Pella — Pete Kuyper and his son, Rev. Mike Kuyper, and Adam Farver recently invited board members of the Pella Community Foundation and the Marion County Community Foundation to a dinner for a special announcement.   Guests were not told the purpose of the event, and suspense culminated with excitement when it was announced that the Kuyper and Farver families were presenting the foundations a combined total of more than $1.7 million in memory of Pete Kuyper’s mother, Fran Kuyper, and his sister Ann Lennartz.

Pete thanked the board members for their volunteerism and the important community assets the foundations have become.  He shared memories of his mother and sister with the group, both of whom were raised in Pella and maintained close local ties despite their moves to Green Mountain, Colorado, and Seattle, Washington.  Pete described Ann as a passionate individual with an interest in conservation and protecting fragile environmental areas.  She worked primarily behind the scenes through her own foundation and was able to bring divergent interests together to accomplish much along the Northwest coast and throughout the state of Washington.

Fran Kuyper was remembered as a humble woman who was always willing to lend a hand to help others.  The daughter of a former president of Iowa State University, Fran was an accomplished swimmer and will be remembered for her great sense of humor and devotion to her family and friends.  Declining health and vision during her final years confirmed for the family the value of quality assisted living facilities.

Adam Farver, representing the great-grandchildren of Pete Kuyper’s grandparents, Pete and Lucille Kuyper, presented checks to both foundations.  Accepting for the Pella Community Foundation was President Jim Brandl, and accepting for the Marion County Community Foundation was Vice President Mary Van Zante.  Brandl expressed appreciation for the amazing gift and thanked the family members for their extreme generosity and the contributions Pella Corporation provides to Marion County and surrounding communities.  Van Zante said the foundations would meet soon to determine the best methods to leverage the gift for the benefit of residents throughout the county and to honor the memories of Fran and Ann.  

Van Zante also expressed appreciation to three special guests, Joan Kuyper Farver, Dr. Ken Weller, and Fred Kreykes, all of whom were instrumental in creating the Pella Community Foundation.  The board honored their vision and support by naming them directors emeritus.  Dr. Weller’s experience and untiring work were key in organizing both foundations.

Plans for the evening were made through Genlink, the Kuyper/Farver family office, by its director Stan Van Wyk and associates Kathy Schipper and Kathy De Zwarte.