For Immediate Use

Contact: Roberta F. King

phone: 616 454 1751 x119
e mail: rking@grfoundation.org

John Canepa:
2010 Jack Chaille Community Philanthropy Award
Winner
October 29, 2010 – Grand Rapids Community Foundation awards its Jack Chaille Community
Philanthropy Award to John Canepa tonight. Canepa is the retired president of Old Kent Bank
(now 5/3 Bank). Not one to completely retire, he works as a consultant at Crowe Horwath.

Originally from Boston, he and his wife Marie never intended to stay in Grand Rapids beyond
his tenure as President of Old Kent. But during the years he served the bank (from 1972 to 1995)
Grand Rapids grew on them. As retirement approached in 1995, they couldn’t imagine leaving.
“I can’t imagine Grand Rapids without John Canepa,” said Diana Sieger, President of Grand
Rapids Community Foundation. “He’s been a force behind so many successful projects here. He
is someone other community leaders count on to help get things done. His involvement is a
commitment,” she said. John helped support the Community Foundation’s Building Community
Philanthropy campaign by serving on the campaign cabinet and is a long-time donor to the
Foundation.

Canepa is probably most well known for being one of the leaders behind the start up and success
of Grand Action. He, Dick DeVos and David Frey served as founding co-chairs of the
organization in 1993 as it transitioned from Grand Vision. Canepa still works with Grand Action.
Among the many projects that Grand Action has brought to fruition since its founding are:
DeVos Place, VanAndel Arena, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s renovation and the Michigan State
University School of Human Medicine. Currently Grand Action is exploring the feasibility of an
urban market in the Heartside area.

Canepa has a long association with the Humane Society of Kent County and in honor of his
Chaille Award for Community Philanthropy; a gift was made to the Humane Society in his
name.

more
John Canepa Receives Award, page 2

The Jack Chaille Community Philanthropy Award is given each year to a couple or individual
who embody the enthusiastic passion for the Community Foundation and the community as did
William Jackson Chaille, the (now deceased) President and Chair of the Board of the Rospatch
Corporation for whom the award is named.

Past recipients include:

Jack Chaille
James Carpenter
Dirk Hoffius
Sam Kravitz
Pat Edison
Richard Gillett, Sr.
Shirley Daniels
Chuck and Stella Royce
David Frey
Fred and Lena Meijer
Tom and Mickie Fox
Claudia and Allan Carlson

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