www.worldaffairsflorida.org
or $35 on the day of
the event.
PROFILE: Richard
M. DeVos,
co-founder of the Amway Corporation, is owner of the
Orlando Magic and a philanthropist and motivational
speaker.
In 1959, DeVos founded Amway Corp. with his lifelong
friend and business partner, the late Jay Van Andel.
In
2000, Amway became a subsidiary of Alticor with
sister companies Quixtar, Inc. and Access Business
Group LLC.
DeVos has owned a number of professional sports
franchises, including the Orlando Magic of the NBA.
He is the author of four books and, as a renowned
speaker, he has appeared before hundreds of
thousands of people worldwide. His recorded talk,
"Selling America," received the Alexander Hamilton
Award for Economic Education from the Freedoms
Foundation. After receiving a heart transplant in
1997, he became chairman of the Speakers Bureau for
United Network for Organ Sharing. DeVos also serves
on the Florida Board of Governors for Northwood
University.
DeVos and his wife, Helen, generously support
hospitals, colleges and universities, arts
organizations and Christian causes in their hometown
of Grand Rapids, Mich., as well as numerous
organizations in Central Florida.
DeVos is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High
School and attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids,
Mich. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1944 to
1946. Rich and Helen have four children and 16
grandchildren. Their youngest son, Doug, is
president of Alticor.
ORGANIZER:
The World Affairs Council of the Florida Palm
Beaches is a membership-based organization that
creates forums for discussion of critical world
issues. Founded in 2003 as a 501(c)(3)non-profit,
non-partisan, education organization, its mission is
to promote understanding of the world, the people,
the politics, the economies and the cultures, and to
enhance the ability of our citizens to participate
in the global community and to better understand
world events through people-to-people diplomacy,
distinguished speakers, and educational outreach
programs.