The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is upholding the Kellogg heritage and supporting Michigan State University through a $1 million endowment gift to maintain the W.K. Kellogg Manor House and Estate in Hickory Corners. The endowment also supports internships for MSU students to participate in property enhancements and programs that showcase the story of W.K. Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg Company and the foundation.
“We are glad to provide a way to enhance the educational experiences for students of MSUand Kellogg Biological Station, while at the sam etime preserving the legacy of the W.K. Kellogg family,” says James McHale, W.K. Kellogg Foundation vice president of program strategy.
The Kellogg Foundation deeded the property to MSU in 1952 for use in conjunction with the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS). KBS is MSU’s largest research center and includes an academic center and the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and Experimental Farm. KBS faculty develop programs in research and education to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes in natural and managed ecosystems and how this can be applied to the conservation of natural resources and sustainable agricultural practices.
In 1999 a $3.5 million grant from the foundation allowed MSU to restore the Manor House and Estate, once the summer home of W.K. Kellogg and his family, to their original grandeur. The Tudor revival structure now serves as a stately venue for a variety of public and private events, welcoming more than 8,000 people annually for tours, school outings, lectures by visiting scholars and professional meetings, as well as weddings and other special events.
“The Kellogg Manor House and Estate provide a unique opportunity to fulfill the mission of KBS by providing an entry point for the public to the research and educational programs being done at KBS,” says Kay Gross, KBS director, adding that MSU will work to leverage the foundation’s grant to raise an additional $500,000, bringing the total endowment fund to $1.5 million.
For more information on making a gift to support KBS or the Kellogg Manor Houseand Estate, contact Associate Director of Development Kate Powers at powers@msu.edu;(517) 355-9547.