by Natalia Kirychuk, Public Relations Writer
William Bolthouse, founder and CEO of the Bolthouse Foundation, will speak in chapel at Cedarville University on October 5, 2017, as part of alumni week.
The Bolthouse Foundation was founded in 1988 with the purpose of glorifying Jesus Christ through support of charitable and religious organizations whose ministry, goals and operating principles are consistent with evangelical Christianity, as described in The Bolthouse Foundation Statement of Faith.
Born and raised in Michigan, Bolthouse graduated from Michigan State University in 1964 and moved to Bakersfield, California, in 1985 when he became president of Wm. Bolthouse Farms, the family business founded by his grandfather.
Bolthouse Farms had long been the leading supplier of carrots to the Midwest and in 1990, under Bolthouse’s direction, introduced SHORTCUTS: ready-to-eat, cut and peeled carrots. The popularity of this new product grew and resulted in the construction of a larger plant in 1994 and 1999. Under Bolthouse’s leadership, Bolthouse Farms became the largest carrot producer in the United States.
In 2005, Bolthouse sold the company and is using the proceeds to fund missions work around the world through the Bolthouse Foundation.
Bolthouse and his wife, Nora, created the “The William J. and Nora J. Bolthouse Scholarship” in 1994 for Cedarville University undergraduate students. Primary consideration is given to students who have graduated from Bakersfield Christian High School. Financial need is also considered.
During Cedarville’s alumni week, Bolthouse and his wife will be presented with the Honorary Alumni of the Year award.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 100 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.