2025 Around the World

Dust off your warm-weather gear and get ready to kick-start summer with Van Andel Institute’s JBoard Ambassadors at the 17th annual Around the World, taking place June 6 at VAI. The celebration will feature the best regional and national wine and craft beer, along with delectable offerings from local food trucks. Round off the evening with joyful company and live entertainment, all in support of Van Andel Institute for Education.

Suggested attire is summer casual. Complimentary valet parking is available at the main entrance of VAI.

More items to come.

Children’s Birthday Party Experience
Looking for a new and unique idea to celebrate your child’s next birthday or just want to plan a fun gathering? Let VAI help you celebrate while doing something hands-on and fun that’s maybe a little educational, too. (Shhhh! We won’t tell the kids.) Guests will begin by spending some time with our animals. They’ll meet Toby the Tortoise, Cleo the Bearded Dragon, Garrus the Corn Snake, and so many more loveable critters. Then, they’ll dive into an engineering investigation where their skills and resilience will be tested. Can their construct sustain VAI’s Shake Table? Our science parties are two hours filled with fun and exciting science that will engage kids from grades K–12 to think — and act — like scientists. You bring the cake, and we’ll provide the fun!

Party for up to 20 children includes: -Private access to lab area for up to 2.5 hours, including setup and time for discovery
-A dedicated party facilitator
-Fun, hands-on science experiments
-Time with VAI’s animals
-Free parking
Value: $300

Coffee & Conversation with a Scientist
Enjoy coffee and a tour with one of Van Andel Institute’s postdoctoral fellows. Mutually agreed upon date to be determined.
Value: Priceless

Custom Men’s Sport Coat
Custom sport coat measured and designed in the comfort of your home or office.
Value: $1,300

Custom Sock Package
Fifty pairs of premium woven, made-to-order socks custom designed with your company/organization’s logo and branding.
Value: $712

The Executive Experiment: A Hands-On Team Building Lab
Step into our science classroom for a two-hour team building experience designed to elevate executive teams beyond business as usual. This dynamic session blends hands-on engineering challenges with powerful professional development strategies to ignite collaboration, strengthen communication and build lasting trust. Participants will uncover hidden strengths, rethink team dynamics and practice problem-solving in ways that transcend job titles and silos. More than a change of scenery, this experience is a catalyst for breakthrough — helping teams return to work with renewed clarity, stronger alignment and the confidence to tackle complex challenges together. Maximum of 15 attendees.
Value: $1,500

Gimme’s Par and Grill: Sport Simulator Rental
Four one-hour rentals of a Trackman golf simulator bay or a multi-sport simulator bay at Gimme’s Par & Grill.
Value: $300

Grand Rapids Children’s Museum Day Passes
Five day-passes to the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum.
Value: $60

Night Out in Grand Rapids: Broadway Grand Rapids and Dinner
Two tickets to “Water for Elephants” presented by Broadway Grand Rapids, Oct. 7–12, 2025, and a $100 gift card to an Essence Restaurant Group restaurant.
Value: $350

Night Out in Grand Rapids: Symphony and Dinner
Two tickets to a Grand Rapids Symphony Pops or Masterworks Series performance of your choice and a $100 gift card to an Essence Restaurant Group restaurant.
Value: $258

Siren and Proper: Gift Card and Lash Kit
$250 gift card and Mink Lash Kit.
Value: $250

Holly Cook

Blake Crabb

Mike Hemmingsen

Nate and Nichole Gillespie

Sarah Jones

Rachel Mraz

Kyle Van Andel

Tripp VanderWal

Sydney Vucelich