Mission: - Community Foundation of Greater Flint

Mission:
creating positive change
one block at a time
Neighbors fondly remember Ann Hester as a go-getter who
cared deeply about her neighborhood and block club — the
Odette, Witherbee, Iroquois Restoration Association. Ann
served as block club president for many years. She was also
instrumental in building a flower garden on a vacant lot at
the corner of Mason and Odette Streets.
When Ann passed away of cancer two years ago, the flower
garden floundered. “We wanted to honor her memory and
make a memorial garden for Ann,” said Dennis Jackson,
block club member.
To accomplish this, Jackson applied for a small grant through
the Neighborhoods Small Grants Program (NSGP) program
of the Community Foundation. The raised flower bed is now
a beautiful tribute to Ann Hester’s memory.
The NSGP was established in 1993 through a grant by the
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Nearly $175,000 in small
grants have been made to support a number of projects that
bring communities together to create positive change. Some
examples include:
• Welcome packets developed by the Washington
Neighborhood Association
• Neighborhood watch signage, lights and radios
for the University Park Homeowners Association
• Park maintenance, benches and signage for
Stockton Center at Spring Grove.
When neighbors come together to beautify their homes,
blocks and neighborhoods, they find common ground and
build relationships. Now that’s positive change!
Preparing the memorial garden in memory of Ann Hester are Dennis Jackson, Dorothy Tippins, and Cora and Alex Pitts
Fast Facts
Neighborhoods Small Grants Program Established 1993
CFGF Grantmaking Investment over 13 years: $174,720
13