Michigan entrepreneur donates $1 million to Iowa college

College to build theatre arts complex

ORANGE CITY, Iowa - A Zeeland, Michigan entrepreneur has donated one million dollars to Iowa’s Northwestern College. A private institution affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the college already has received $4.4 million for various projects over the years from donors Marvin - he served nine years as a member of the board of trustees - and Jerene De Witt.

The latest gift has been designated for Northwestern’s new theatre arts building. The 50,000-square-foot facility has a preliminary pricetag of $9 million.

Marvin De Witt with his brother Bill in 1938 founded Bill Mar Foods, a leading turkey processor which they sold to Sara Lee Corp. in 1987.

Northwestern, one of several RCA-affiliated colleges in the USA, is located in Iowa’s second mayor Dutch-American town. Originally called Oranjestad by Dutch settlers, Orange City became home to the college in 1882. Northwestern now has a student population of over 1,200.