FIRST IN A SERIES: The Big MAC Attack How special interest groups and their think tanks waged the real Engler Revolution. SECOND IN A SERIES: Political Casualties Inside Gov. John Engler's war against worker's compensation. THIRD IN A SERIES: Onward Christian Scholars How Gov. John Engler and the radical right are campaining to make taxpayers fund religious schools. Series Home Page

The Big Four Richard & Helen DeVos Foundation The foundation started by Amway co-founder Richard DeVos is a major supporter of right-wing and fundamentalist religious causes. With a personal fortune estimated to be in excess of $4 billion, DeVos is one of America's wealthiest men. Son Dick-- a former member of the Michigan state school board and a key player in the state's educational reform movement-- has a foundation of his own. In addition to contributing to TEACH Michigan, the Mackinac Center and Michigan Family Forum, the Devoses handed out more than $8 million in 1994 to fundamentalist churches, conservative political causes, anti-abortion groups, English-only proponents, term-limit advocates and groups that support using the Bible as a basis for government. The Devoses also contribute to a wide variety of nonpolitical casuses ranging from the Boy Scouts to orchestras. Prince Foundation Founded by the late Edgar Prince, who made a fortune in the auto parts and machinery business, the Prince Foundation made $2.3 million in contributions in 1994. Among its most significant beneficiaries was the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, one of the leaders in the fight to deny gays and lesbians civil rights. FOF, which is also involved in the school reform movement, received $500,000 from the Prince Foundation. Holland Christian Schools received $630,000 and the Legion of Christ in Hartford, Connecticut, $100,000. The controversial Promise Keepers was given $50,000. The American Family Association, a group that promotes censorship of schoolbooks, received $10,000. Orville and Ruth Merillat Foundation With its fortune built from the kitchen cabinet business, the Merillat Foundation, based in Adrian, Michigan, doled out $6.4 million in 1994. A supporter of the Mackinac Center and Michigan Family Forum, it is the only member of the Big Four that didn't contribute to TEACH Michigan. It did, however, support members of a coalition that worked with TEACH Michigan, including the Foundation for Traditional Values, a Lansing group that advocates a government rooted in biblical foundations. It, too, funds anti-abortion groups and the Rutherford Institute, which provides legal services to right-wing religious causes. The single biggest contribtuion for the year went to the Christian Family Foundation in Adrian. Cook Charitable Foundation The smallest of the big four, the foundation was started by Peter Cook, an executive of Mazda Distributors Great Lakes in Grand Rapids. Of the $2 million it handed out in '94, the foundation contributed $25,000 to Focus on the Family and $15,000 to its state affiliate, Michigan Family Forum. Among its biggest contributions was $250,000 to the Western Theological Seminary in Holland. It also contributed $200,000 to the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids.