The Betz Family

The Kenneth and Judy Betz Family Research Professorship Fund gives investigators the opportunity to pursue the food allergy breakthroughs for which granddaughter Alexa and other children are hoping for.

Portrait of multiple generations of the Betz family

Ken Betz and his late wife, Judy, have always loved summers with their family on Lake Michigan in northern Michigan. During a trip to the local ice cream stand one year, granddaughter Alexa, then about 3 years old, fell ill.

“She took one lick of ice cream and ran to the woods to throw up,” says Mr. Betz. “I thought, ‘what child doesn’t like ice cream?’”

After subsequent episodes — some resulting in trips to the emergency department — Alexa’s parents had her evaluated and she tested positive for an egg allergy. The Betzes, who have a long history with U-M, wanted to do something to help.

“We first heard about the Food Allergy Center from our daughter, Anne (Kittendorf), a doctor at the University of Michigan,” Mr. Betz says. “Because of Alexa, and all of the conditions that she’s been faced with, we fell in love with the possibilities.”

Ken and Judy Betz decided to create The Kenneth and Judy Betz Family Research Professorship Fund which gives investigators, the opportunity to pursue the breakthroughs for which Alexa, now 15, and other children are hoping for.

“Our experience at Michigan has been incredible and I think of Michigan as leading the nation in every endeavor. They don’t ever sit back and just let other institutions do the work. There is no other place where you will get a bigger bang for the dollars you contribute.”

Ken Betz

In December of 2017, the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center welcomed award-winning senior investigator Chang Kim, Ph.D., as the appointed Kenneth and Judy Betz Family Research Professor at the University of Michigan. Dr. Kim has published more than 100 articles, with nearly 10,000 citations to date. Among the many notable foundations and agencies that have recognized and funded his robust research are the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

“Our experience at Michigan has been incredible and I think of Michigan as leading the nation in every endeavor,” Mr. Betz says. “They don’t ever sit back and just let other institutions do the work. There is no other place where you will get a bigger bang for the dollars you contribute.”

When asked what he hopes for in return, he says, “Ultimately, we are hoping for answers, and we are so blessed to have the researchers at the University of Michigan involved to see it through to their ability.”

Anne Kittendorf, daughter to Ken and Judy, currently sits on the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center Advisory Committee, where she lends her personal experience and expertise to furthering the center’s mission.