Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos is a member of the DeVos family, which owns the direct sales company Amway and is noted for its election largess, contributing over $1 million in 1998 and over $750,000 in 2000, entirely to Republicans. Her particular area of interest is the deregulation and privatisation of the education system, initially through the introduction of education vouchers.

Her husband is Richard DeVos, president of Amway. Richard DeVos is the son of Richard and Helen DeVos, whose foundation is a major funder of organizations, such as the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, and Coral Ridge Ministries. The foundation also supports parts of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation network, such as the State Policy Network.

Positions

• Windquest Group, Chairman (storage and space utilization multi-company management firm)
• National Right to Life Committee, founder
• James Madison Institute, director
• Of The People, co-Chair
• Michigan Repulican Party, Chair
• Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP), founder and poast Chairman
• Kids Hope USA
• Acton Institute, Director
• Children First America, CEO
• Choices for Children, Chair
• Education Freedom Fund, Director

References

• Betsy DeVos biography, Michigan Republicans website, accessed December, 2003.
• Cynthia L. Cooper, Republican Party Donates to Right to Life, Women's eNews, December 17, 2003
• Privatization of Public Education: A Joint Venture of Charity and Power, People for the American Way, accessed December 2003.
• Curt Guyette, God bless vouchers, Metro Times (Detroit), February 23, 2000.