Nonprofit fund story
Thomas G. Bos Rotary Club of Holland Memorial Fund
For over a century, the Bos family has been part of the fabric of the Holland/Zeeland area. Their entrepreneurial spirit launched A.D. Bos Vending and kept it prosperous as it navigated changes in the business landscape and emerging technologies. Today, the company remains proudly family-owned and operated, with a longstanding commitment to community engagement and philanthropy.
Thomas (Tom) G. Bos was the second-generation of the Bos family to serve as President of A.D. Bos Vending. Originally a teacher, he brought a spirit of lifelong learning and continuous improvement to the company. During his tenure, he invested in new technologies and talent and helped the company evolve alongside its customers to meet the changing needs of the industry.
Described as a man who loved life and lived it fully, he encouraged those around him to be positive, curious, and engaged with their community. When he wasn’t stewarding A.D. Bos towards greater success, Tom spent much of his time volunteering and serving on nonprofit boards. His involvement with the Rotary Club of Holland was his most committed volunteer position, and he engaged at the local, national, and international levels of the organization.
“Part of what he loved about Rotary was the value system,” said his son, Thomas J. Bos. “He really took the idea of ‘service above self’ to heart.” On any given day, Tom could be found wearing either an A.D. Bos logo or a Rotary emblem – a fitting representation of how he integrated business success and community service. He and his wife, Jane, hosted and created programming for a number of exchange students from countries including Spain, Germany, and Afghanistan, many of whom became lifelong friends. “My dad emphasized the value of expanding our worldview beyond West Michigan and encouraging other perspectives,” said Thomas.
David Bos, Tom’s grandson, recalls him as a great role model whose perspective on life was markedly influenced by his participation in Rotary. “When I was 14, he asked my parents if he could take me out of school for a month to travel to India and volunteer at a polio vaccination clinic. For my grandfather, this wasn’t a surprising request. He valued service and travel, and thought this experience could only benefit my education and personal growth.”
When Tom passed away in 2020, he left behind more than just a successful family business. His departure created ripples throughout the incredible network he had influenced through his commitments to family, service, and faith. His legacy continues at A.D. Bos Vending – in the past two years alone they have donated 75,000 pounds of food to stock the shelves at Community Action House’s Food Club, among other charitable commitments.
As his family considered how to honor Tom’s memory, David took the lead. He decided to establish a donor designated endowment fund that would benefit the Rotary Club of Holland and create scholarships for international youth exchange programs. “The fund felt like a great way to honor my grandfather’s personal values and create positive impact for an organization that, through the years, became a vital part of his identity,” said David.
David chose to partner with CFHZ for the Thomas G. Bos Rotary Club of Holland Memorial Fund. “It’s clear the Community Foundation takes their work seriously. It’s a unique and special thing to have so many people in our community who engage in charitable giving, and it’s just as special to have a community foundation that helps facilitate that giving with trustworthiness, professionalism, and care,” he said.
Tom’s spirit of adventure and his commitment to community engagement remain alive in both the family business and the fund that bears his name – a fitting tribute to a man who lived the value of service above self.