Ram Donation

In 1949, a group of community leaders in Grand Rapids founded the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan. They believed an organization dedicated to international topics and American foreign policy issues was necessary in order to combat the isolationism in this area following World War II. Since then, the World Affairs Council has been dedicated to educating people in western Michigan about other countries, cultures and regions of the world, as well as providing a forum for discussion of critical foreign policy issues facing this country."Mr. Ed Orr and Judge Douglas Hillman, our two co-founders, with Dixie Anderson, our Executive Director.

Founded in 1990, Acton Institute is a nonprofit organization organizing religious, political and business seminars aimed at educating religious leaders, business executives, entrepreneurs, university professors and academic researchers. The institute has several publications, including a monthly current affairs and public policy journal in print and online. Its journal called Religion and Liberty discusses religious, political, economic, literary and cultural issues. Its program called the Acton University offers a four-day exploratory session of the intellectual foundations of a free society. Acton organizes various student conferences and offers awards and scholarships as well. The organization s community outreach program publishes transcripts and tapes of guest speakers. Acton Institute is based in Grand Rapids, Mich.