What Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary Might Look Like
Since last Wednesday, it has been announced that Donald Trump included Betsy DeVos as a potential nominee for Secretary of Education.
Dozens of news sources have affirmed the possible Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education nomination. Betsy DeVos, who is married to Dick DeVos, is the sister of former Blackwater CEO, Eric Prince.
Many people in West Michigan have contacted me with this announcement wondering what it would mean for Betsy DeVos to have a more direct education policy role to play if she was given the job of Secretary of Education and this article is meant as a response to such questions.
However, in addition to looking at what it might mean to have Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, it is important that we also look at how the news has framed the potential nomination and what background has been provided into the role that Betsy DeVos has played nationally on the privatization of public education.
How the News Media frames a possible DeVos as Education Secretary
There have been dozens of news stories with the Trump announcement of a possible Betsy DeVos appointment as Education Secretary. Some of those stories have come from Michigan sources, as would be expected, but there have also been news stories from DC-based sources.
The Hill on November 15 has the following commentary about Betsy DeVos.
DeVos is a billionaire GOP donor, and her family has been a mainstay in party politics for decades. She once served as the head of the Michigan Republican Party and is the current chairwoman of the American Federation for Children, an education advocacy group pushing school-choice-friendly policies.
The DeVos family made its wealth by helping found the direct-selling company Amway. And while the family has given millions to Republican causes, it was not an early Trump backer.
A source familiar with DeVos’s thinking said that while she originally supported Common Core standards at the state level — and funded a group, the Great Lakes Education Project, that promoted such standards — she opposed Common Core once it became federalized.
The Washington Times provided a brief comment on November 19, stating:
At the private golf club, Mr. Trump has meetings scheduled with former D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee and school-choice advocate Betsy DeVos, who are considered in the running for secretary of education in the Trump administration.
Of all the DC beltway sources, the Washington Examiner provides the most substantive coverage, providing some background information, an interview between Philanthropy magazine and DeVos, along with the video here that provides some interesting insights into how Betsy DeVos frames her work in education, where she talks patronizingly about poor families, how her organization changes policy at the state level and how education that is within the context of the marketplace is the most effective way to teach children today.
Closer to home there has been plenty of stories, but with limited information. The best story to date has been a Detroit Free Press article, which at least provides some basics into Betsy DeVos’ interest in education policy and at least mentions two of the main groups she is part of, the American Federation for Children and the Great Lakes Education Project. This was also the first article that made it clear how school voucher programs would be funded, by stating, vouchers that would allow students to attend private schools at public expense.
There was a second Detroit News article, but most of it was spent on getting the perspective of the Michigan GOP Chairman, Saul Anuzis.
Lastly, there have been a few MLive articles on the possible Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary, with the most substantive piece written by Brian McVicar. However, the McVicar article is still quite limited and provides no analysis of what DeVos and the organizations she is part of are working on in regards to dismantling public education.
Why is Trump interested in Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary?
One of the political arenas that Dick & Betsy DeVos have distinguished themselves in is their interest in promoting private schools, charter schools and school voucher policies.
Schools and non-public school campaigns have received sizable amounts of funding from the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation between 2008 and 2010. Groups such as the Alliance for School Choice ($50,000), the Educational Freedom Fund ($305,000) and the Florida School Choice Fund are just some of the anti-public school groups to receive money from the couple’s foundation.
Researcher Rachel Tabachnick identifies Betsy DeVos as the Four Star General of the School Privatization Movement, in an article she wrote for the Political Research Associates. The article states:
Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State described Betsy DeVos as the “four-star general” of the school privatization movement shortly after DeVos announced the formation of the “new” American Federation for Children (AFC) in March 2010. As Boston noted, the American Federation for Children was not new, but a rebranding of an organization called Advocates for School Choice.
The American Federation for Children is now the umbrella organization for two nonprofits that have been at the center of the pro-privatization movement for over a decade. In addition to the renamed Advocates for School Choice, it includes the Alliance for School Choice, formerly known as the Education Reform Council. Both entities received extensive funding from the late John Walton, one of the Wal-Mart heirs. The boards of the two related entities included movement leaders Betsy DeVos–scion of a Christian Right family who married into the Amway home goods fortune–William Oberndorf, Clint Bolick, John Kirtley, Steve Friess (son of Foster Friess), James Leininger, John Walton, and Cory Booker.
These two nonprofits–Alliance for School Choice, a 501(c)(3) and Advocates for School Choice a.k.a. American Federation for Children, a 501(c)(4)– provided over $17 million in grants to 35 other national and state-level pro-privatization nonprofits from 2006 to 2010. These grants represented a significant portion of the total budgets for many of the state organizations. Today Betsy DeVos and John Kirtley are the chair and vice chair of both boards.
Dick DeVos has his own history with pushing for privatization of public schools, a subject we looked at in an article written after DeVos commented that the Grand Rapids Public Schools might need some attention. Even though Betsy might be the new Secretary of Education, her husband would certainly play a role, along with both the DeVos and Prince families.
In 2002, Dick DeVos gave a speech to the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation. In that speech DeVos lays out a strategy for attacking and undermining public education. Here is a video of that speech:
“That has got to be the battle. It will not be as visible. And, in fact, to the extent that we on the right, those of us on the conservative side of the aisle, appropriate education choice as our idea, we need to be a little bit cautious about doing that, because we have here an issue that cuts in a very interesting way across our community and can cut, properly communicated, properly constructed, can cut across a lot of historic boundaries, be they partisan, ethnic, or otherwise.” Dick DeVos
The Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation is also an important indication of where the couple provides funding to undermine public education. First, there is the DC-based entity called the Alliance for School Choice. In 2013, they contributed $250,000 to this group, which promotes the privatization of public education.
Another anti-public education source for DeVos philanthropy is the Foundation for Excellence in Education ($100,000 in 2013). Betsy DeVos sits on the board of directors, along with Condoleezza Rice and the board president, Jeb Bush.
Lastly, there is the Great Lakes Education Foundation, which has also received substantial funding from the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation. ($200,000 alone in 2013) The Great Lakes Education Foundation is a source of funding that supports the Great Lakes Education Project, of which Betsy DeVos is also a board member, along with the DeVos political operative, Greg McNeilly.
Then there are the funds the DeVos family has contributed directly to the Great Lakes Education Project which received $250,000 from the DeVos family on July 15 of this year.
Betsy DeVos is one of the four board members of the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP). The GLEP is part of a larger national network of organizations that are working to undermine public education. The GLEP is the primary entity work on undermining public education in Michigan and has most recently played a critical role in state policy decisions on the future of Detroit schools.
DeVos funding of the Great Lakes Education Project just paid off in the most recent election. GLEP announced that 49 of 53 candidates endorsed by the education advocacy group were successful in yesterday’s general election for the Michigan House of Representatives. GLEP-endorsed candidates winning yesterday include 25 re-elected incumbents and 24 new legislators.
Betsy DeVos would certainly fit in the new Trump administration, despite the fact that no one in the DeVos camp gave money directly to the Trump campaign. And even if the Trump administration decides to pick someone else, you can bet that Betsy DeVos will play a role in helping to craft federal policy in the same way she has played a critical role in forming education policy in many states throughout the country.
Urgent Appeal – If you are able to donate to the Michigan Host Tent site at standing Rock, please go to this link. https://www.gofundme.com/www-facebook-com-michigan-host-tent-at-standing-rock-9971858
We conducted an interview with Regis Ferland from Mt. Pleasant. Regis was instrumental in setting up the Michigan Host Tent Camp here at Standing Rock and has made several trips for more supplies.
He and several others arrived at Standing Rock last night and brought with them 3 additional large tents, clothing, food and wood stoves that will be used to heat the tents.
In this interview Regis talks about what he has seen here at Standing Rock, how inspiring everyone has been, how people from Michigan have stepped up to support the struggle here and how much hope he has for the fight!
Resilience and Resistance at Standing Rock: Part 4 – Interview with Nancy Gallardo
Earlier this morning we had a chance to interview Nancy Gallardo from Grand Rapids who has been at Standing Rock for the past two weeks. Nancy teaches theater to youth in Grand Rapids.
In this interview, Nancy talks about how inspiring and transformative her experience at Standing Rock has been and why we need to be part of this struggle in any way that we can.
Nancy has been staying at the Michigan Host Tent Camp site and doing lots of kitchen work. She has been an inspiration to everyone who has met her, with her tireless commitment to making sure people feel welcome and get the nourishment they need.
We interview Anishinaabe Lee Sprague today about where he thinks things are at in regards to the Indigenous resistance to the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline. One thing he said, which is extremely important, is that they are using low-cost tactics that are having a high-cost impact on the pipeline company.
Lee has an address where he can accept parcels and mail. See below for list of items they desperately need!
Wes Howard
C/O Lee Sprague
110 S. River Rd.
Fort Yates, ND 58538-9998
PO Box 485
We can accept deliveries to Pueblo Camp. It located on NW End of Oceti Sakowin camp. Ask for Lee Sprague or Brad Kallio at Pueblo Camp. We are in the solar powered Tipi, with a smoke stack.
What we need in Standing Rock, in support of our Michigan Canoe Team at Standing Rock.
12 Orànge Coast Guard life jackets
4 life guards throw rings
Space blankets
4 yellow 30qt Sealife water
4 Earth anchors 24″ or longer.
2 -100 foot staticbraided climbing rope
2 -200 foot static braided climbing rope
2-400 to 500 foot long static braided climbing rope.
Trying to buy thế items in North or South Dakota is difficult.
Most of us have our own wet suits, and we purchased some at Play It Again Sports with donations on the Michigan Canoe team. We need more. XL and 2XL wet suits. And Neoprene gloves. XL, XXL, socks and shoes, size 10 and up to 15, and neoprene head gear.
We have water rescue trained people at Standing Rock, we just need more equipment.
In two weeks, when cold weather set in, we will need Dry Suits to continue to be in the water at Standing Rock and help our Water Protectors.
We saw the DAPL Security Forces macing our Water Protectors, in the water. That is who we protect.
We need 2 Large, 2 Xtra Large and Two Grizzly size NRS Extreme Dry Suits.
We will also need 2 Zodiac Boats, motors and trailers, and a twenty by ten vehicle and boat shelter for the winter in Standing Rock.
We also need a 20’×40′ foot army tent, or 20’x60′ for our Winter kitchen, Which is curently a summer outdoor kitchen. We have wood burning stoves.
We need sturdy industrial shelving, in boxes.
We need uniform medium storage totes that can be used to store materials, and be sat on.
We need 10 lbs of 3 inch deck screws quick.
We need 4×8 half inch plywood, we need 4×8 1 inch inflation panels, we need 4″x4″ posts 8, foot long. We need 2″x4″ 8 foot studs.
We need 2 pairs of Night Vision binoculars or monocular with replacement batteries.
We need gas masks, and replacement cartridges.
We need a 6-8 person ice shanty. Insulated is esential to function. We need out door storage cabinets, and sheds. We need insulation. As supplies and donations arrive, we have limited storage availability.
We are working hard at accommodations for Thanksgiving Dinner, and that you can join us. Bring R14 fiberglass insulation with reflective vapor barrier. Bring medium and large totes, strong enough to sit on.
Bring a smile.
Resilience and Resistance at Standing Rock: Part 2
Urgent Appeal – The weather has turned much colder in the past 24 hours and people here are in urgent need of funds to purchase materials for permanent structures and other resources to stay warm and stay safe. You can donate to the Michigan Host Tent directly by going to this link https://www.gofundme.com/www-facebook-com-michigan-host-tent-at-standing-rock-9971858.
We also will be making other posts with specific needs for other camps from Michigan that are involved in direct action. Last night, they told us that the pipeline is scheduled to be complete by January 1st, so there is added urgency for solidarity and support.
The picture below shows “security lights” that the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline company uses during the night.
These lights are placed along the trajectory of where the pipeline will be constructed. However, these lights play an additional role in that they are pointed at the camp at night for the purpose of deterring Indigenous Water Protectors from engaging in further action against the oil pipeline. The lights in this photo are just above the river, where police and private security have been using pepper spray and other forms of brutality against the water protectors on an almost daily basis.
We also found out last night that the Dakota Access Pipeline company is using drones to both monitor the route of the pipeline, but also to monitor to the resistance from Water Protectors.
Resilience and Resistance at Standing Rock
The energy here is amazing. People are coming from all over North America and from around the world to stand with the Lakota against Dakota Access Oil Pipeline.
We were greeted at the camp entrance by a man who welcomed our presence and was glad to know that we were on the right side of history.
You can see from the picture here how vast the camp has become and it is growing by the day. There is the daily resistance, which consists of direct action, where people are putting their bodies between the pipeline construction workers and land……this sacred land, which the Lakota people have respected and lived on for centuries.
In addition, there is the resistance that takes the form of defying the oil company and the federal government, which have colluded in the construction of the oil pipeline. There are the warriors, women and men, who are praying, resisting and protecting the water.
In many ways, what the people at Standing Rock are teaching the rest of us how live on this earth, how to respect our elders, how to respect all living things and how to respect each other.
Every day there is work that gets done, from splitting wood, to making food, to providing healing for people and to make sure all the donations are being used in a respectful manner. Every day, people bring supplies and engage in mutual aid. This afternoon, two huge trucks came and unloaded logs that will be cut and split to provide warmth for those who are dug in for the long haul. This is the resistance, the defiance that people are demonstrating on a daily basis, by saying they will not give up or give in to the death culture embodied in the oil pipeline.
Then there are the stories. Stories of Indigenous people traveling long distance to be here. One guy, who is from Michigan and now lives in northern California, told us that friends loaded up his car with donations to make the trek to Standing Rock. Along the way, he was stopped by police and forced to sit in a squad car for 2 hours while they searched the contents of the car, because “he looked suspicious.”
We were able to find the Michigan Host tent here at Standing Rock, with people from all over the state, some from Grand Rapids who came to be part of this historic action. We talked with Nancy from Grand Rapids, who has been here for a week and at times feels like she never wants to leave. She was coordinating activities at the Michigan Host tent and making sure that people were getting what they needed. There are also people from Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Port Huron and the UP.
Nancy then talked about the direct action to protect the water. She stated that it was indigenous women who were being targeted by the police and security forces hired by the oil company. People are being arrested and detained for over 24 hours before they even are allowed to contact a lawyer or a family member. But this resistance is only gaining in strength, despite the violence being done against them. This resistance is strong and you can see it in the faces of people here and can feel it in your bones.
The elders are constantly invoking their elders and it often seems as if the past and the present are one and the same. They will tell you that their ancestors are present, telling them what to do and giving them strength.
As the sun begins to go down, we are all warmed by the fire and genuine humanity that surrounds us.
White House No Place for White Supremacy?
It was announced within the last day or so that President-Elect Donal Trump has named Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counselor.
The news media and blogosphere were all over the this story, often making the statement that the White House is no place for White Supremacists or White Supremacy.
Even the liberal group, the Southern Poverty Law Center released a statement against the announcement, with the following quote:
“Stephen Bannon, a man who led a media empire into becoming what a former Breitbart editor called a ‘a cesspool for white supremacist mememakers,’ simply has no business in the White House.”
Such a statement not only flies in the face of US history, it reflects a complete lack of understanding about the very nature of White Supremacy.
If one reads the important book by Clarence Lusane, Black History of the White House, it becomes clear that White Supremacy has always been an integral part of the US power structure, including the federal government.
The obvious examples were that several of the first US Presidents actually owned staves. More importantly, if we come to terms with the very definition of White Supremacy, then we can see how every US administration has perpetuated this system of oppression.
The Chicana activist/scholar, Elizabeth Martinez, defines White Supremacy as such:
Thus, every US administration has embraced White Supremacy based on the fact that they have been about the exploitation and oppression of other nations, particularly nations with a majority of people of color (think Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East).
One the domestic front, the same thing has been true, whether it has and continues to be the US treatment of Indigenous people/nations, the exploitation and oppression of African Americans right up until this moment and all other communities of color that continue to disproportionately live at higher levels of poverty and make up a disproportionately higher number of those within the Prison Industrial Complex.
Think about the reality of communities of color even under the Obama Administration. The economic status of communities of color has not improved, in fact, it has even become worse under the current administration. Think about the number of black people that have been murdered by cops in the last few years, in which the federal government has refused to do anything substantially to oppose it. Even the number of deportations has gone up under the current administration. This is all because the power structure benefits from such oppression. Remember, White Supremacy is System of Oppression that maintains and defends a system of wealth, power and privilege.
Now, this is not to say that having Stephen Bannon as a member of Trump’s administration is a good thing, but make no mistake about it, the White House has always embraced and perpetuated White Supremacy, a system of oppression that we must resist.
On Tuesday, November 15, a few of us from West Michigan will be traveling to Standing Rock to show our support for those resisting the pipeline that is threatening the lives of Indigenous community in North Dakota.
In addition, we plan to conduct interviews with indigenous people who are resisting the pipeline. This is our primary purpose, to center the voices of indigenous people who have chosen to fight, who have chosen not to be oppressed, who have chosen not to allow the water to be contaminated and those who have chosen to remain sovereign from white, settler-colonialism.
We will only be there for a few days.If you want to know ways to support the indigenous resistance at Standing Rock, here is a link for those wanting to offer monetary or material support.
If you want to offer any support to those of us going, just send an e-mail to jsmith@griid.org.
“Those who own the country ought to govern it.” John Jay 1777
Electoral politics are often brutal, deceptive and often result in strange bedfellows. This has always been the case in the United States, since the founding fathers constructed a nation that would institutionalize inequality.
The spectacle of electoral politics makes for great headlines, with a cast of characters that seem right out of a Marvel comic book. Yet, those who run the country are happy to keep us entertained and distracted with the electoral spectacle.
Take for example the most recent visit to Grand Rapids by the Donald Trump campaign. The MLive coverage of the Trump rally on Monday, was just the most recent example of how electoral politics is nothing more than spectacle, with pictures politicians and loyal GOP voters.
However, there are always hidden gems in such coverage. Former Ambassador to Italy, local businessman and member of the Grand Rapids power structure, Peter Secchia, had some very instructive things to say about contemporary electoral politics. During the Trump rally at the Delta Plex, Secchia is quoted as saying, “I have a message for the Bushes and Mitt Romney, If you don’t want to support Donald Trump: Shut up! If you don’t know where you are today, you’re a loser.”
Such smash mouth rhetoric seems like what you might hear at a WWE event, but this is the norm for contemporary electoral politics in the US. It shouldn’t surprise us, especially when we consider the source.
Peter Secchia has made millions off of other people’s labor and as a member of the Grand Rapids power structure he has waged war on the masses, what Henry Giroux has referred to as, “the expendable class.” Giroux is referring to working class people, the poor, communities of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, those on the margins. The very same people that Donald Trump derides and the very same people that Peter Secchia has contempt for.
Secchia may not use the same language that Trump uses to belittle people, but the policy goals of Peter Secchia have the same results. Secchia has engaged in this policy work most recently through the West Michigan Policy Forum, which is made up of the West Michigan power structure. What this group has been calling for since its inception in 2008 has been for the elimination of the state business tax, passing a Right to Work law in Michigan, pushing for greater austerity measures by local & state government, the privatization of public services and most recently, the elimination of public sector employee pensions.
Once we come to terms with what Secchia and the rest of the capitalist class is really about in West Michigan, we realize that what he had to say at the Trump rally was not all that surprising.
However, the world of electoral politics becomes even more insidious when we look at how it creates strange bedfellows.
Just last week, during the Mayor’s Tree Planting event, one saw Peter Secchia being photographed with Grand Rapids Mayor, Rosalyn Bliss. In the photo here, you can see Secchia with the mayor, but what is more interesting is that they are holding Thank You cards expressing gratitude for Rich and Helen DeVos. Why did the city find it necessary to say thank you to the local oligarch’s? According to the City of Grand Rapids:
“The DeVos Tribute Grove features a plaque honoring Richard and Helen DeVos for all they have done to beautify and grow our city into what it is today. The plaque also expresses the community’s deep gratitude and love for the couple.”
Secchia did participate in the tree planting event, but more importantly he was engaging if the politics of access. During the last campaign for mayor in Grand Rapids, Secchia, along with several other members of the local power structure (JC Huizenga, Kate Wolters, Scott Brew, Bill Bowling, Robert Woodhouse, Sam Cummings, Doug DeVos, Steve Van Andel, Scott Bowen, Dan Bowen, Sharon Bowen, Mark Breon, Friends of West Michigan Business, Ray Kisor, Mark Murray, Scott Wierda, Thomas Cronkright, Josh May, Lawrence Duthler, Arnold Mikon, Mark Sellers, Realtors Political Action Committee, GR Firefighters Union, GR Police Officers Labor Council all contributed between $500 and $5000 to Bliss’s campaign, according to Campaign Finance records through Kent County.
Campaign money buys access, but it also buys silence and compromise. In this case, it means that the policies that Peter Secchia (through the West Michigan Policy Forum) promotes and the things he said at the Trump rally will not be challenged by local elected officials, particularly the Mayor. The war on working class people will not be challenged, nor will the misogynist, white supremacist language and policies of the local power structure be challenged. In a sense, Secchia telling GOP people who don’t support Trump to Shut Up, is exactly what he is saying to local politicians who believe they have to “be strategic” and not alienate those who not only own the city, but govern it.
It’s Not Philanthropy, It’s Ideological and Class Warfare: How the DeVos Family Foundation contributions complement their political donations – Part II
Last week we looked at how the DeVos Family uses their vast financial resources to influence elections and purchase policy, particularly at the local and state level. We also began the process of investigating how their political funding is complemented by their philanthropic contributions.
We presented recent examples of the DeVos Family’s efforts to influence the 2016 elections and compared that specifically with the Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation contributions. It seems rather clear that in addition to the DeVos Family’s commitment to a patriarchal/heterosexist brand of christianity, their philanthropic giving also supports projects which furthers their deep commitment to Neoliberal Capitalism.
Since last week, it has been reported by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network that nine members of the DeVos Family have been the largest contributors to the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) in the most recent election cycle. Each of the nine members of the DeVos Family have contributed $40,000 to the HRCC, for a combined $360,000. The $360,000 that the DeVos Family has contributed to the HRCC was just for the period of July 21 through October 20.
What we will look at in Part II is the remaining DeVos Family foundations and where they have directed their funding to demonstrate how it fits within their ideological and class warfare framework.
Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation
The Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation also contributes larger sums of money to the organizations that fit within their ideological and class warfare framework. One such entity is the Acton Institute. The Grand Rapids-based think tank, which believes that Capitalism and Christianity make good bed fellows, has received $505,000 from the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation according to the 990 reports for 2012 and 2013.
Another Capitalist entity that they have contributed to is Endeavor, which likes to refer to itself as a non-profit for entrepreneurs. The Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation contributed $162,000 in 2013, according to their 990s, but they also play a significant role in having a staff person from their foundation sit on the regional board of Endeavor in Detroit, Nate Lowery.
However, the major area of philanthropy for Dick and Betsy DeVos is in the area of an attack on public education. They do this through several organizations with their funding. First, there is the DC-based entity called the Alliance for School Choice. In 2013, they contributed $250,000 to this group, which promotes the privatization of public education.
Another anti-public education source for DeVos philanthropy is the Foundation for Excellence in Education ($100,000 in 2013). Betsy DeVos sits on the board of directors, along with Condoleezza Rice and the board president, Jeb Bush.
Lastly, there is the Great Lakes Education Foundation, which has also received substantial funding from the Dick & Betsy DeVos Foundation. ($200,000 alone in 2013) The Great Lakes Education Foundation is a source of funding that supports the Great Lakes Education Project, of which Betsy DeVos is also a board member, along with the DeVos political operative, Greg McNeilly.
Dan & Pamela DeVos Foundation
The Dan & Pamela DeVos Foundation is not nearly as big as the other DeVos foundations, but they contribute in similar ways, thus supporting the link between philanthropy and the family’s more overt political contributions.
Dan & Pamela also give to the usual suspects of pro-capitalism, such as the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ($90,000) and the Acton Institute ($50,000). They also contribute significantly to pro-business universities, such as Northwood ($1.3 million). Lastly, the Dan & Pamela DeVos Foundation also throws its money behind education efforts that promotes privatization, through the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation. ($150,000) This entity has as its partners major corporations and private donors that reads like a who’s who of those who are benefiting most from neoliberal capitalism.
Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation
Like the Dan & Pamela DeVos Foundation, the Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation is smaller than other family members, but they too use philanthropic dollars to fund ideological and class warfare endeavors.
Doug & Maria has contributed large sums to the Acton Institute ($435,000), the American Enterprise Institute ($2 million) and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ($100,000). This DeVos foundation has also supported anti-LGBT projects, like the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), with a contribution of $250,000.
It should also be noted that the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation gave $100,000 to the Clinton Global Initiative in recent years. The Clinton Global Initiative has come under increasing scrutiny because of it role in profiting off of misery and its role in shaping US foreign policy.
