Welcome to the U of M Club of Grand Rapids website!  We hope that you find the information on our events and services helpful.  Please feel free to join us for one of our numerous social or community service oriented events.  You may be surprised at the diversity of our club members and their involvement in the community. 

This past year has been an eventful one for the Grand Rapids club, as we have made a conscious effort to expand our programs to better fit the needs and wants of our membership.  We have continued many of our most popular events, including football game watch parties, family day at Robinette’s, community service day (with Feed America in 2009), and the annual student send off picnic.  Thanks to the hard work and dedication of many of our board members (and active non-board members) we have also started what we hope will be new Grand Rapids alumni club traditions.  Newly instituted events include family friendly outings at John Ball Park Zoo and the Van Andel Museum, social / networking events like Beer School and Wine Tasting, cultural events like a private viewing of and lecture about the Michelle Oka Doner (BSDES 1966 and MFA 1968) exhibit at the Meijer Gardens, and sports events like a chartered bus trip to Ann Arbor for a men’s basketball game.  It is our goal to offer events that appeal to the entire cross section of our membership, and we are always welcoming of ideas or suggestions for future events.

The club has also continued its strong commitment to academic achievement, with the award of 17 additional scholarships for the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year to some outstanding West Michigan students.  Counting these incoming freshmen, we anticipate having 69 students on campus in the fall who will be receiving scholarships from our program, with an annual outlay of approximately $210,000.  For many of these students, this scholarship was the difference maker which allowed them to attend the University of Michigan, and without it we may have lost these outstanding individuals to other institutions.  Our club’s endowment and the scholarships that we provide are only possible because of your generous participation in our programs.  We sincerely thank each and every one of you for your participation and your contributions, both past and future.

If you would like to join us for events throughout the year, please continue to visit this website and check your email for our communications.  If you would like to get involved, please feel free to contact us at grandrapidsclub@umich.edu or 616.459.BLUE. Go Blue!