2022 Annual Report

A decade of support: Inside Jeffery Roberts’
passion for biomedical research
Jeffery Roberts remembers saying goodbye to
Grand Rapids. As he prepared to further his studies
in Chicago, he thought he was leaving a city that had
finished growing. Thirty-five years later, he returned
to a dramatically different place — one thriving with
educational, medical and scientific discoveries. The
city hadn’t just reinvented itself, Roberts said, it had
refocused on helping humanity.
Classical training in the fine arts combined with degrees
in architecture, fashion and interior design led him on
a path to start his own full-service design firm, Jeffery
Roberts Design. His return to Grand Rapids brought new
opportunities to engage with the city, including a tour of
Van Andel Institute.
“I was invited to the building to tour the labs and get a
feel for the Institute’s work, when all of a sudden, I just
started thinking, ‘This is a cause for me,’” Roberts said.
He has directly supported that cause for more than a
decade, becoming a fervent supporter of VAI through
donations, sponsorships, event organizing and
volunteering. His support extends beyond donations, as
he wants to be involved as often as possible.
“I realize that my passion and talent can be used to
further support the Institute, so I have to use that gift,”
Roberts said. He’s even helped organize events from
the ground up, playing a key role in the development
of Building Hope, an architecture and design focused
fundraising event. Regardless of how busy he may be in
his professional life, Roberts always has time for VAI.
“In our lives, we have to be aware of the balance of our
purpose within society and our personal responsibility
for well-being,” Roberts said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve
learned to focus on using the talents I’ve been given to
make positive impacts on the world.”
So much involvement can be tiring, but rewarding. A
self-described introverted extrovert, Roberts needs
time to recharge after large events. He chooses to focus
on the value of VAI’s work and the commitment of other
supporters, a combination that always energizes him to
stay involved. That energy is also fueled by a personal
connection: When Roberts was a teenager, his younger
brother died from a rare form of childhood cancer. A
patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, his
brother participated in treatment research, which
developed into an approved protocol for other patients.
Seeing the direct impact of cancer research fueled
Roberts into a lifelong commitment to support similar
causes.
“Everyone can make a choice as to how they give back,”
Roberts said. “For me, it’s about supporting institutions
like VAI, places that are working on research that can
deliver a better future for everyone.”
Roberts is committed to ensuring that future by
continuously looking for ways to get involved with VAI.
Although his personal connection to cancer means
it will always remain a focus, he’s recently shifted his
interest to VAI’s metabolism research and education
initiatives. These are causes that are becoming
important in his own life, Roberts said, and he’s excited
to learn more about their development.
“Looking back at the happenings of the last decade, you
can see a clear acceleration in terms of research and
education,” Roberts said. “You start to think, ‘What is
the next generation going to do, how will this success
continue?’ You can’t help but get excited about it, and
I hope to continue playing a small part through my
support.”
“Everyone can make
a choice as to how
they give back. For me,
it’s about supporting
institutions like VAI,
places that are working
on research that can
deliver a better future
for everyone.”
— Jeffery Roberts
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