W. K. Kellogg

Born in 1860, W.K. Kellogg was his fathers 7th son. He was raised in and upon starting schooling, was thought to be “dim-witted” because of his persistent difficulty in reading by his schoolteacher. By his early twenties, he discovered it was merely a case of being near-sighted. Years later, having built his fortune, W.K. recalled his childhood setback. Recognizing the importance of proper health care for all children, he reflected: "Since then, I have often thought of what science can do for under privileged children if they can be taken in hand at the proper time." The W.K. Kellogg Foundation's mission is to stimulate a better quality of life and future outlook for communities in the United States and worldwide. The practical approach of its programs improves health care, education, food management, and the tools of technology to replace patterns of passive dependency with a real sense of partnership that empowers people to help themselves. These themes are echoed in the programs the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has generously supported over the years at Cal Poly Pomona.

Following the end of W.W. II, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation was again in search of an institution of higher learning to assume operating control over the Kellogg Ranch property. On October 13, 1949, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation offered custody of the Ranch to the State of California, to expand the southern branch of the California State Polytechnic College. Today, under the terms of the grant deed, Cal Poly Pomona must adhere to specific conditions of the gift, or return the Ranch to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Over the years, the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center has thrived, and the two organizations have indeed enjoyed a long-standing relationship. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has supported a number of projects and programs including the Kellogg West Center for Continuing Education, the Center for Regenerative Studies, and the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library, which boasts one of the most extensive collections of Arabian horse materials in the world.