Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Newsletter December, 2012 Strong Character A Legacy of Integrity Utmost Honor Campaign for the Legacy of Gerald R. Ford GERALD R. FORD PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION SHARES VISION FOR THE FUTURE WHILE PREPARING TO CELEBRATE PRESIDENT FORD’S 100TH BIRTHDAY Campaign launched to build learning center and create access to historical documents. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation’s local Grand Rapids trustees met with area business and community leaders on November 9, 2012 to share a vision aimed at creating global access to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum’s and Library’s exhibits and documents through a $15 million capital campaign. The campaign will fund a 10,500-square-foot student learning center at the museum located in Grand Rapids and create interactive exhibits using the latest technologies. Online digital access to a significant number of historical documents in the museum and library located in Ann Arbor are also planned as part of the campaign. The fundraising phase of the campaign is expected to be completed during the spring of 2013. In addition, a series of special events are also being planned to commemorate President Ford’s 100th birthday. Further details of the special events, expansion, exhibit renovations and digital access to historical documents will be announced in the coming months. “The vision of this campaign is to attract students of all ages to the museum and provide online access to the museum and library’s incredible holdings,” said David Frey, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Trustee and Campaign Co-Chair, together with Trustees Red Cavaney and Terry O’Donnell. “This expan- sion will let individuals explore the Ford Presidency, the lives of Gerald and Betty Ford and a significant number of historical documents associated with the history of our nation during the 1974-1977 time period.” The Foundation is collaborating with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University to develop a curriculum that will benefit students and individuals who visit the museum, library or online learning sites. “Prior to today’s announcement, this plan was shared with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation trustees, and they collectively agreed to lead the funding efforts by pledging a combined $10 million to get the campaign moving quickly,” said Steve Ford, son of President and Mrs. Ford, and chair of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. “The addition of an on-site student learning center will allow teachers to bring full classrooms into the museum to study history, civics and see first-hand the core Top: (l-r) Chairman Steve Ford announces the Capital values Mom and Dad shared throughout their life.” Campaign for the Legacy of Gerald R. Ford to local business and community leaders. He is joined by Vice-Chairman Hank Individuals or businesses interested in donating to the Campaign for the Legacy of Gerald R. Ford can Meijer and Trustee David Frey. do so by contacting the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation at 616-254-0396 or by visiting the Bottom: Foundation trustees, along with local business Foundation’s website at www.geraldrfordfoundation.org. and community leaders, gather for the Capital Campaign The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum was dedicated in September 1981, and then updated in 1996. announcement. It is located in downtown Grand Rapids and is also the site of President and Mrs. Ford’s final resting place. Since January 1, 2012, more than 250,000 individuals have visited the Museum. (Continued on page 10.) Foundation News Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Steven M. Ford Chairman Letter from the Foundation Executive Director, Hank Meijer Joseph S. Calvaruso Vice-Chairman Red Cavaney President visit our website: On November 9, the United States Gregory D. Willard www.geraldrfordfoundation.org. Air Force Band of Flight performed Secretary In 2013, we’ll celebrate President at the Saint Cecilia Music Center David Hoogendoorn in Grand Rapids. The event was Treasurer Ford’s centennial birthday. The Grand Rapids Celebration is being co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Martin J. Allen, Jr. Ford Presidential Foundation and Chairman Emeritus co-chaired by Doug DeVos, Bob Museum in collaboration with the Hooker, Hank Meijer and Steve HONORARY TRUSTEES Van Andel. Thanks to each of Grand Rapids Community College William T. Coleman, Jr. Music Department. The band had Richard M. DeVos them for planning this special Alan Greenspan Joe Calvaruso introduces the United celebration. the honor to perform at President Ralph W. Hauenstein States Air Force Band of Flight. Ford’s state funeral services at Seymour K. Padnos Since September 11, 2002, the Grace Church in Grand Rapids BOARD OF TRUSTEES This is an exciting time for the President Ford Council, Boy on January 3, 2007. This was the John G. Baab Gerald R. Ford Presidential Scouts of America, has honored concert band’s last performance. James A. Baker, III those who gave their lives on 9/11, Susan Ford Bales Foundation and President Ford’s It was my high honor to welcome Vaden F. Bales extraordinary legacy. We are and those who continue to protect the Band back to Grand Rapids. Robert E. Barrett our great nation. Among the grateful to our lead donors who I would also like to thank the Benton L. Becker will make the Student Learning attendees of this year’s flag salute Lee C. Bollinger at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential many “Friends of Ford” who David Brandon Center and permanent exhibit donate their time, services and Robert W. Browne Museum included over 1,700 redesign a reality. We look funds to make possible our many James Cavanaugh forward to the public participation scouts, scout leaders, firefighters, Richard Cheney emergency medical technicians activities that sustain President Mary Sue Coleman in the Campaign for the Legacy Ford’s legacy. We wish you and Douglas DeVos and police officers. Steve Ford of Gerald R. Ford. I would like to your family a healthy, happy, and John M. Engler extend a special thanks to Capital was the keynote speaker at the Michael G. Ford prosperous New Year. Richard A. Ford Campaign Co-Chairs Red morning program. The President David G. Frey Cavaney, David Frey, and Terry Ford Council is the only Boy Scout Danny Gaydou O’Donnell for their dedication. For Council that has honored our Robert P. Griffin heroes on this day for the last James P. Hackett more information on the Campaign Carla A. Hills please contact the Foundation or eleven years. Roderick M. Hills Robert L. Hooker Robert D. Hynes Michael Jandernoa G. Richard Katzenbach Thomas E. Kauper David Hume Kennerly Looking Back Henry A. Kissinger John O. Marsh, Jr. Robin B. Martin Foundation Trustees William Martin F. David Mathews Stephen McConahey Carla A. Hills and Roderick M. Hills M. Peter McPherson John G. Morris Mark A. Murray The swearing in of Carla A. Hills as Secretary of Housing Terrence O’Donnell and Urban Development on March 10, 1975 by Justice Paul H. O’Neill Leon W. Parma Byron White in the East Room of the White House. She Richard D. Parsons is joined by President Ford and her husband Roderick M. Roger B. Porter Hills. Donald H. Rumsfeld Brent Scowcroft Carla Hills served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Peter F. Secchia Samuel “Buzz” Thomas, III Development from March 1975 - January 1977. She was Frank A. Ursomarso the first woman to serve in this position and the third Steve Van Andel Sanford I. Weill woman to ever serve as a cabinet officer. Ronald Weiser Albert C. Zapanta Roderick Hills served as Counsel to President Ford from Frank G. Zarb March - October 1975, and as Chairman of the Securities Joseph S. Calvaruso and Exchange Commission until March 1977. Executive Director Photo courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Elaine K. Didier Library/Museum Director Cover Photos courtesy of Dr. Robert M. Humphries. Legacy News Susan Ford Bales, Global Ambassador for Susan G. Komen For The Cure, presented the Betty Ford Lifetime Achievement Award to Senator Olympia Snowe at the third annual Honoring the Promise Gala at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Friday, September 28, 2012. The gala event honored those paving the way to a cure. The event raised $1.5 million for Susan G. Komen’s breast cancer programs. In addition, Susan was the keynote speaker at the 10th annual Power of a Promise luncheon in Seattle, Washington on October 24, 2012. Susan said, “As a recently named Global Ambassador for Susan G. Komen For The Cure, I am very honored to officially join Komen in this role. It represents a handing of the baton in a symbolic way from Mother to me, and from one generation of women to another. I often marvel that in just one generation we’ve come from a time when we wouldn’t say breast in polite conversation, to a time when this disease is discussed openly and candidly, just as Mother and Dad had hoped.” “I know we can stop this disease. Mother believed it; Dad believed it. The baton is now passed to a new generation of women and men who also have the resolve to stand up and defeat this killer.” On November 8, Steve Ford shared the story of his mother’s inspiring journey of breast cancer survival along with his own story of co-surviving at the Susan G. Komen annual benefit “On The Wings of Hope” at the Goei Center in Grand Rapids. Steve said, “If Mom were here tonight, she’d tell you she was just an ordinary woman stuck in an extraordinary time.” The event recognized local cancer survivors, volunteers and grantees for their determination, passion and effort in savings lives by fighting to end breast cancer.