Betsy DeVos American politician, businessman and philanthropist Date of Birth: 08.01.1958 Country: USA

1. Betsy DeVos: Republican Activist and Philanthropist
2. Early Life and Education
3. Political and Philanthropic Activities
4. Education Advocacy and School Choice
5. The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation
6. Appointment as Secretary of Education

Betsy DeVos: Republican Activist and Philanthropist

Elizabeth "Betsy" DeVos (née Prince) is a prominent American politician, businesswoman, and philanthropist affiliated with the Republican Party. Known for her advocacy of school choice programs, school vouchers, and her ties to the Reformed Church, DeVos has held influential positions within the Republican National Committee and has been a major donor to conservative political campaigns.

Early Life and Education

Born on January 8, 1958, in Holland, Michigan, Betsy DeVos is the daughter of billionaire industrialist Edgar Prince, founder of the auto parts supplier Prince Corporation. She attended private high school before graduating from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and political science. DeVos has stated that she was "involved in campus politics" during her college years.

Political and Philanthropic Activities

DeVos has been involved in Republican politics in Michigan since 1982. She has been described by Bill Ballenger, editor of the Michigan Politics newsletter and a former Republican state senator, as "a good grassroots organizer and good fundraiser." DeVos has personally raised over $150,000 for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004 and hosted a Republican fundraiser at her home in October 2008, which was attended by President George W. Bush.

DeVos's family has been actively involved in Republican politics for decades, particularly as donors to candidates and the party. Since 1989, the DeVoses have contributed over $17 million to Republican causes.

In 1997, Betsy DeVos wrote an op-ed in which she stated, "My family is the single largest contributor of 'soft money' to the national Republican Party. I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence. Now I simply remove the sting...You're right. We expect a return on our investment in the form of a conservative regulatory philosophy that is pro-business, pro-free markets, and pro-individual liberty."

DeVos has also been active in philanthropy. In 2010, Betsy and her husband, Dick DeVos, donated $22.5 million to create the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, an organization that trains, advises, and supports arts managers. DeVos stated that she asked the center's president, Michael Kaiser, to ensure that the gift would go toward "art and the education of artists," not for "training bureaucrats who hire artists."

Education Advocacy and School Choice

Betsy DeVos is a strong advocate for expanding school choice options in the United States, including charter schools and vouchers. She believes that the education system is "a closed system, a closed industry, and a closed market" and that opening up the market to competition will lead to greater "choice" for parents in an increasingly "privatized American public education system."

The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation

Founded in 1989, the Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation supports grants in the areas of education, leadership, the arts, justice, and youth and family. In 2015, the foundation's charitable contributions totaled $11.6 million, and throughout its history, Dick and Betsy DeVos have donated over $139 million.

Appointment as Secretary of Education

On November 23, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos to be the 11th United States Secretary of Education. Her nomination was met with controversy due to her lack of experience in public education and her views on school choice. DeVos was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in February 2017.