The 18th Annual
Jay & Betty Van Andel

Legacy Awards Gala

The Depths of Discovery

Thursday, November 12, 2026 @ 6 p.m.
At the JW Marriott Grand Rapids

The Museum’s largest fundraiser, The Jay & Betty Van Andel Legacy Awards Gala, honors outstanding leaders throughout West Michigan who have inspired others with their personal and professional investments in the Grand Rapids and West Michigan communities past, present, and future.

Event Co-Chairs: David & Carol Van Andel, Linsey Gleason

Our 2026 Honorees

“The Casey” Award
Bill Templin

Bill Templin has been a Grand Rapids metro resident for the vast majority of his life, and is a graduate of Forest Hills Central and of Grand Rapids Community College. Bill is a longtime resident of East Grand Rapids and has been a Realtor for 22 years, with Compass Realty Services.

Bill has been a passionate supporter of the Grand Rapids Public Museum for over a decade. He donates regularly, both financially and with artifacts that have been added to the permanent collection. He serves on the Museum’s Donor Development Committee, where he helps connect new donors to the valuable work of the Museum, and strategizes new approaches to philanthropy in our community. He also currently serves as an Expanding Curiosity Cabinet Member. He assisted with the creation of the Museum’s fundraising Luncheon event in 2019. Numerous monthly donors and younger donors credit Bill for their introduction to the Museum. Bill is a community connector, and has been involved in many other community cultural institutions and organizations including the John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. He and his partner Sergio are avid world travelers, and make it a priority to visit all the museums that they can.

Dave & Carol Van Andel Leadership Award
Gina Bivins

Gina has been a part of the GRPM community for 30 years, beginning as a volunteer in 1981. She then began working as an employee in the 1990s, serving in a variety of roles. During Gina’s time at the GRPM as an employee, she served on teams creating new exhibits at the Van Andel Museum Center, including the Streets of Old Grand Rapids and the City Hall tile layout in the first-floor gallery. She was deeply involved in developing the Newcomers: The People of this Place exhibit. Her tour of Newcomers is legendary among the GRPM staff members for its depth and guest connections. As a current volunteer, she is a member of “Team Photo” at the Museum Archives, working to digitize photos from the Museum’s Collection and catalog them online.

Gina is also deeply involved in the larger Grand Rapids community. She spent over 45 years volunteering at the Festival of the Arts in numerous capacities, including chairing the event in 1991. Additionally, Gina sits on the board of the Grand Rapids Historical Society and served as President of the board until 2026. In 2026, Gina was honored by the Grand Valley State University’s Kutsche Office of Local History with the Gordon Olson Contribution to Local History Award.

Jay & Betty Van Andel Lifetime Achievement Award
Dale A. Robertson

Dale was born and raised in the Downriver Detroit community of Wyandotte, MI. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University, and his Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School while working full-time.

As a Board member for eight years and Chair for three, Dale led the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s transition effort from city department to non-profit entity. He chaired the blue ribbon task force that defined the vision for the new organization and assumed the role of President + CEO in 2008. Dale was a co-founder of the Grand Rapids Public Museum School which opened in 2016. Through an emphasis on “knowledge for all” Dale has championed a Museum where everyone is welcome and can leave empowered to ask the next best question to continue on a path of lifelong learning.

Prior to his work at the Public Museum, Dale began his professional career as a legislative aide in the State Senate for Senator Jim DeSana, and served as Director of State Legislative Relations for the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce. Dale spent 19 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. As Vice President for West Michigan, he oversaw the corporation’s 53-county West Michigan and Upper Peninsula operations in sales and marketing, and customer and provider services. Dale has a long history of community and civic involvement, and has held board positions with the Grand Rapids Economic Club, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Metro YMCA, Alliance for Health, Pine Rest Foundation, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, and Concordia University of Wisconsin/Ann Arbor. He was also a member of the River Corridor Plan Steering Committee and currently serves on the Michigan Future, Inc. Board of Directors. In 2019, Dale was appointed to the Michigan Travel Commission by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Dale lives in Grand Rapids with his wife of 42 years, Sonja. Together, they have four children and three grandchildren. A firm believer in the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, Dale is an active member of the YMCA. Among his greatest joys are reading and raucous time with his family.

Interested in Sponsorship?

Please contact Lyric Floria with questions regarding sponsorship | lfloria@grpm.org, 616.929.1704