Articles

Dan Miller and Susan Wright-Miller have deep connections with the Meijer family, Meijer Gardens, and charitable gift planning. Their involvement in the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Foundation comes with fond memories and open hearts.

Susan was born and raised in Greenville, Michigan, which is where Hendrik Meijer and his son, Fred, founded Meijer’s North Side Grocery in 1934. Susan’s cousin, David Filgas, was among the first employees and became good friends with Lena and Fred. While in college, Susan worked at Meijer store #1 as a cashier and at the courtesy desk. “It was a really great, fun experience,” she says. “I loved it because that was where the action was in Greenville.”

Susan’s parents owned a business in Greenville and they knew Fred well. She recalls a story her dad told about seeing “an old guy pushing carts around the Meijer parking lot in the rain. My dad pulled up, rolled down the window and realized it was Fred! My dad said, ‘What are you doing out here?’ Fred responded, ‘Do you know how much these carts cost?!’” The stores were formally called Meijer Thrifty Acres for a reason with Fred at the helm.

“The last time I spoke with Fred, he was getting his hair cut at the Cascade Meijer,” she continues. Every time she saw Fred and Lena, Susan would mention her cousin, David, who had worked with them at that first store. Lena always fondly remembered him and would share stories about their time together.

When Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in 1995, Dan, Susan, and their three-year-old son, Tommy, became members. The ticketing volunteers always remark about what a low membership number they have when picking up entrance tickets. The Millers supported Meijer Gardens’ kickoff fundraising campaign back in 1994, where for a $25 donation your name would be engraved on the marble ledge along the BISSELL Corridor,” she explains. “We donated $25 each, so all three of our names are engraved on the ledge. It’s fun to point it out to Tommy’s children when we visit.”

The Millers have also attended the annual fundraising events since inception. It was formerly known as the plant sale, which evolved into the Great Gardens Party. Susan volunteered for many years on the GGP planning committee.

Meijer Gardens has been central to their family life since those early days. “Tommy’s childhood photo albums are filled with many, many memories from the Gardens. A favorite family photo of Tommy shows him climbing on the dragon sculptures when they were in front of the Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory before the Lena Meijer Children’s Garden existed. We had his senior pictures taken in the comfortable surroundings of the Gardens.” They’ve attended weddings, memorials, many cultural events and exhibitions, luncheons, dinners, and other lifelong learning opportunities at Meijer Gardens. All of these opportunities were made possible by the generous donations of the Meijer family and many, many others who understand and appreciate the benefits offered by the Gardens.

Dan, originally from Amarillo, Texas, was a financial advisor with Edward Jones for 35 years. He was a General Partner and a Regional Leader for offices in West Michigan. He is very passionate about charitable giving. As an advisor, he educated his clients about charitable planning and leaving their legacy. “Many people aren’t aware of the opportunities to plan for charitable giving and how it may benefit organizations they wish to support. It’s the last thing they think about while ‘estate planning’ — but legacy is really exciting. It can empower people to direct their estate plan to their favorite charities.” He currently volunteers as the head of the legacy committee at the couple’s church.

Susan is a retired school library media specialist, which dovetails with the couple’s current passion project and giving focus with the Foundation: education. “If a student is made to understand that they matter, they feel so much better about their lives,” says Susan. “Providing opportunities for them to visit Meijer Gardens helps make them feel important and cared about. We really want as many students as possible to experience the Gardens. That’s why we chose to designate our gifts to provide educational opportunities for students in our community.” Susan once brought an 8th grade African refugee student she was mentoring to the Gardens for a visit. “He was blown away by the natural beauty and sculptures and could not even believe this place existed.”

As visitors to Meijer Gardens, Dan and Susan love the lecture series, flower shows, art exhibits, and especially the summer concert series. “We’ve been season ticket holders since the beginning of the concert series,” says Susan. “We love sitting outside in the beautiful amphitheater listening to all kinds of music and people watching.” She remembers how, at last summer’s Five for Fighting concert, the lead singer, John Ondrasik, an international touring artist, said, “Fred and Lena Meijer loved this community so much that they gave you this gift.” His heartfelt observation and appreciation of the Gardens as a performer really resonated with me. We love how FMG is always growing, changing, striving for high ideals and levels of achievement... It’s amazing to see how much Fred and Lena’s gift engages and enhances our community.