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26-462: In 1972, the foundation was established with $ 10 million in assets, combining the funds of the private Fremont Foundation with other charitable funds such as Harry Williams, Frank Daniel Gerber , Dan & Dorothy Gerber, Marion & Charles Gerber, Gussie Gerber, Earle Johnson and William & Colleen Mee. Between 1972 and 1994, the foundation grew its assets from $ 10 million to $ 65 million, granting approximately $ 2.5 million annually. In August 1994,

52-426: A Sugar Free Vanilla Custard flavor, favorable to diabetic babies. The product did not see as much demand as expected, so it was dropped after a few years. Gerber also began to produce juices, which were still being sold as of March 2009. In 1999 Gerber established skincare products for babies. In 1994, Gerber merged with Sandoz Laboratories . Two years later, Sandoz merged with CIBA-Geigy to form Novartis , one of

78-416: A business opportunity, Gerber began making baby food. By 1928 he had developed five products for the market: beef vegetable soup and strained peas, prunes, carrots, and spinach. Six months later, Gerber's baby foods were distributed nationwide. Some believe that Dorothy Gerber was the initial inspiration behind their baby food products. One day after a visit to her infant daughter's pediatrician she toiled in

104-405: A diet of strained fruits and vegetables for her as a pediatrician had recommended. After getting tired of this she suggested to her husband that if his company could make tomato puree perhaps they could make strained peas. Daniel then suggested to his father that they should look into making baby food. Gerber experimented with test batches of strained baby food on baby Sally and other babies in

130-552: A line of life insurance products aimed at young families. Today, the Gerber Life Insurance Company is one of the largest purveyors of direct-marketed life insurance in the United States. Gerber Life currently has more than two million life insurance policies in force, with more than $ 650 million in assets. The company's term and whole life insurance products for adults and children are available in

156-468: A senior vice president of the company. In 1986 the company set up the Gerber Parents' Resource Center, a toll-free customer relations hotline, which has been providing information on baby food and parenting issues ever since. According to Gerber, Ann Turner Cook is the famous Gerber Baby whose portrait is featured prominently on all Gerber product packaging. Cook later retired from teaching and

182-528: A teacher. Gerber’s father owned a tannery and Gerber joined his father’s firm when he was sixteen. Gerber became a partner of the firm within five years and managed it until it closed in 1905. Gerber founded Fremont Canning Company in 1901 with his father to market local produce for the farmers. They canned the farmers' peas, beans, and fruits. This company was the basis of the baby food industry. Gerber became president of Fremont Canning Company in 1917 when his father died. This first year as president of

208-647: Is a subsidiary of Nestlé . Other Gerber products include breastfeeding pumps and other supplies, baby bottles and nipples, and health care products including tooth and gum cleanser and vitamin drops. Gerber was founded in 1927 in Fremont, Michigan, by Daniel Frank Gerber, owner of the Fremont Canning Company , which produced canned fruit and vegetables. At the suggestion of a pediatrician, Gerber's wife, Dorothy, began making hand-strained food for their seven-month-old daughter, Sally . Recognising

234-932: The Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts or larger events are held at the Grant Fine Arts Center . 43°27′59.25″N 85°54′39.30″W  /  43.4664583°N 85.9109167°W  / 43.4664583; -85.9109167 Frank Daniel Gerber Frank Daniel Gerber (July 12, 1873 - October 7, 1952) was an American manufacturer of baby food. Gerber was born in the town of Douglas in Allegan County, Michigan , in 1873. He graduated from Fremont High School of Western Michigan in 1887. He attended Valparaiso Normal School in Valparaiso, Indiana , for one year, to learn to become

260-645: The 15 years as part of the tax break. Both the county and the city will be working with the Fremont Area Community Foundation to receive funds in the initial years to help with specific projects and programs. The Fremont Public School District would receive assistance through the state school aid formula. Nestlé Nutrition North America CEO Kurt Schmidt said that the Fremont research and development center will be one of 23 worldwide Nestlé "product technology centers" and also include scientific research for baby and infant nutritional products. It

286-547: The Foundation has received $ 56 million in gifts and made $ 146 million in grants to benefit the Newaygo County area, a 261% return on donors’ dollars. In 2008, the Foundation made grants of $ 10.6 million. The Fremont Community Foundation is under the direction of CEO Carla Roberts, COO Gregory Zerlaut, as well as 15 other trustees. The foundation has sponsored many community related programs and events, including

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312-731: The Newaygo County Hunger Initiative, a program that in 2008 distributed 1.65 million pounds of food to low income residents in Newaygo County, the West Michigan Student Showcase, a regional talent show for several hundred area high school students, and in support of tax breaks to the Gerber Products Company , the foundation approved a grant to the City of Fremont to cover lost tax revenues of $ 525,000 in order to help retain

338-475: The United States, Puerto Rico, and most of Canada. Gerber Life currently has an "A" ("Excellent") rating with independent rating entity AM Best , the third-highest rating out of thirteen categories. In 2018, Gerber Life Insurance was sold to Western & Southern Financial Group , who continue to use the Gerber trademark under license. Early in the 1990s, Gerber tried to enter into the sugar-free food market with

364-549: The baby food market in the United States . In 1960, Gerber started selling its baby food in glass jars, which often found new life as household storage, especially in home workshops. Soon after, other items such as pacifiers , baby bottles, and small baby toys were introduced. In 2003 Gerber partially replaced the glass jars with plastic tubs for vegetables and some fruits. Other fruits and meats are still sold in jars. In 1967, executives at Gerber Products decided to offer

390-544: The county's largest employer, as well as ensure the financial health of the city. The foundation has also support many building programs in Newaygo County, such as the construction of Gerber Memorial's $ 8.3 million Tamarac Center, which will further improve the health and wellness of area residents. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) advises the Board of Directors on grants and issues regarding area youth. YAC members are selected from all Newaygo County High Schools and in 2008

416-478: The course of the next ten years. However, to get the full 15 years of tax breaks, Gerber agreed to increase employment by 200 and spend a total of $ 75 million on its facilities. The tax breaks have been largely supported, despite large revenue losses by local governments: $ 300,000 in losses per year for the City of Fremont (10% of their budget) and $ 160,000 a year for Newaygo County . It is estimated local governments would give up potentially $ 15 million in revenue over

442-416: The firm, Gerber had sales that exceeded one million dollars. Gerber expanded the facilities for year-round production in 1914-1915. Before the production was seasonal. Gerber's son Daniel joined the company in 1920. He became assistant general manager of the canning company in 1926. Gerber had a granddaughter named Sally , born in 1927, who was sickly. Her mother Dorothy, wife of Daniel, would make by hand

468-516: The happiness of their own child via the eyes of the iconic Gerber baby. Thus the notion that if their babies were fed Gerber, they would also be as content, smiley, and "cute" as the Gerber baby. In September 2008, Gerber's Fremont facilities were designated as a Michigan Agricultural Renaissance Zone, receiving $ 43 million in tax breaks over 15 years. In order to receive the incentives, Gerber agreed to continue its employment in Fremont at 1,100 jobs and invest $ 50 million in its Fremont facilities over

494-481: The kitchen straining fruits and vegetables for her child. After much hard work she suggested to her husband Daniel, whose family already owned the Fremont Canning Company, to create this food in an industrial setting, lightening the load of mothers everywhere. A different interpretation of the story is that he was frustrated and upset having come home to find his wife looking strained and miserable in

520-415: The kitchen. Not wanting to "exchange" his beautiful wife for this kitchen-bound monstrosity, he then invented the Gerber baby food product line. The brand eventually became a major company in the baby food industry, currently offering more than 190 products in 80 countries, with labeling in 16 languages. Its primary competitors are Beech-Nut and Del Monte Foods . As of 2017 , Gerber controls 61 percent of

546-404: The largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. In 2007, Gerber was sold to Nestlé for $ 5.5 billion. Gerber has a long history of projecting a family-friendly image. When Gerber Products established a consumer relations department in 1938, then ten-year-old Sally Gerber began answering each customer's letter individually, a practice she would continue for many years, even after she became

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572-424: The sale of the Gerber Products Company to Sandoz (now Novartis ), of Switzerland, nearly doubled the assets of the foundation, which at the time owned 1.8 million shares of stock, bringing its total assets to $ 109 million overnight. From 1994 through the end of the century, the Foundation continued to grow, reaching almost $ 200 million in assets. Grant awards total approximately $ 10 million each year. Since 1972,

598-429: The summer of 1927. Gerber also researched marketing possibilities. Gerber began selling baby food through the canning company in 1928, using the " Gerber Baby " as their logo symbol. The baby food was sold at fifteen cents each, much less than similar foods which were purchased through drug stores for forty to sixty cents. Some twelve years later the baby food line was outselling the adult canned food products. The name

624-577: The total Youth Endowment Fund grants were $ 81,884. The Amazing X Charitable Trust Board advises the Board of Directors on grants that are to benefit people in Newaygo County with disabilities. In 2008 the total Amazing X Charitable Trust grants were $ 301,379. The Elderly Needs Fund Board provides grants to benefit the elderly in Newaygo County. In 2008 the total Elderly Needs Fund grants were $ 493,630. The foundation's Speaker Series often invites people to come and speak on at free public events on various issues and subjects. These events are usually held at

650-496: Was a mystery writer. She was depicted in a charcoal sketch by her neighbor, Dorothy Hope Smith . Smith entered the sketch for the company's logo contest. A huge draw to the image of the Gerber baby is largely due to the fact that this baby is alone, not in the presence of adults, innocently peering straight into the eyes of the consumer. This innocent outward gaze was surely a marketing, if not psychological, technique to suck in female "mother-consumers". This forced many mothers to seek

676-469: Was changed to Gerber Products Company in 1941, and in 1943 Gerber stopped making canned foods for adults. Gerber died in 1952 and the firm was taken over by his son, Daniel Frank Gerber. Daniel Frank Gerber Gerber Products Company is an American purveyor of baby food and baby products headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey , with plans to relocate to Arlington, Virginia . Gerber

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