STORY BY AMY WHITE

Len Van Popering ’94 made the most of his time at Grand Valley. He served on Student Senate, was elected student body president, collaborated with university leadership and had the chance to study abroad.

Van Popering describes his extracurricular commitments, specifically, as a “living laboratory” that allowed him to apply what he was learning in the classroom to countless situations. He was able to fully engage his education and said GVSU opened his eyes “to a world of possibilities” and exposed him to opportunities he never thought were possible. 

“I enjoyed such a positive experience at Grand Valley,” he recalled, “and it was made possible largely through the generosity of other people.”

He traced much of his personal growth and professional success back to his time as a student. “I really attribute so much of what I've been able to enjoy and experience and contribute to those formative years at Grand Valley,” he said.

Making an impact

Van Popering believes Grand Valley offers a unique combination of academic excellence and personalized support. “It was a large institution that felt small,” he said. “I never felt like I was a number. I always felt like I could have an impact.”

That sense of agency was empowering for Van Popering, president of Applause Innovation. He felt seen and heard at Grand Valley, and he knew that his voice mattered.

He wants current students to have a similarly enriching experience, which is why Van Popering and his wife, Cristy, are offering a challenge gift during the upcoming Giving Tuesday campaign. 

For the past several years, this campaign has raised funds for the Replenish Basic Needs Center, a student-initiated program that offers perishable and non-perishable food items, clothing, personal care products, household items, infant and child necessities, and school supplies to learners in need.

Meeting basic needs

In a single academic year, Replenish serves more than 2,300 students. According to Lariesha Lee, assistant director for the Center for Women and Gender Equity, the donations from previous Giving Tuesday campaigns have allowed the program to grow. 

“With the new space that opened last year, we have been able to offer expanded services in a larger, updated and open space that is less stigmatizing,” she said.

For Van Popering, Replenish is one way to ensure more students can have a college experience as fulfilling as his own. As an executive in the restaurant industry, he said he feels strongly about helping people overcome food insecurity.

“For me,” he explained, “food can reflect fun and adventure, and it's a way for us to add joy to life. But, for so many people, the challenge of food security changes that dynamic. It puts them in a position where, instead of the enjoyment that comes from food, it becomes a real stressor.”

Removing barriers

One of the driving tenets of the Replenish Basic Needs Center is the understanding that Grand Valley students embody widely diverse life circumstances. Lee said the center strives to offer a ”non-judgmental space that welcomes students from all identities, backgrounds and socioeconomic status.” This includes using a client-choice food resource model that honors dietary, cultural and other student needs.

Van Popering knows that many students suffer in silence because they don’t know what resources are available. “To have the opportunity to play a small role in addressing a need that so many students have is extremely important,” he shared. “We want to help remove barriers and distractions so students can focus on getting the most out of their years at Grand Valley. My wife and I are glad we can join other alums in investing in the next generation of students.”

Getting involved

Giving Tuesday is December 3, and Van Popering’s gift means your donation will be multiplied if you give early. Once 100 people contribute, an additional $1,000 will be unlocked for students.