Statement About Lawsuit Between Pulte Family and Cornerstone

There have been several media reports concerning a lawsuit between members of the Pulte Family and an African American school in Detroit, Cornerstone Schools wherein my grandfather, William J. “Bill” Pulte (whom I’m named after) decided to leave at least $8.7 million for the education of the students.

For clarification, we have a big Pulte Family and I’m in no way involved in this lawsuit. Cornerstone Schools is suing The William J. Pulte Trust whose money benefits the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. They are not suing me, William J. “Bill” Pulte (b. 1988), William J. Pulte (1932-2018), or The Bill Pulte Foundation. The Trust is run by Mark Pulte and Karen Koppal-Pulte, my grandfather’s last wife. Though I am one of more than 25  grandchildren, I was the only one whom Grandpa chose to make a beneficiary of his fortune. 

We were very, very close. I was the sole family member he recruited to work together to turn around Pulte Homes in 2016, where I served on the Board there until 2020. Together, Grandpa and I also started the Blight Authority, a project of The Bill Pulte Foundation, to remove dangerous structures from urban communities in Detroit. We worked with Mayor Bing to, concretely, save Black lives. 

Grandpa would want the millions he designated for this African American school to go to the students' education.  Cornerstone founder Clark Durant and my grandpa were very dear friends.  Some of my family members have concerns about administrative compensation which I believe should be looked at strongly.  

I have transmitted these concerns to both parties through The Bill Pulte Foundation.  

I want to make a few things very clear. Key members of my Pulte Family and I remain committed to Detroit and Michigan. For example, my wife Diana and I remain committed to removing blight for the benefit of old and new urban communities. We believe no American child, regardless of color, should be left behind. Period.  

This case is now about to go before the Florida Supreme Court for review.  Sometimes, my aunt Nancy Rickard, who administers one of our Pulte Family charities, and I disagree on which communities to help; I think that’s healthy. I think it’s important these students in Detroit get funded and believe that this massive lawsuit, which looks like it mentions my name, gets settled peacefully where all parties win to save our children.   

Grandpa had a slogan, “Do The Right Thing.” I think it’s not too late for Mark Pulte, Karen Koppal-Pulte, Nancy Rickard, and Clark Durant to find a settlement. I’m willing to pay for the arbitration costs.  

Given the racial inequities that are present in Detroit’s inner city neighborhoods, Cornerstone should not have to beg for its funds, because Cornerstone creates a generational impact in Black families, and our Pulte branding should take no part in racial practices. 

I call on the executives of Cornerstone Schools to make sure their pay is in line with a students’ first approach so they can receive Pulte funding from Mark Pulte and Nancy Rickard through the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation.  

Love and Peace, as Grandpa would intend,

William J. “Bill” Pulte