Individual Giving
AT GRAND RAPIDS BALLET
WHY GIVE?
GRAND RAPIDS BALLET IS:
- Michigan’s home for professional ballet
- A cultural cornerstone of our city, state, and region
- A training ground for world-class artists representing states and countries around the world
- The opportunity to engage in community
- True mastery of craft in front of your own eyes
- A place where audiences experience something rare and lasting
- Bringing in new and different shows to an audience that is hungry for it
- Pushing the boundaries of dance in Michigan
We don’t just put on shows. We don’t just employ dancers, costume designers, and a non-profit staff. We shape identity, education, and community pride for the state of Michigan’s dance scene.
Vision
To uplift and engage the human spirit through the art of dance.
Mission
To be Michigan’s home for world-class ballet experiences that enrich, educate, and inspire.
DONOR RECOGNITION
LEVELS AND BENEFITS
$100
Friend
$250
Patron
$500
Sustainer
$1000+
Director's Circle
For those who wish to deepen their impact, we invite you to join our Director’s Circle, a group of leading donors whose annual support provides vital resources for our productions, education, and outreach programs. Director’s Circle members enjoy exclusive benefits including:
- Invitations to private receptions with our dancers and artistic team
- Behind-the-scenes access to rehearsals and special events
- Recognition in season programs
- Access to the Director’s Circle Lounge, open before each performance and during intermission. Stop in to enjoy a beverage, connect with fellow Director’s Circle members, and engage with Ballet board members and staff.
Additionally, our Encore Circle is established for estate gifts for those who give in honor of their future legacy. The Encore Circle is invited to enjoy premium benefits alongside Director’s Circle members.
GIVE ONCE, GIVE MONTHLY, OR CONNECT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR PLANNED GIFTS for your legacy, TODAY.
Planned giving for tomorrow and forever with Encore Circle.
DONOR PROFILE: MEET JOHN NIENHUIS
“Why do you attend the ballet?” Why do you want to be so involved?” I have been asked that question so many times by friends, family and acquaintances. My answer? The Grand Rapids ballet brings so much joy into my life.
The performances are dramatic, sometimes comical, often tragic, and at times, disconcerting. I have discovered that I don’t have to understand each performance to enjoy it.
I find joy in talking with the dancers following the performance. It is such a privilege to talk to the dancer/creators and listen as they explain the process of creating their dance and how they chose the music and developed the theme.
I also find joy in knowing those in leadership with the ballet. I am amazed at their enthusiasm, their commitment, their vision for the future, and the integrity that drives everything they do.
We are so privileged to have the Grand Raids Ballet as part of this community. I am excited for the future and the opportunities ahead as we grow and seek out new audiences. We are so fortunate that Grand Rapids is Michigan’s home for classical ballet.
DONOR RECOGNITION
- Director's Circle $5,000+
- DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE $1,000+
- SUSTAINERS
- PATRONS
- FRIENDS
$100,000+
Ang/Mitchell New Work Fund
Dan & Pam DeVos
Dale Schriemer
Wege Foundation
$10,000+
Amway
Fawcett Family Foundation
David & Nancy Field
Foster Swift Collins & Smith -
Grand Rapids
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Frey Foundation
Sidney J. Jansma
Jerome Robbins Foundation
Keller Foundation
Michigan Arts & Culture
Andrea & David Nemes
Robert Oracz & Dave Schmidt
Mary & Richard Panek
Parkinson’s Association of
West Michigan
Jim Shafer & Leah Voigt
Paul & Amy Skentzos
Jack Pearson & Susan J. Smith
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Elizabeth Yntema
$50,000+
Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation
Carol Muth
James & Mary Nelson
Steelcase Foundation
Mary Yurko & Mark Gurney
$5,000+
Anonymous(2)
A.K. Rikk’s
Baldwin Foundation
Beacon Hill @ Eastgate
Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.
Samuel & Shon Field
Forest Hills Public Schools Foundation Kathy Golinski
Grady’s Parkinson’s Promise
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Beth Jabin & Steve Frykholm
Dottie Johnson
Wallson & Rebecca Knack
Michael & Melissa Lojek
Patrick McConeghy
John McGarry
Northern Trust
Lynn & John O’Donnell
Kathy Pleune
James & Cynthia Sofranko
The Tholl Pearson Group
Kevin & Joseph Toler
Lynn & Stuart White
$25,000+
Beusse & Porter Family Foundation
Helle & Marcus Haw
Meijer, Inc.
Arthur J. and Kathryn D. Mervenne Foundation
The Shubert Foundation
John & Christine Willig
$2,500+
Ellen Arlinsky
Luis & Amanda Avila
Jeffrey Bergers
Kimberly & Charles Burke
Douglas DeBoer Memorial Fund of Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Elizabeth Tinney Donley
Darcy J. Dye
Eli Lilly and Company
First National Bank of Michigan
Jessica & Kevin Grosch
John Hunting
Margaret P. Idema
Susan Jackson & Rich Sofranko
Stephen & Jamie Kusmierczak
Mary and David Lockrow
Mary Loupee
Kelly May
James R. & Norma Jean McCormick
Jennifer & James Meeks
Kathy Muir Laidlaw
Jeffrey & Courtney Muth
John Nienhuis
Jonathan W. & Kelly M. Opdyke
Wendy Stock
Doug & Colleen Van Doren
Varnum LLP
$1,000+
Anonymous (2)
Leslie Abdoo
Mark Amenta
Mary Appelt
Luis E. Avila, Jr.
Marcella Beck
Charles Behler
Joanne Bent
Michael & Carol Betz
Margaret Beusse
Amanda Botsko-Wilson
The Brooks Family
Donald J. Bruggink
Emily Bunce
W. Gene Coburn
Doug Coulter & Pamela Hoppe
Lori Lee and Michael Curley
Brett & Jessica Dekkenga
Abby Dilley
Kenneth Doss
Sheri & Dean Estes
Carolyn & Dan Frank
Alberta A. Garbaccio
Andrew Goodwillie
Patrick Goodwillie
Catherine Haney
Leslie & David Hatfield
Meghann Hoff
Kathleen Horton
J.C. Huizenga
Win & Kyle Irwin
Mary & Matt Jennings
Sachiko Johnson
Marguerite Jones
Suzanne K. Jones
Mira & Teri Jourdan
Andy & Christina Keller
Nichole Kladder
Matthew & Dani Kool
Laura Kozminski
Frank Kwiatek
Jeff & Mimi Lixey
Admir Lugonjic
Thomas & Patricia Macholan
Edgar & Wendy Marty
Henry Matthews & Timothy Chester
Tom Merchant
Natasha & Tim Merkle
Kim Mulder
Mia & Bill Munroe
Susan B. Murphy
Khan & Liza Nedd
Patricia Nevala
Aaron & Joy Nienhuis
Michael & Kelli Palm
Norm & Jan L. Palm
Bradley Parks
Jo-Anne & Tim Perkins
Garry Post
Marie & James Preston
Milt & Barbara Rohwer
Gregory Sanial & Eva Habetinova
James & Leslie Sharp
Mark Siegrist
Dustin Sommer & Allyson Mulder
St. Cecilia Music Center
Tamara Steil
Kathryn Swanson
Thompson Family Fund
Sara Timm
Lisa & Taggart Town
Hailey Van Andel
Susan Vanderploeg & Mike Wilson
Carol Wagen
David Weinandy
Robert Zylstra
$500+
Eric Adams
Dana & Mary Nell Baldwin
James & Terry Baldwin
Todd Barnhill
Rick Bruick
John Chapin
John & Penelope Collins
Jilian DeNooy
Steven & Karen Ender
Thomas Evans
Mary L. Forman
Mary Caroline Frey
Donald & Laurie Gardner
Marilyn & Kenneth Goodson
Erin Hall
Marilyn E. Heiss
Douglas & Patricia Klein
Rachel Kortman
Scott & Sara Lewis
Arend & Nancy Lubbers
Scott McVittie
Kathy & Rick Merrill
Jennifer Mesler
Christian Meyer
Daniel & Sabrasue Miller
Thomas Moore & Jan Winters Stephanie Naito
Kathleen & Ken Nelson
Leonard and Eileen Newman Designated Fund
Marilyn Opdyke & Robert Currie
Sean Patterson
Jeralyn & Rhett Pinsky
Progressive AE
Stephen Rechner
Lisa & Tom Reehorst
Susan Rehrer
Pam & Randolph Rhett
Cameron & Katie and Roskam
Kendra Shimmell
Nancy E Short
Arianna Skentzos
Jamie SlotsemaRobert Stiverson
Peter M. Turner
Jim & Diane VanderMaas
John & Gwen Varineau
Pat Waring
Scott & Margaret Watson
Rebekah & Scott Wierenga
Thomas A. Wysocki
$250+
Anonymous (1)
Leon & Paula Ballast
Gordon Barger
Eugene Bego
Holly Boyer
Janet Brockway
Cynthia Conway
Nancy & Richard Court
Carol Dawe
James Decou
Matthew & Ashleigh Draft
Lauren Eakin
John & Louise Edison
Cynthia Fertenbaugh
Bruce Goodman & Janet M. Krueger Rick & Barbara Gossett
Anthony Hartman
Jane & Greg Hazle
Lawrence & Susanna Hedblom
John Hippe
Matthew Hodges
Sloan & Jenna Inns
Sandra Keelean
Debra Kendall
Michael & Michele Kopinski
Jerry & Alison Kraisinger
Diane Lobbestael
Les Neuman
David & Carol Osborn
Robert Peabody
Carl Plantinga & Cynthia Kok
Proof Fly Fishing
James A. Reiffer
Margaret Ryan
Stephen & Jennifer Sanford
Eric Shellenberger
Errol Shewman
Barbara St. John
Eric Stone
Randoulph & Brenda Teegardin
Arlene Tom & Philip Toy
Ghayas & Joy Uddin
Marian Vanderwall
Diane VanWesep & Edgar De Jong
Pam Vitaz
Karlis & Anda Vizulis
Sandy Wojczynski
Ann J. Wuerthele
Anonymous (2)
Bonnie M. & William Altman
Bonnie Anderson
Kristin Armstrong
Jeff & Anita Avery
Susanne Bachmann
Jamykal Badger
Leslie Bading
John & Nancy Bailey
Baker Holtz
Barbara Beineman
Sarah Belleveau
Jenna Bellovich
Adrianne Braun
Bob Brown
Richard Bullington
Amber Buys
Linda Campbell Thompson
Greg Carnevale & Diane Mahon
Brooke Carrell
Amy L. Charles
Dawn Couch
Alex Crow
Robert Czechowicz
Linda & Jon Damon
JD Denison
Kate Dernocoeur
Elizabeth Dykhouse
Jeanne Elders & Ron DeWaard
Andre & Amy Ferland
Revs. Maurice & Sara Fetty
Rosanne Fitzgerald
Matthew & Catie Fortier
Jeffrey & Sheila Frank
Kathy Freeman
James & Karen Grace
Elizabeth Graham
Brian S. & Lydia J. Hall
Susan Hall-Balduf
Susan & Matthew Halterman
Darren Hartman
Robyn Hubbard
Marshall & Rhonda Huismann
Chris Jabin
Carri Johnson
Constance Jones
Judith Kemph
Bruce Klein-Wassink
Arthur Kroon
Susan Kukla
Dr. Geoffrey Lam, Dr. Robyn Sackeyfio & Sophie Lam
Susan Marschall
Bill & Melissa Marsh
Jason McClearen
Rhonda Myers
Julie Otterbein
Denise Overbeek
Ed Paul
Rosa Pearson
Jill & Kenneth Peirce
Glen Peterson
Timothy & Pamela Pietryga
Jim & Carol Pike
Karima Punches
Claire Razmus
Kristin Ruud
Mary Ruzicka-Savage
Margaret Ryan
Timothy San Filippo
David & Paula Schriemer
William J. Schroer & Rachael Garland
Steven & Elizabeth Schultz
David & Linda Scianimanico
Jan Slotten
Thompson & Linda Southwell
Catherine Southwick
Jay Spitzley
Meredith Starnes
Andrea Starz
Tim Stoepker
Julie Tasker
Mickey & Karalyn Tresh
Aaron Turner
Karl & Joanna Van Harn
Darryl and Jane Varda
Anastasia Wheeler
Sadha Wheeler
Mary White
Carroll & John Wiener
Bruce Wilson
Richard & Lisa Wood
Nancy Yagiela
Amy Young
Nathan Young