Jim and Donna Brooks receive philanthropy award

Jim and Donna Brooks, longtime Holland philanthropists and Grand Valley University Foundation members, received the Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy May 10 at the Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference in Lansing. Gov. Rick Snyder was at the ceremony which honored the couple for their work in philanthropy and dedication to helping others.

The award was established in 1995 upon the retirement of Mawby as chairman and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The award honors the work and philosophy of Mawby in encouraging private action for the public good through philanthropy. Mawby is a founder of both the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Nonprofit Association.

The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley is named after the Brooks family. Donna Brooks served as a member of the Grand Valley Board of Trustees from 1993-2009, and as board chair from 1997-2001 and 2006-2007. A longtime community advocate, she is a board member for Homecor, and has served on other community development boards. Jim Brooks is a managing partner of Brooks Capital Management and a partner in Investment Property Associates. He is the founding chair of the West Michigan Strategic Alliance.

The Brookses are current co-chairs of the university’s comprehensive campaign, Shaping Our Future; and vice chairs of the Grand Valley University Foundation.