News
Palmer Family Honors Norman and Arlene Leenhouts at Roberts
Gift made to the Golisano Community Engagement Center
Dwight M. (Kip) and Amy Palmer, sixth-generation owners of Rochester-based Palmer Family of Companies, recently donated a significant gift to the new Golisano Community Engagement Center and Community Institutes at Roberts Wesleyan College. Made in honor of late entrepreneur Norman Leenhouts, his wife Arlene, and the work of the Leenhouts family, this generous contribution supports the college’s Connect the Community Campaign, a $15 million initiative to fund the 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art center that will serve as a hub for connection, collaboration and student life resources.
The Leenhouts have left an indelible legacy on both Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary, most notably through Norman Leenhouts’ 28 years of service to the board of trustees. The institutions benefited from his considerable wisdom and business acumen, as he encouraged improvements to the campus through numerous building projects and campus initiatives. The Leenhouts backed that enthusiasm with generous gifts over the years that enhanced the college’s success and mission by supporting construction of much-needed buildings on campus and funding operations, scholarships and endowment funds.
“Amy and I are honored to make this gift to the Community Institutes at Roberts Wesleyan College on behalf of Norm and Arlene Leenhouts,” said Kip Palmer, CEO of Palmer Family of Companies. “Norm taught me how to champion for investing in others, and when I was starting out as a young business owner in Rochester, he showed me how to lead with conviction and character. The Community Institutes serve as a connecter to workforce development opportunities and community engagement, which rightfully personifies the Leenhouts’ spirit through their enduring commitment to local entrepreneurship and community service.”
Palmer also oversees Palmer Food Services and Palmer’s Direct to You Market, a local family-owned wholesale food distributor and retailer, dedicated to providing independent restaurateurs, institutions and customers with the finest quality products and services available in the marketplace. A longstanding supporter of the college and seminary, Palmer currently serves as board chair and has served multiple roles on the board of trustees since 1997.
Arlene Leenhouts expressed gratitude to the Palmers for investing in the next generation of business leaders, which aligns with the family’s history of supporting a commitment to character formation and servant leadership. “Norm would be honored and humbled that this tribute was made at Roberts, a college he valued and loved.”
The substantial gift from the Palmer family brings the current campaign fundraising total to $11.8 million, nearing 79% of the $15 million goal. Launched in 2019, the Community Institutes represent Roberts’ growing custom training and education solutions, providing tailored certificate programs and resources to Rochester-area business and organizations seeking affordable, real-world learning experiences and insight. The five institutes, centered on business solutions, intellectual and spiritual humility, psychological services and others, will be housed in the Golisano Community Engagement Center once construction is complete. If you would like to join the Palmers in honoring the Leenhouts Family, please visit roberts.edu/give.