About The Gerber Foundation
Our Mission
The mission of The Gerber Foundation, to enhance the quality of life of infants and young children in nutrition, care, and development, has remained the guiding beacon for Foundation giving throughout its history. Accordingly, priority is given to projects whose primary beneficiaries are young children from birth to three years of age.
The Gerber Foundation expects its grant dollars to significantly impact issues facing infants and young children. Through our grant-making efforts, we are committed to improving the health and well-being of the youngest members of our society. The Foundation maintains three primary focus areas for its grant-making:
Primary Focus Areas
Pediatric Research
West Michigan Grants
Scholarships
History of The Gerber Foundation
Daniel Gerber, Sr
Established in 1952 as the Gerber Baby Foods Fund by Daniel Gerber, Sr. and Gerber Products Company, the Foundation provided $14,700 in support to various organizations during the first year of operation. While the Gerber name may imply a strict interest in infant nutrition, Dan Gerber felt a commitment to a much broader range of activities. In those early years, grants were provided to such organizations as the American Red Cross, Americas Future, 4-H Clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Fire Protection Association, among others. Small grants were also awarded to various community agencies within communities where Gerber Products Company had a presence. Beginning in 1953, scholarships were provided to a wide variety of institutions across the United States as well as to dependents of Gerber Products Company Associates.
Dan Gerber’s interest in agriculture, education, infant care, and youth programs is evident through the long list of donations made in these early years and throughout the Foundation’s history. These interests are still reflected in the Foundation’s grant-making programs today.
The name of the Foundation was changed to The Gerber Companies Foundation in 1985 to more accurately reflect the status of the company with its many subsidiaries. In 1994, The Foundation became a separately endowed, private foundation when Gerber Products Company merged with Sandoz Ltd. In 1997, the name was changed to The Gerber Foundation.
Board of Directors
Barbara J. Ivens
President
Newaygo, MI
Fernando Flores-New
Vice-President
Houston, TX
Stan M. VanderRoest
Treasurer
Grandville, MI
Tracy A. Baker
Secretary
Irons, MI
William L. Bush, MD
Byron Center, MI
Randall Dyk, MD
Kalamazoo, MI
Michael G. Ebert
Naperville, IL
Leigh Anne Higgins
Grant, MI
Raymond Hutchinson, MD
Chelsea, MI
Randy A. Puff
Fremont, MI
Steven W. Poole
Grand Rapids, MI
Robert Schumacher, MD
Ann Arbor, MI
Amy Sapsford
Melbourne, KY
Wendy Taylor
Grand Rapids, MI