Alida Rockefeller Messinger
(born 1948) is an American philanthropist who is an heir to the
Rockefeller family
fortune.
[1]
A donor to
Democratic
candidates and
environmentalist
causes, she is the former of wife of Minnesota governor and U.S. Senator
Mark Dayton
.
[2]
Messinger is also a sister of ex-West Virginia governor and U.S. Senator
Jay Rockefeller
. She has notably been a major donor to
progressive
political causes in her home state of
Minnesota
.
[3]
Outside of activism, she is a former trustee of the
Rockefeller Family Fund
, a public charity started by her father and his siblings. Her great-grandfather is
John D. Rockefeller
, the founder of the
Standard Oil Company
and widely considered to be
the wealthiest American of all time
and the richest person in modern history.
[4]
Early life and family
[
edit
]
Messinger was born in 1948. She is the youngest daughter of
John Davison Rockefeller III
(1906–78) and
Blanchette Ferry Hooker
(1909–92),
[5]
and a fourth-generation member of the
Rockefeller family
. Her brother is former Senator
John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV
(born 1937).
[6]
Messinger's father began to teach her about philanthropy when she was five years old.
[7]
She has said, "My father and mother's greatest fear was that their four children might take their wealth for granted and grow up spoiled and arrogant ... They wanted us to learn early that with wealth comes responsibility."
[7]
Philanthropy
[
edit
]
Messinger is a major donor to
conservation
[8]
and
environmental
organizations. Her Alida R. Messinger Charitable Trust also funds conservation and environmental groups, as does the
Rockefeller Family Fund
, founded in 1967, of which she is a
trustee
.
Messinger also contributes financially to the
Center for Public Integrity
.
[6]
She is a significant political donor to progressive and Democratic causes, donating millions of dollars.
[9]
[3]
Personal life
[
edit
]
From 1978 to 1986, she was married to
Mark Dayton
(b. 1947), the son of
Bruce Dayton
, who was part of a family that started the retail store that eventually became
Target
. Dayton later served as a
United States senator
for
Minnesota
from 2001 until 2007 and as
Governor of Minnesota
from 2011 to 2019. Before divorcing in 1986, Messinger and Dayton had two sons together, Eric and Andrew Dayton.
[10]
After the divorce, she married William Messinger, president of Aureus, an addiction recovery organization.
[6]
They have one daughter.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Todd, Richard (1976-04-01).
"The Rich Get Rich, but They Also Get Children"
.
The Atlantic
. Retrieved
2023-04-21
.
- ^
Helgeson, Baird (October 23, 2011).
"Heir adds a voice to her millions"
.
Star Tribune
. Retrieved
2023-04-21
.
- ^
a
b
Kroll, Andy (2014-08-28).
"Meet the Billionaires Backing Team Blue With a Megaphone Only Money Can Buy"
.
The American Prospect
. Retrieved
2023-04-21
.
- ^
"John D. Rockefeller: The Richest Man in the World - Case - Faculty & Research - Harvard Business School"
.
www.hbs.edu
. Retrieved
2023-04-21
.
- ^
Teltsch, Kathleen (1 December 1992).
"Blanchette Rockefeller, 83, Philanthropist, Dies"
.
The New York Times
. Retrieved
6 December
2017
.
- ^
a
b
c
Kimball, Joe (October 24, 2011).
"Alida Messinger, Gov. Dayton's ex-wife and Rockefeller heir, to play more public political role"
.
MinnPost
. Retrieved
6 December
2017
.
- ^
a
b
"Philanthropy for the 21st Century"
.
The New York Times
. November 5, 1989
. Retrieved
2010-01-11
.
... Alida Rockefeller Messinger, 40, says she was only 5 years old ...
- ^
Will Evans (September 9, 2008).
"Profile: League of Conservation Voters"
. NPR
. Retrieved
2010-01-11
.
Funders: In 2008, League of Conservation Voters' non-federal 527 received $275,000 from Alida Messinger;
- ^
Dotty Lynch And Steve Chaggaris (July 23, 2004).
"Washington Wrap"
.
CBS News
. Retrieved
2010-01-11
.
.....the following contributors have donated $1 million dollars of more to various democratic-leaning 527s..... Alida R. Messinger, trustee for the Rockefeller Family Fund, has contributed $1,177,000 this election cycle.
- ^
Richert, Catharine (June 19, 2012).
"Marriage amendment opponents raise $3.1 million since January"
.
Capitol View
. Retrieved
6 December
2017
.
|
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children of
William Avery Rockefeller Sr.
| |
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children of
John Davison Rockefeller
children of William Avery Rockefeller Jr.
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children of
Elizabeth Rockefeller
children of Alta Rockefeller
children of John Davison Rockefeller Jr.
| |
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children of William Goodsell Rockefeller
children of Percy Avery Rockefeller
children of Ethel Geraldine Rockefeller
| |
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children of John Rockefeller Prentice (1902?1972)
| |
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children of John Davison Rockefeller III
children of Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
children of Laurance Spelman Rockefeller
children of Winthrop Rockefeller
children of David Rockefeller
children of Godfrey Stillman Rockefeller
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children of John Davison Rockefeller IV
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children of Rodman Clark Rockefeller
| |
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