’ lives have been personally
impacted by cancer. Several have watched
firsthand as relatives received cancer diagnoses
and underwent treatment. Wittenbach helps
coordinate the event and plays in the basketball
game to honor her mother who was diagnosed
with cancer when she was a freshman.
“When I walked into the gym that day, seeing all
the purple decorations made my heart feel so
good,” said Wittenbach. “We all share our stories
in the locker room of who we’re playing for and
that can get sad and emotional. But when we
run out there and see our crowd, see people
supporting it, everybody has good vibes.”
The event means something different to each
of the student organizers, but it’s a personal
experience for all of them.
“Everyone you meet knows a friend, a parent, a
sibling, a family member or someone who has
had cancer,” said Fiorenzo.
“We bring our community together to make a
difference,” said Otolski. “It has been wonderful
working with Purple Community events over the
past five years.”
17

PURPLE
COMMUNITY ®
EVENTS
For all upcoming events,
please visit us at
www.PurpleCommunity.org
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
18
March 7
Grand Rapids Griffins
Purple Game
April 5
Grand Valley State
University
Pre-Soma 5k
May 16
Duncan Lake Middle
School Community
Cancer Walk
July 29
West Michigan
Whitecaps Purple
Baseball Game
September 13
Mari J. Meyer
Pancreatic Cancer
Trail Run for Hope
Van Andel Institute supporters form a ribbon on the Detroit Red Wings’ ice following Hockey
Fights Cancer Night.
Fighting Cancer with Hockey
Purple Community makes it possible to support biomedical research
and science education at Van Andel Institute in many ways. Hockey
games have become one of the most popular community events, and
Purple Community has continued to cultivate partners who contribute
to their success.
Van Andel Institute - Purple Community
partnered with the Detroit Red Wings to
sponsor Hockey Fights Cancer Night on October
26, 2013. The sold-out game against the New
York Rangers packed Joe Louis Arena with more
than 20,000 fans.
All attendees at the game were given Purple
Community rally towels, a Share Your Story
card and a marker. Those in attendance were
invited to write the name of a friend or family
member who had been affected by cancer on
the card and hold it up during a break in the
game. Thousands of individuals held up cards in
the emotional display of cancer awareness.
Hockey Fights Cancer Night was a great
success for both Van Andel Institute and the
Detroit Red Wings and is seen as the beginning
of a lasting partnership.
Members of Purple Community traveled to
Wings Stadium on February 8, 2014 for a
Kalamazoo Wings Purple Game. Although Purple
Community has partnered with Kalamazoo-area
schools Otsego and Plainwell, this was the first
K-Wings Purple Game.
“In 2014, Purple Community hopes to do more
events in Kalamazoo,” said Purple Community
National Programs Manager Nikki Outhier. “We
want the area to know more about Van Andel
Institute and the world-class research and science
education taking place in our backyard.”
Purple Community also returns to Van Andel
Arena for a Purple Game with the Grand Rapids
Griffins on March 7, 2014. The third annual
Griffins Purple Game is a highly anticipated
event for Purple Community and expected to be
a sold-out event.
“We have a wonderful relationship with the Grand
Rapids Griffins, and we’re working together to
make this the best Purple Game yet,” said Outhier.
Partnerships with the Detroit Red Wings,
Kalamazoo Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins
help Purple Community increase its presence
throughout Michigan, generate new members
and develop additional events that benefit
Van Andel Institute.
You can support Purple Community and Van Andel
Institute by attending a game, promoting it on
social media, or hosting your own event. Visit
PurpleCommunity.org to learn more.

Join us for this
Purple Community
Hockey Event!
Grand Rapids Griffins
Purple Game TM
Friday, March 7, 2014
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Ticket information available at
www.purplecommunity.org
Take a Tour
of Van Andel
Institute
Tours of Van Andel Institute’s
state-of-the-art facility are
available for those interested in
learning more about disease
research and science education.
Register for a tour online at
bit.ly/VAITour.
Volunteer for
Van Andel Institute’s
Angel Corps
Van Andel Institute hosts thousands of
guests each year and enlists volunteers to
serve as ambassadors to provide a great
tour experience. If you’re comfortable speaking
in front of groups and available during
business hours, support Van Andel Institute
by volunteering for Angel Corps!
Apply to be part of Angel Corps at
www.vai.org/volunteer
19

VAN ANDEL
INSTITUTE EVENTS
Couture for a Cure
The eighth annual Couture for a Cure
presented by Amway and Leigh’s was
a sold-out event on October 10, 2013.
A record crowd of more than 450
Van Andel Institute supporters
surrounded a New York-style
runway to preview Cynthia Rose’s
Holiday ’13 and Spring ’14 collections.
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
020

Hope on the Hill
On October 17, 2013, hundreds of
donors, philanthropists, researchers,
educators and members of the Grand
Rapids business community gathered
for the 13th Annual Hope on the Hill
Gala. Guests sampled delectable
menu items from some of the area’s
finest restaurants, sipped on exotic
cocktails and enjoyed live music and
performances by The SILHOUETTES®.
The night raised significant funds
for Van Andel Institute and was
the most successful Hope
on the Hill event to date.
21

Van Andel Institute
Breast Cancer Luncheons
Van Andel Institute’s popular Breast Cancer Luncheons
brought stories of hope and inspiration to both Troy and
Grand Rapids, Michigan in the fall of 2013. The luncheons,
which focus on the leading advances in breast cancer
research, celebrated breast cancer survivors and inspired
women to take ownership and become personal health
advocates.
Van Andel
Institute Visits
New York
David and Carol Van Andel traveled
to New York City on November 7,
2013, with members of Van Andel
Institute’s research centers and
development department to speak
with supporters about the Institute’s
vision for biomedical research. Those
in attendance had an opportunity to
learn about the groundbreaking work
being done in the fields of research
and science education.
22

Around the World
J-Board Ambassadors hosted Van Andel
Institute supporters at The Harris Building for
an evening of wine tasting and global cuisine
on November 15, 2013. Proceeds from the
event supported science education initiatives
at Van Andel Education Institute.
HOT
Chefs
COOL
TEMPS
Proceeds benefit Parkinson’s research at:
®
9th Annual
Van andel Institute
Thursday, February 27, 2014 | 5:30 pm
Ambassador Ballroom
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Hosted by Blair & Michelle Sharpe
and George Jr. & Missy Sharpe
Emceed by Tony and Michelle
co-hosts of the Tony Gates Morning Show on WLAV
Enjoy delectable cuisine prepared by chefs from the
finest restaurants in Grand Rapids, and have the
opportunity to bid on a gourmet meal prepared by
one of these chefs at your home.
Cocktail Reception
Live Chef Auction
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Silent Auction + Raffle
023

Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
024
Thank You to
Our Event Sponsors!
Couture for a Cure
Title Sponsor
Amway
Presented by
Leigh’s
VIP Sponsor
Jamie R. Mills, Mills Benefit Group,
A Lighthouse Company
Vintage Sponsor
Lennon Media Management, LLC
Hair Stylist Sponsor
The Crown Jewel Salon and Spa
Restaurant Sponsors
Eurest
CityS en _ Lounge
Media Sponsors
Women’s Lifestyle Magazine
Channel 95.7 FM
The River 100.5
Runway Sponsors
Scott Christopher Homes
Todd Wenzel Buick GMC
Chuck and Christine Boelkins
Love and Valeda Collins
Jana Hall
Paul and Sheryl Haverkate
Mike and Sue Jandernoa
Al and Robin Koop
Brad and Leslie Nelson/Genesis Media
Services
Steve Van Andel
David and Anne-Lise Whitescarver
Kathleen Ellsworth, DDS. PC
The Grand Rapids Press
Regal Investment Advisors
In-Kind Sponsors
Expression Rings of Hope
Rita Girls Mobile Bakery
Artistry
Bar Divani
Blue Water Technologies
Laura Mercier
Modern Day Floral
Cynthia Rose
Leigh’s
Hope on the Hill
Title Sponsor
Fifth Third
Private Bank
Entertainment Sponsor
The Veldheer, Long, Mackay & Bernecker
Group of Merrill Lynch Wealth
Management
VIP Party Sponsors
GR Outdoor
Fred L. Hansen Corp.
Lighthouse Insurance Group
Jamie R. Mills, Mills Benefit Group
Preusser Jewelers
Diamond Sponsors
Mike and Sue Jandernoa
John and Nancy Kennedy
Warner Norcross and Judd LLP
Platinum Sponsors
Bill and Amy Bennett/Otterbase, Inc.
Dick and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation
Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation
Great Lakes Scrip Center, LLC
Howard Miller
Gold Sponsors
Chuck and Christine Boelkins
CARNEVALE
Huizenga Group
Robin and Al Koop Foundation
Wolverine Worldwide
Silver Sponsors
Aquinas College
Barnes and Thornburg
Peter C. and Emajean Cook Foundation
Davenport University
Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation
Fairly Painless Advertising
Grand Valley State University
Granger Group
Gary and Vicky Ludema
Meijer
MLive Media
Norris Perne and French LLP
Pitsch Companies
Rowerdink, Inc.
The Peter F. Secchia Family
Robert and Susan Stafford
US Bank
Varnum
Bronze Sponsors
Aon
BDO USA LLP
Berends Hendricks Stuit Insurance Agency
Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Michigan
Bruce Heys Builders
Calvin College
Cancer and Hematology Centers
of West Michigan
Colliers International
Love and Valeda Collins
Crowe Horwathe
Custer, Inc.
Deloitte
DK Security
Eenhoorn LLC
Ellis Parking Company, Inc.
Ernst and Young
Ferris Coffee and Nut
Martin and Peggy Greydanus
GUTS Branding
Jana Hall
Hansen Balk Steel Treating Co.
Hope College
Helen J. and Allen I. Hunting Family
Foundation
The I.C.N. Foundation
Craig and Debra Kinney
Lake Michigan Credit Union
Lambert, Edwards & Associates
Jeannine and Ray Lanning
Law Weathers
Metro Health Hospital
Michigan State University
College of Human Medicine
Pioneer Construction
PNC Bank
Quality Air Service, Inc.
Scott Christopher Homes
The Sharpe Collection of Automobiles
Spectrum Health
Steelcase
Universal Forest Products Inc.
Larry and Marsha Veenstra,
State Farm Insurance
Veolia Energy Grand Rapids, LLC
Visual Entities
Jim and Sue Williams
Wells Fargo Bank
Copper Sponsors
Cornerstone University
Garden of Opportunity
Alfresco Landscapes
Romence Gardens
Restaurant Sponsors
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Bar Divani
The Chop House
CityS en _ Lounge
Eurest
The Gilmore Collection
Leo’s
One Trick Pony
San Chez Bistro and Café
Twisted Rooster
In-Kind Sponsors
Bluewater Technologies
Cascade Rental
Channel 95.7 and 100.5 The River
Cumulus Media
Ice Sculptures LTD
Modern Day Floral
Special Events Rental
Women’s Lifestyle Magazine
Breast Cancer Luncheon
Grand Rapids
Platinum Sponsor
Scott Christopher Homes
Gold Sponsors
Jamie R. Mills, Mills Benefit Group
Lighthouse Insurance Group
Silver Sponsors
Chuck and Christine Boelkins
Jana Hall
Love and Valeda Collins
Leigh’s
Rize
Pitsch Companies
In-Kind Sponsors
Channel 95.7 FM
The River 100.5
Breast Cancer Luncheon
Troy
Gold Sponsors
Jamie R. Mills, Mills Benefit Group
Lighthouse Group
Olympia Entertainment
Detroit Red Wings
Somerset Inn
Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.
Silver Sponsors
Rize
Pitsch Companies
Around the World
Haute Cuisine Sponsors
Mika Meyers Beckett &
Jones PLC
Jana Hall
Fine Wine Sponsors
Scott and Heidi Campbell
Mark and Jennifer Ellis
Andy and Christina Keller
Mike and Rachel Mraz
Aaron and Amanda Wong
Food & Beverage Sponsor
Bar Divani
In-Kind Sponsors
Channel 95.7 FM
The River 100.5
Host
The Harris Building

Smart Cancer Research: Van Andel Institute
Receives National Media Attention
Van Andel Institute (VAI) started 2014 with great news: the
organization was featured on the national news website,
Barron’s, known for its financial and investment insight.
The story on Van Andel Institute quoted David and Carol
Van Andel, highlighted the Institute’s groundbreaking
biomedical research, entrepreneurial spirit and mission.
“It reinforces that there is nation-wide
interest in the innovative biomedical research
and science education initiatives we have at
Van Andel Institute,” said David Van Andel,
Chairman and CEO of Van Andel Institute.
David Van Andel described the typically
long lead time and significant investment to
bring a new drug to market and shared the
Institute’s focus on translational research. The
article also cites David and Carol Van Andel’s
passion to provide improved treatments to
patients based on their personal experiences.
View the article
in its entirety at
bit.ly/SmartCancerResearch.
“This organization is being led by two people
who have heard the devastating words ‘you
have cancer.’ It’s that personal element that
we know well,” said Carol Van Andel.
Monday, May 19, 2014 | 11:00 am
Visit www.vai.org or call 616.234.5712 for
more information.
Proceeds from this event benefit disease research and
science education at Van Andel Institute.
025

VAN ANDEL
INSTITUTE GIVING
Going to Bat for Breast Cancer
Dolly Konwinski grew up on Chicago’s West Side during the lean years of the Great
Depression. The 82-year-old grandmother still has fond memories of playing street
ball with the boys in her neighborhood. That practice paid off as she went on to
become one of the first female professional baseball players in the United States
in the post-war Women’s League in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Dolly Konwinski poses with a pink bat
signed by sports legends.
The story of this fabled league was turned into
the movie A League of Their Own in 1992.
Dolly is a fighter, and her fierce spirit and gutsy
determination have not only made her an
unlikely historical figure, but a strident advocate
in the fight against cancer.
When Dolly’s husband, Bob, was diagnosed
with cancer, she became increasingly aware of
how many people are affected by the disease.
One Sunday while making dinner and watching
baseball, Dolly experienced an epiphany.
“I was taking a break from cooking, and I sat
down at the beginning of a Tigers game and I
see one player come out and he has a pink bat,
and I see another guy in the on-deck circle and
he has a pink bat … and I sat back and thought I’d
get some pink baseball bats and get champion
athletes to sign them, then sell them and give
the money to cancer research,” said Konwinski.
members of the research staff. Soon after, she
decided to donate all the proceeds from the
pink bats to support breast cancer research at
Van Andel Institute.
Dolly traveled tirelessly across the United States
to various sports memorabilia conventions,
collecting more than 40 signatures on all four
bats. Sports luminaries such as Nicholas Palmer,
Gayle Sayers, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, Brian
Urlacher and Pete Rose all decided to help Dolly
with her initiative. To date, Dolly has raised
nearly $10,000 to benefit cancer research at
the Institute.
“I know so many women
affected by breast cancer…
it’s a labor of love.”
Dolly Konwinski
Thanks to a chance encounter with her
husband’s surgeon, Dr. John MacKeigan, Dolly
learned about cancer research at Van Andel
Institute. Dolly toured the facility and met with
.
Learn More: Go to
www.vai.org to join Dolly
Konwinski in supporting
breast cancer research.
Highlights of Hope / Winter 2014
There are many ways to join our fight. Learn more below or contact the Development
Department with your questions at development@vai.org or 616.234.5120.
ONLINE GIVING
Visit www.vai.org to donate
through PayPay TM or a secure
electronic form, sign up for an
email newsletter, find upcoming
events or schedule a tour.
DONATE BY MAIL
Please make your check payable to
Van Andel Institute and mail to:
Development Department
Van Andel Institute
333 Bostwick Ave N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
ESTATE PLANNING
The most practical way to make a
significant impact may be through
your estate plan. It ensures that
the research, discovery and hope
of Van Andel Institute continues
for future generations. Contact
Development to learn more.
26

A Legacy of Caring
Giving a planned gift to Van Andel Institute shows
commitment to disease research and science education
and leaves a long-lasting legacy. For Vivian Anderson
of Grant, Michigan, her bequest was one act of many in
a lifetime of love, kindness and service of others.
“Mother strongly believed in love,
care and closeness of her family,”
said Dawn Anderson, Vivian’s
daughter. “She and my father took
care of and provided for numerous
relatives on both sides of the
family. Their home was the center
of gatherings, celebrations and
family togetherness and strength.”
Vivian and her husband Bob were
fruit farmers for many years.
They were some of the first
local farmers to grow apricots
for Gerber Baby Food Company,
helping the company diversify its
baby food offerings.
Vivian’s legacy of caring for others
continues with her planned gift to
Van Andel Institute. Thanks to her
generosity, discoveries in cancer
and neurodegenerative disease
research continue at a faster
pace than ever before. Vivian also
inspired Dawn to leave her own gift
by including Van Andel Education
Institute in her estate plans.
“I believe in the future, in the
young people who will discover
more and in the dedication of
the Institute that will provide the
space, materials and guidance
for this new generation to move
forward and progress,” said Dawn.
Vivian Anderson, a fruit farmer
from Grant, Michigan, left a legacy
for Van Andel Institute with her
planned gift.
“I believe in hope, the
love of giving and
the thrill of what will
come next.”
Dawn Anderson
Van Andel Institute Donor
The Development staff is
happy to discuss planned
giving opportunities that fit
your interests, passions and
legacy. Learn more by visiting
www.vai.org/plannedgiving
or contacting Development
at 616.234.5030.
HOPE ON THE HILL
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Members of the Hope on the Hill Board of
Governors support the Institute financially and
are the ambassadors who share our mission,
vision and important work with others to help
us gain further support to advance our efforts.
CHAIR: John Canepa
Martin & Sue Allen
Ray & Alice Andrews
Tony & Kathleen Asselta
James & Shirley Balk
John & Nancy Batts
Charles & Christine Boelkins
Jim & Donna Brooks
Jerry & Suzanne Callahan
John & Marie Canepa
President Jimmy Carter
Love & Valeda Collins
Sam & Janene Cummings
William & Janice Currie
Dave & Karen Custer
Daniel & Pamella DeVos
Dick & Betsy DeVos
Douglas & Maria DeVos
Richard & Helen DeVos
Jim & Gail Fahner
John & Melynda Folkert
David & Judy Frey
Dan & Lou Ann Gaydou
Gene & Tubie Gilmore
Gary Granger
Martin & Margaret Greydanus
Jana Hall
Ralph Hauenstein
Steve & Brenda Heacock
John & Gwen Hibbard
Dirk & Victoria Hoffius
Earl & Donnalee Holton
Allen & Helen Hunting
José & Sue Infante
Win & Kyle Irwin
Michael & Sue Jandernoa
Sidney & Cate Jansma
Dr. Peter A. & Veronica Jones
John & Nancy Kennedy
Craig & Debra Kinney
Wilbur & Sharon Lettinga
J-Board Members
Members of the J-Board are young leaders
who periodically gather to network and learn
more about VAI so that they can serve as
Institute ambassadors in the community.
CO CHAIRS: Heidi Campbell
& Rachel Mraz
Zeke Alejos
Lindsay Benedict
Brandon Bissell
Scott & Heidi Campbell
Linda Jo Carron
Natalie Cleary
Aaron & Afton DeVos
Leslie Drueke
Dawn Fiedorowicz-Mackson
Bo & Jennifer Fowler
Mark Holtvluwer & Wendy
Parr Holtvluwer
Matthew & Sarah Hudson
Brandi Jo Huyser
Patrick Kane
Ray Loeschner
Tim & Kimberly Long
Gary & Vicky Ludema
Donald & Kathleen Maine
Hank & Liesel Meijer
Lena Meijer
Mark & Mary Beth Meijer
R. George Mickel
Jack Miller
Jamie Mills
Louis & Nancy Moran
Mark & Elizabeth Murray
Tim & Denise Myers
Bill & Sandi Nicholson
Juan & Mary Olivarez
Dale & Sonja Robertson
Carol Rottman
Margaret Ryan
Peter & Joan Secchia
Budge & Marilyn Sherwood
Brent & Diane Slay
Duke & Sue Suwyn
Marilyn Titche
Steven & Laura Triezenberg
David & Carol Van Andel
Steve Van Andel
Cheri VanderWeide
Michael & Michelle Van Dyke
Gordon & Mary Van Harn
Gordon & Margaret Van
Wylen
George & Dot Vande Woude
Stuart & Nelleke Vander
Heide
David & Anne-Lise
Whitescarver
Scott & Rebecca Wierda
Linda Zarzecki & Dr. Liam
Sullivan
*As of December 31, 2013
Andrew Keller
Christina Keller
Michael Lomonaco
Alyssa Ludema
Jennifer Maxson
Casey McDonald
Michael & Rachel Mraz
Matt Osterhaven
Andrew Robitaille
Charles Rowerdink
Lindsay Slagboom
Jason & Kimberly Slaikeu
Megan Spruit
Joshua Stafford
Alison Waske
Nathaniel Wolf
Megan Zubrickas
*As of December 31, 2013
27

NON PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
PERMIT NO 1316
333 Bostwick Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
JOIN US!
Van Andel Institute special events offer a great atmosphere in which to enjoy spectacular
food, entertainment and unique experiences. Whether you attend an event, become a
sponsor, or host your own, you’ll have fun while supporting a great cause.
Visit www.vai.org or call 616.234.5712 for more information!
March 7
Grand Rapids Griffins
Purple Game TM
The 2014 Griffins Purple Game is a great
way to spread the word about Purple
Community and encourage people to join the
fight against cancer and neurodegenerative
diseases. Ticket information available at
www.purplecommunity.org.
February 27
Winterfest
The ninth annual Winterfest Celebration features gourmet
cuisine prepared by chefs from the finest restaurants in Grand
Rapids. Join us for this unique opportunity to raise funds and
awareness for Parkinson’s disease research.
May 19
Van Andel Institute Golf Outing
Join friends of Van Andel Institute at the seventh annual
golf outing to support cancer and neurodegenerative disease
research and science education.