Early in his career, when Andy DeVries taught at a Christian school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he and his wife, Kay, didn't have much money to give away, so they donated their time to Christian causes.  But in 1983, Andy accepted a sales management position with a promising start-up company.  When the business was sold twelve years later, Andy received a generous bonus for his efforts.     

"We prayed and decided to tithe on this windfall," says Andy, "but we didn't want to give it all away at once.  We preferred to leave some for our children, so they could experience the joy of giving even if their incomes were limited.  So we set up a private foundation to give to Christian causes."

The DeVries' were shocked to see that their foundation's annual administrative costs amounted to around 10 percent of the fund's value.  "The costs were twice what we were giving away each year," exclaims Andy.  "On top of that, the stock market was declining and the value of the foundation's investments was shrinking.  Our giving legacy was disappearing before our eyes!"  

Randy Veltkamp, president of the West Michigan Christian Foundation (WMCF), an affiliate of The National Christian Foundation (NCF), encouraged Andy to open a Giving Fund with WMCF.  He projected that a Giving Fund would enable Andy and Kay to double their giving to charities, while reducing their operating costs.  Andy knew and trusted Randy, because they had worked together at the start-up company.  But Giving Funds sounded too good to be true, so Andy didn't move quickly. 

In September 2002, Andy was rushed to the hospital emergency room following a life-threatening motorcycle accident.  The doctors told him they would have to amputate one of his legs.  That was devastating news – especially to Andy, who was six feet, six inches tall, and had always been a good athlete.  In fact, just a month before the accident he had tried out for the Michigan Senior Men's Olympic Volleyball team.

"Going into surgery I fully expected to lose my leg," recalls Andy.  "The next thing I remember is opening my eyes, feeling groggy.  I looked down and counted two legs and ten toes.  Beautiful music filled the air, and someone dressed in white – an angel, I supposed – was hovering around me.  I thought I was in heaven and had received a whole new body."

As it turned out, the "angel" was a nurse, and the heavenly music was coming over the operating room sound system.  Thanks be to God, the surgeons upon closer examination decided to try to save Andy's leg.  

But Andy was not out of the woods.  During follow-up surgery, he almost died on the operating table.  Months of rehabilitation stared him in the face.  

In October, the volleyball coach called.  "You made the team. You're playing in the Senior Olympics in May."

"I told him about the accident," says Andy.  "I couldn't believe his reply.  He said, ';I'll play you if you can just stand up.'  That really motivated me.  I went after rehabilitation with a vengeance."

By God's grace, Andy recuperated enough to show up for the Senior Olympics the following May.  He could barely stand up, but the coach sent him in the game.

"As I was about to serve," recalls Andy, "I looked over at Kay in the stands.  She rarely came to my athletic events.  Frankly, athletics had dominated my life, and I had put her in second place.  At that moment, I lost it.  I knew God had taken me through all these trials to bring us closer together.  The Potter needed to break me."

Inspired by Kay's forgiving, encouraging smiles, Andy served.  The opponents, much to their credit, hit the ball away from him rather than take advantage of his condition. He and his team won that game, and the next one.  The competition intensified at the semi-final level, and the coach told Andy he had to take him out.  But the team went on to win gold medals, which Andy and his teammates proudly hung around their necks.

Back home, Andy focused his attention on more lasting goals. He and Kay simplified their estate by closing down their private foundation and opening a Giving Fund with WMCF.  That eliminated burdensome paperwork, and it saved them money on income and excise taxes and legal and accounting fees.  Because of better money management, the fund's assets began to grow.  And the DeVries' felt more comfortable knowing that their assets were invested in socially responsible companies and industries.

"WMCF and NCF offered us five different investment alternatives," explains Andy, "ranging from conservative to aggressive.  Because they manage about $1 billion in Giving Fund assets, they are able to hire some of the best money managers in the industry.  We have been extremely happy with our Giving Fund from the start.  It has enabled us to give away twice as much to Christian ministries, while reducing administrative costs and completely eliminating administrative hassles."

Andy and Kay met their family giving legacy objectives by naming their Giving Fund The DeVries Family Foundation and designating their children to be successor advisors after their deaths.

Meanwhile, Andy experienced another medical setback.  The stress of the accident and the subsequent treatments caused his liver to shut down.  Doctors bypassed Andy's liver with a shunt, which saved his life.  But filtered blood reaching his brain adversely affected his health, including his mental abilities.  At times his hands would shake so violently he had to sit on them.  He qualified for a liver transplant, and waited.

"How does one pray for a liver transplant?" thought Andy.  "Do I pray for someone else to die so I can live?"  This dilemma gave him a deeper appreciation for what God had done for him in Christ. 

While waiting for a transplant, Andy gifted an existing life insurance policy to his Giving Fund, so the proceeds would be available for the Lord's work when he died.  He and Kay received a nice current income tax deduction for the gift.  They pay ongoing premiums by means of tax deductible gifts to their Giving Fund.

The DeVries' waited patiently, and sometimes not so patiently, for the call from the transplant hospital.  From time to time throughout this period they contributed appreciated stock to their Giving Fund.  They intentionally donated stock with the greatest appreciation in order to achieve the maximum capital gains tax savings when the stock was liquidated.

Finally, after two years, in November 2006, Andy received his transplant.  "I don't know who died so that I could live.  I hope to meet the family some day, so I can personally thank them for the gift."

Today Andy thinks a lot about gifts.  He is Director of Corporate Giving in the development department at Calvin College. He also teaches a marketing class in the business department,  where he challenges students to consider not only about how they will raise money for their businesses, but how they will give money back when their businesses are successful.

"We neglect younger people," says Andy.  "We shouldn't wait until they acquire wealth to teach them how to be good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure."

"Watching Andy's life unfold has been an inspiration to me," testifies Randy.  "He and Kay are faithful stewards who have given their hearts wholeheartedly to the Lord and to each other.  I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve them through the West Michigan Christian Foundation."