“Amway was founded on the belief that, by helping people improve their lives, they could make the world a better place.”

So begins the message from our Chairman Steve Van Andel and our President Doug DeVos in the Amway 2012 Global Corporate Social Responsibility Report released today.

The annual report highlights the many ways our company, its more than 21,000 employees and more than 3 million distributors make a difference in the lives of others.

That includes building homes in Latin America, providing water filters in Haiti, building libraries in China and adopting schools right here in the hometown of our World Headquarters.

Corporate Social Responsibility is built into everything we do: our people, our products and our performance.

 Steve and Doug credit their fathers for recognizing the potential in this business for making a difference.

“They made it their mission to be more, do more, give more. And more than a half-century later, we’re still emulating their powerful example. … We’re awed by how far we’ve come and inspired to keep becoming more, together.”

Read the full report here.

Amway was recently given a new designation that we are pretty proud of: We are officially a Bike Friendly Business.

The League of American Bicyclists gave us the designation at the bronze level, giving us praise for the cycling club started last year at our World Headquarters, providing lockers and shower facilities for bikers and sponsoring Bike to Work Day in May with refreshments, incentives and prizes.

Twenty-six employees rode their bikes into work that day, traveling a total of 1,096 miles. Nutrilite also provided sports drinks and energy bars for other official “pit stops” on that day.

Andy Bix, site manager and fitness specialist at our on-site Optimal You Fitness Facility, said Amway sought out the designation.

“Amway has a large cycling population, so it seemed like a natural fit,” he said. “Plus, it supports Grand Rapids (Michigan) in becoming a Bike Friendly Community.” (Grand Rapids also has a bronze rating.)

Amway received the honor in October along with 71 other new BFBs. They joined nearly 500 businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the U.S.

“Businesses may be the engine of our economy, but more and more are realizing that the bi cycle can be a powerful catalyst for increased profits, reduced healthcare costs, happier employees and more customers,” League President Andy Clarke said.

Bix said Amway is not done. Based on recommendations from the league, the company is considering providing incentives for bike commuters, creating commuter challenges to increase participation and connecting with local advocacy groups to increase awareness of cycling and healthy living.

“Our goal would be to reach silver within the next four years,” he said.

To Vivian Yuan and Christy Xin, fireworks are flowers of flame floating in the night sky.

Vivian and Christy, who are on assignment from China at Amway World Headquarters, agreed to share that poetic perspective as a preview to the Amway-sponsored 4th of July Family Fireworks celebration Wednesday in Grand Rapids.

Their observations?

Meaning: In Chinese, “fireworks” translates to flowers of flame. In English, it is art works of fire.

History: Fireworks are a blend of ancient science, modern technology, infinite imagination and beautiful wishes. They originated in China over a thousand years ago, and were introduced to the Western world in the 19th century.

Moments: Fireworks are associated with breath-taking moments all over the world. Examples include the July 4th fireworks in the U.S., the fireworks of the walking gigantic footprints at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony and fireworks over Sydney Harbour in Australia on New Year’s Eve.

Wherever these events take place, these “blooming flowers” in the sky create happiness reflected through the smiles on our faces, say Vivian and Christy.

We look forward to sharing that happiness with our friends and neighbors in West Michigan this week.

For centuries, the tea house has been a key element of a Japanese garden.

It’s a tranquil place. Before you enter, you cleanse your face and hands to symbolically check your cares and worries at the door. 

It’s a harmonious place, where you meet with friends, receive special tea and cake, and enjoy your time together. 

It’s also a familiar place for our recent guests at Amway World Headquarters, who participated in the Georgetown University Leadership Program, supported by Amway Japan and The Japan Times.

They were excited to learn that a tea house is planned for the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, as part of The Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. Construction for the project begins in 2013.

During a preview and personal tour of the future garden site, they shared their stories and suggestions for the first official tea ceremony with David Hooker, president and CEO at Frederik Meijer Gardens.

Already new friendships are starting to blossom.

Plant manager James Bowman leads reporters through the nutrition products plant

Journalists love to go behind the scenes. The “hard hat” tour is always popular because media can share news on what’s happening before buildings are completed, ribbons are cut and products are produced.  

That’s why we opened the doors today to our $24 million Nutrition Product Plant at our mile-long manufacturing complex in Ada, Michigan. Media toured the state-of-the-art production facility, interviewed our operations leaders and sampled the Nutrilite products that will be made there.  

This is the first time Amway has produced Nutrilite products in Michigan.  The plant will produce our best-selling  NUTRILITE protein powder, sold by distributors all over the world. Other products to be made at the facility  include POSITRIM meal replacement powder, ACTIVE 8 powder drink mix and INVISIFIBER fiber packs.  

Another first is an innovative work system designed by and for employees at the new plant, including a new work schedule and long-term career path.  Nutrilite employees in California worked closely with the Michigan team to transfer knowledge and processes.  

For this tour, instead of hard hats, media donned safety goggles, lab coats and hair nets to tour the three-story facility.  

We’re taking our No. 1 brand to even higher heights. Learn more on Mlive Media, WZZM and our global newsroom.

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One day last week a team of more than 200 volunteers descended on a city park and transformed an old play space into a new playground for kids to enjoy.

But what seemed to happen in a matter of hours was actually the result of months of planning by the City of Grand Rapids, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, the Creston Neighborhood Association, Amway and neighbors of Aberdeen Park.

The transformation of Aberdeen Park was the 9th KaBOOM! playground installation supported by Amway in Grand Rapids and the 13th Amway has sponsored in U.S. cities.

But the most important number in this story is 6,000 – that’s the number of children who live near Aberdeen Park who now have a new, safe place to play.

Amway is and has always been considered a “local” company here in West Michigan, even though today we have a global presence in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.

And now, we’re helping shine a spotlight on other local businesses through sponsorship of business content on  The Rapidian, a citizen journalism project designed to “increase the flow of local news and information in the Grand Rapids community and its neighborhoods.” 

Amway sponsored the development of ”The Marketplace“ section of The Rapidian and is the underwriter of the “Innovation Spotlight” stories about local businesses.  

In making the announcement this week, Amway Brand Manager David Madiol called the relationship between The Rapidian and Amway a “perfect match” because we’re both about celebrating innovation in our community. 

It’s just one of the many ways we’re involved in local activities here in our hometown and in the dozens of cities in which Amway operates around the world.

Rich DeVos, in recalling his and business partner Jay Van Andel’s decision to buy the old Pantlind Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids in the ’70s, said it was a ”total gamble.”

But it’s one that paid off in ways few could have imagined.

Amway’s purchase of the Pantlind Hotel was a catalyst for a period of rebirth and growth in our city that continues today.  

When the Pantlind reopened September 15, 1981 with the addition of a 29-story tower, the Amway Grand Plaza brought fine dining and award-winning accommodations back to downtown.  

The hotel also provided space for hundreds of guests to stay, which, along with the opening of DeVos Hall and the Grand Center the previous year put Grand Rapids on the map as a meetings and convention destination.

Three decades later the skyline has changed and downtown Grand Rapids is a vibrant destination for visitors and locals alike.

And the gamble paid off.

It’s time to start thinking about back to school shopping, but not every family can afford the essential items needed for their student to start school in the Fall. That’s why we’re stuffing the bus!

For the second year, we’re teaming up with Fifth Third Bank, the Student Advancement Foundation, Hand2Hand Ministries and our community to fill 3,000 backpacks with school supplies for middle school students in the greater Grand Rapids area.

We’re encouraging local residents to stop at any Fifth Third Bank financial center in the greater Grand Rapids area to donate new classroom essentials including: folders, pencils, pens, rulers, notebooks and erasers. Monetary donations are also being accepted. The collection period will conclude on August 20.

Whether you’re in our community or in another location around the world, there are many ways to help students prepare for back to school. What are some of the most creative ways you’ve seen an organization support schoolchildren?

Former First Lady Betty Ford has six.

So do Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and gospel singer the Rev.  Marvin Sapp.

My Grand Rapids in Six Words, or MyGR6, which launched last night, is a community movement designed to let anyone and everyone share their pride in our community by sharing their sentiments about Grand Rapids using just six words.

Mayor Heartwell, Amway Chief Marketing Officer Candace Matthews and The Grand Rapids Press | mlive.com’s John Gonzalez made the announcement during the Grand Rapids Fourth of July celebration.

Inspired by the six word story and memoir movements, MyGR6 will create, in the words of Mayor Heartwell, a library of stories about our community. People who have lived, worked or played in Grand Rapids are invited to share their six at MyGR6.com. Submitted words will appear on the web site, in media, and be used in an exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum beginning in September.

And six authors of six words will receive six weeks of fame. A panel of community leaders will select the top six-word entries and those words will appear on billboards and in The Grand Rapids Press | mlive.com. The authors will also each receive the Ultimate Grand Rapids Prize Package, an exclusive collection of local arts, culture, entertainment, sports, restaurant, hotel and other prizes valued at more than $10,000. Entry details are available at MyGR6.com.

Amway developed the program and is sponsoring MyGR6 with The Grand Rapids Press | mlive.com, with support from the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Citadel Broadcasting.

To see the “sixes” developed by Mrs. Ford, Mayor Heartwell, Rev. Sapp and others, visit the web site.

And give thought to the six words you feel best reflect Grand Rapids!