Grand Blanc $1 Million Dollars in Grants Bucket List Challenge

$1 Million Dollars in Grants

Challenge

Help celebrate the Grand Blanc Community Fund reaching one million dollars in grantmaking by participating in this community bucket list, inspired by the grants themselves.

WALK OR BIKE THE

IRON BELLE TRAIL

PARTICIPATE IN THE

GENESEE DISTRICT LIBRARY

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE

ADMIRE THE

CENTER

POINT GARDEN STATUE

at Bicentennial Park

COMPLETE

WATCH THE

SUMMER MIRACLE

GO WILD & TRY IT

ARTS ACADEMY

PERFORMANCE ON JUNE 26

SUMMER DROP-IN

PROGRAM

GRAND

VOLUNTEER WITH

THE

CONSIDER JOINING

ATTEND THE

LEAGUE OF GREATER FLINT GAME

SUPPORT

ATTEND A

GRAND

BLANC AREA CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE EVENT

GIVE TO THE

FAMILY ART FAIR INSTRU GRAND

BLANC PROMISE ROTARY CLUB

ATTEND A

GRAND BLANC

GRAND BLANC

BLANC COMMUNITY MENTAL MUSIC FUND

Visit lovegrandblanc.org to learn more about the grants.

Tag us at @giveflint as you complete the challenge on social media!

ABOUT THE GRAND BLANC COMMUNITY FUND

The Grand Blanc Community Fund supports homegrown philanthropy across many areas of Grand Blanc, including arts and culture, community development, health and human services, and recreation.

T

he fund was established in 1989 with $343,343 in assets from the former Grand Blanc Community Foundation. Its roots go back even further, to 1968, when Ezra Perry led an effort to create a permanent endowment for the community. Today, the Fund is part of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, a public charity created by and for the people of Genesee County that helps people with philanthropic interests support the causes they care about.

A local advisory committee of passionate Grand Blanc residents meets throughout the year to review grant applications and direct

funding to nonprofits that serve the Grand Blanc community.

In 2024, the fund reached a major milestone: $1 million in grants to Grand Blanc since 1989.

Every dollar has supported initiatives that empower Grand Blanc residents and enhance the well-being of the community.

The best way to celebrate? Get out and experience it. Use the bucket list as your guide to explore the places and programs that $1 million dollars of generosity made possible.

And we’d love to share your adventures—tag us at @giveflint on social media to be featured!

Grand Blanc Community Fund Empowers Local Youth Through Arts Grant

O

ne of the key grants that helped the fund reach its historic $1 million in grantmaking was awarded to Grand Blanc Youth Arts (GBYA), an organization dedicated to nurturing the creative potential of local youth.

With the support of the Grand Blanc Community Fund, GBYA is expanding its arts programming to offer six unique opportunities for children to explore music, visual arts, and performance. These programs, including the Katsi Marimba Band and the Grand Blanc Children’s Choir, provide a safe, welcoming space for kids to discover and share their artistic talents with the community. Through engaging instruction and public performances, young participants build confidence, express themselves, and develop a sense of belonging.

“When youth have a place to make art and connect with each other, the whole community benefits,” said president and CEO Dan Kildee.

“The Grand Blanc Community Fund is proud to be part of it.”

The arts programs funded by the Grand Blanc Community Fund not only teach artistic skills but inspire young people to take pride in their work, collaborate with peers, and contribute to Photo: Grand Blanc Youth Arts the cultural vibrancy of Grand Blanc. As GBYA continues to grow, so does the impact of the fund’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential.

GBYA will hold a showcase performance for its Summer Arts Academy on June 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Mason Elementary School.

A GARDEN GROWS IN A

t the corner of Center Road and Saginaw Street, an intersection has taken on new life. The Center Road Garden Revitalization Project is the result of a community effort to beautify one of Grand Blanc’s most visible gateways, supported by grants from the Grand Blanc Community Fund and the Creasey Family Parks Fund.

he garden is more than just T a collection of plants; it’s a symbol of the community’s commitment to beautification and public space.

The updated garden now features new planters, trellises, decorative barrels, and a modern aqua-stick irrigation system to keep the space healthy and welcoming. At its center stands a bronze sculpture titled Butterfly Dreams, a little girl reaching toward a butterfly — a reminder of growth and possibility in Grand Blanc.

Created by artist Jordan Rose of the Randolph Rose Collection, the 45-inch-tall piece adds

Grand Blanc

an artistic focal point to the intersection.

“The garden is more than just a collection of plants; it’s a symbol of the community’s commitment to beautification and public space,” the City of Grand Blanc shared in a statement. “The city is incredibly grateful for the support from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which made it possible to acquire the materials needed to bring this vision to life.”

A ribbon cutting was held on September 9, 2025, celebrating the transformation and the collaboration that helped make the vision possible. Residents are encouraged to visit the garden and take part in future community beautification projects throughout Grand Blanc through the Touch the Earth Garden Club.

Jeff Stableford, former Grand Blanc Community Fund Advisory Committee chair, Mary Madden, vice president of Touch the Earth Garden Club, Wendy Jean-Buhrer, former Grand Blanc City Manager, and Deborah Glasstetter, Touch the Earth president, cut the ribbon during a dedication ceremony for the sculpture in Center Point Garden.

MEET THE COMMITTEE

Some of the Grand Blanc Community Fund Advisory Committee met in May to approve grants.

G

rant dollars are awarded by some of the people who know Grand Blanc best: its own residents. These volunteer committee members come from all walks of life, united by a common goal of strengthening the Grand Blanc

Grand Blanc Advisory Committee Andrea Bergstrom, Chair Lauren Holaly-Zembo, Vice-Chair Joel Feick, Trustee Liaison Donald Becker Brianne Boles-Marshall Stephanie Creasey Parul Gupta

Scan to Give to the Grand Blanc Community Fund or visit givegrandblanc.org.

Sara Naddeo Connie Peters Art Reyes Joanie Towarnicky

community. They review grant applications and direct funding year-round to local nonprofits.

How to Get Involved The heart of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint beats with the people and trusted relationships we share together. Your gifts enable us to invest in much needed programs and services provided by local nonprofits.

The Grand Blanc Community Fund has made grants for purposeful and necessary work, meeting critical community needs.

This was accomplished through your generosity.

Thank you for your giving and confidence in our stewardship of your resources. Those who want to give back financially can make a gift to the Grand Blanc Community Fund at givegrandblanc.org — no donation is too small.

To get involved, learn more about the Grand Blanc Fund by visiting lovegrandblanc.org.

About the Community Foundation of Greater Flint

S

ince 1988, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint (CFGF) has been all about Flint and Genesee County’s future.

Established in 1988 through the merger of The Flint Public Trust, founded in 1950, and the Flint Area Health Foundation, created in 1978, the resulting Community Foundation combined the strengths of these two Flint institutions. Since the merger, assets have grown from $10 million to more than $475 million.

More than 34,000 donors have enabled CFGF to award more than $205 million in grants in Flint and Genesee County.

Its work would not be possible without the careful stewardship and administration of the charitable funds and planned gifts entrusted to us. CFGF’s dedicated board of trustees governs the organization and the

staff provides personal service and local expertise to deliver the greatest impact for your charitable giving.

As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of Genesee County, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint enables people with philanthropic interests to easily and effectively support the issues they care about — immediately or through their estate plan.

Learn more at cfgf.org and connect with us on social media!

How to Contact Us Call 810-767-8270 • Email info@cfgf.org Visit www.cfgf.org /giveflint

@giveflint

/giveflint Visit us in downtown Flint