Fondren Renaissance Foundation
President'sMessage
byJonathanLee
From the back of Fondren Church in November, I watched our lead Urban Planner, Blake Reeves, flash through a Power Point vision for our community that was both exciting and challenging. And, it wasn? t just the vision of the FRFBoard of Directors. For the past year, we?ve been digging into our community to figure out what was on the hearts and minds of our people. From all accounts, more than half of the Fondren Community participated in at least one aspect of our community planning, whether submitting a survey, attending a meeting, visiting the web site or a one-on-one interview.
While Fondren Forw ard, our community planning effort, was a major focus of 2024, we didn? t drop the ball on routine business.
Legislat ive Dinner. We started the year by thanking the state legislative leadership for its support and encouragement. Thanks to them, we?ve been able to address issues relating to Eubanks Creek, lighting in the business district and the new parking garage behind The Strip.
Eubanks Creek. And, thanks to the city and state leaders, we are working on a plan to tame Eubanks Creek and restore it to the community amenity it once was.
Boyd Elem ent ary. We continued our support of Boyd Elementary with Teacher Appreciation Day and the launch of a Financial Literacy program for parents. But we also were successful in receiving $10,000 from ChangeXto further our plans for an Outdoor Classroom for Boyd students and teachers.
Code Enforcem ent . We stepped up our code enforcement efforts by targeting abandoned structures and other code violations and formally tracking them through the city?s system.
Fondren Vot es. Our Fondren Votes committee surveyed candidates for state elections and made that information available to Fondren voters while working with the League of Women Voters to register new voters and encourage voter turnout.
Great er Fondren Art s. Recognizing our place as an arts community, we organized our area artists to create the Greater Fondren Arts Council, hosting monthly meetings, an art show at The Cedars and a Studio Tour at Fondren Corner.
Sym phony at Sunset . A community favorite, we staged the 25th annual Symphony at Sunset featuring the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra on a beautiful September night on the historic grounds of The Cedars.
Bot t le Tree & Garden Tour. Our 3rd Annual tour of Fondren yards and gardens showcased Fondren to visitors from all over the Midsouth, informally securing our title as the largest concentration of bottle trees in the world. But the tour also cemented our reputation for hospitality and creativity as our residents welcomed friends, neighbors and strangers into their yards.
Fondren Holiday Parade. We ended the year by celebrating the holidays with our annual Holiday Parade, this year featuring the Sonic Boom of The South along with the Murrah Sound of Perfection Marching Band, the Callaway High School Marching Band and the Kirksey Middle School Marching Band. Our Pack 1 Scout Troop led the parade, followed by our Grand Marshals, the Urban Landscapers who have been beautifying Fondren and North Jackson. We cheered as our neighbors decorated cars and golf carts to show their holiday spirit.
You?ll see more of our people, projects and activities as you flip through the photos in this Annual Report.
As we kick off 2025, we have a long to-do list. In addition to things you?ve come to expect from FRF, we add to that list the 40 action items identified during the Fondren Forw ard process. Granted, this is a 20-year action plan but this first year is key to making sure the vision is not lost. The good news: our entire community is empowered to make our vision realized. And, to be honest, community engagement is the only way we will realize the vision. As my grandmother used to say ?God doesn? t have any hands but ours.?
Additionally, we will bid farewell to our Executive Director, Rebecca Garrison in the coming months. Rebecca?s resolve to sustain Fondren as a vibrant, cohesive, and diverse neighborhood can be felt in every facet of FRF?s mission. While we are excited for her, she will be greatly missed. We could never adequately compensate her or give enough thanks for the work she?s done and the impact she?s made.
As I close out my term as your president, it?s worth mentioning that 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Fondren being annexed into the City of Jackson. Here?s to the second century of Fondren contributing to the vitality of our Capitol City.
- Raised more than $400,000for Fondren Forward
- Exceeded our goal of 100 Renaissance Societymembers
- Started the Greater Fondren Arts Council
- Created Fondren Votes to educate and increase voter participation
- Supported Boyd Elementary
- 3rd Annual Bottle Tree and Garden Tour
- Held 2 "clean up"days
- Received allocation to improve lighting in the Business District
- Published 28newsletters
- Created a Fondren Forward Implementation Committee
- Formalized code enforcement reporting and tracking
- Hosted a Fondren Qualityof Life Task Force
- Supported JPD's request for a Fondren Satellite Office
- Teamed up with the LeFleur Museum District for Week of Wonder
- Advanced work on Eubanks Creek
- Hosted our first legislative dinner
2024RenaissanceSocietyMembers
Bo
Hannibal,
Gayle&
Liz
Cecilia
Havilah &
Lanita
Nancy
Meredith & Ben
Janie & Stuart
Ann
Design4Good
Arden
Sarah & Michael
Michael Boerner
WBAArchitecture
CatherineBoone
Amy& Arty
Roxanne&
Kristen & Jamie
Owen Mayfield
Pat
Brenda & Edley
Renee& Jimmy
Jen & Jay
Shannon & Mathew
Shani & Jackie
Cynthia & Kent
Ann & John
Jennifer & Greg
Linda & Joe
Caroline & Kirk
Mary
MaryMargaret
Leah & Solon
Camille & William Morris
Sarah & Tim
Sperri & Nick
Mary
Kristen & David
Ted Fortenberry
Linda & Tony
Shanda Yates& YancyBurns GeorgeMorgan Yeates * Sustaining Members
2024 FRF Finances
Current Assets: $253,577.83
Fixed Assets: $373,011.00
Total Assets: 626,588.83
Profit & Loss
Income: $268,766.53 Expenses: Payroll expense - $89,733.06
Cedars Ops - $34,046.69 Events - $59,391.63 Other - $43,573.74
Total Expenses: $226,745.12 Net Income:$42,021.41
$ 119,583.10 $ 5,621.65 $ 55,577.33
2024 Board of Direct ors
Jonathan Lee, President
Cathy Boone, Vice President
Molly Walker, Secretary
Dylan Bradshaw, Treasurer
Liz Brister
Jonathan Werne
Michael Boerner
Britney Moss
Sandy Carter
Sarah Bentley
Ardarian Pierre
Gabriel Prado
Leah Smith
Chris Hannibal
Gwen Agho
Jamie Mallinson
Shannon McLaughlin
Kayleigh Skinner
Buddy Graham, Emeritus
Ex Officio
Susan Margaret Barrett, SoFo
Robert Lewis, Our Fondren
Robert Green, Faith Community
Dr Marcus Thompson, JSU
Kristy Simms, UMMC
Bill and Betsy Nation
Buddy and Frenchie Graham
David Anderson
David Reynolds and Alison Steiner
Dr. Mike and Lanita Campbell
Erica Speed
Heidi Cannon
Jason and Betsy Greener
John and Pam Bach
Karen Redhead
Lou Jane Rupp
Mike and Virginia O?Connell
Ron and Beth Aldridge
Sara Weisenberger
Stanton Wilkinson
Ward Sumner
SandyCarter,Chair
Fondren is an iconic and beloved Mississippi destination known for our vibrant arts scene,eclectic architecture, welcoming atmosphere,local businesses,funky culture,charming homes,and wonderful people.Our community is a celebrated success today because of decades of grassroots passion from residents and business owners alike.To sustain our prosperity in the face of evolving challenges,Fondren must define the vision of its future today.
To that end,Fondren Forward is an inclusive,community- driven planning initiative designed to craft a visionary roadmap for Fondren's future as well as a fundraising campaign aimed at supporting vital community improvements.This undertaking is a thoughtful investment in shaping the next phase of Fondren.It allows to plan strategically for the days ahead and ensure a place in which we can all be proud.
Fondren Forward considers a comprehensive vision that embraces opportunities across every facet of Fondren, spanning our neighborhoods, businesses, amenities, parks, roads, and trails. This initiative also extends its perspective beyond the community's boundaries, carefully examining adjacent uses and anchors to ensure a holistic approach to growth. Fondren Forward also looks to the larger city of Jackson, considering all the ways the best Fondren can help support the best Jackson, recognizing that a sustainable neighborhood can help propel the broader vision for an improved and thriving capital city.
ThankstoourFondrenForwardDonors
A Plus Signs
Amanda Wells, The Tell Agency
AnderCorp
Andrew and Barbara Mallinson
Andrew and Laura Humphries
Andrew and Mary Linley Sweat
Anna Fiser
Arden Barnett
Bank Plus
Barry and Barbara Plunkett
Belmont Trapp
Ben and Meredith Aldridge
Beverly McMillan
Bill and Betsy Nation
Brandley Arant Cummings LP
Brown?s Fine Art and Framing
Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes PLLC
Bryan Shufelt
Buddy and Frenchie Graham
Cadence Bank
Carroll?s Landscaping
Carroll?s Maintenance
Cathy Boone
CDFL Architects
Chuck Addington, Gary
Lambert
Clark-Schnur Family
Corner Market
David and Ardarian Pierre
David and Michelle Pharr
David Conn, JHSHoldings, LLC
Derek and Jennifer Emerson
Diane Defore
Don and Becky Potts
Duvall Decker
Entergy
Everyday Gardener
Fondren Church
Fondren Presbyterian Church
Gabriel Prado, PraCon Global
Gregory and Margaret Auger
Helen Boone
Hunt The Shop, LLC
Jackie & Shani Meck
Jackson Heart
Jamie and KristenMallinson
Jason and Betsy Greener
Jeff Adcock
Jeff and Debbie Good
Jimbo and BritneyMoss
Joel and Leslie Bobo
Joel and Mary Grace Brown
Jonathan and Davetta Lee
Jones Walker
JXN Water
Kathleen Carter
Kelly Fenelon
Lauderdale Family
Lloyd and Sally Gray
Matthew and Shannon
McLaughlin
Matthew Schott and Karen
Radosevich
McRae Foundation
Michelle Keeton
Mike and Virginia O?Connell
Mike Peters
Natalie Maynard
Raymond James
Renee & Jimmy Jones
Robert and Melissa Hutchison
Robert and Molly Walker
Roy and Nancy Campbell
Sai & Lisa Ireland
Sandy and Ann Carter
Sara Weisenberger
Solon and Leah Smith
St. Dominic Health System
St. Richard?s Catholic Church
St.James Episcopal Church
State Street Group
Stuart and Emily Whitaker
Stuart and Janie Clark
Studio Chane
The Rug Place
Tim and Sarah Sterling
Toni Manning
Tree House Boutique
Trustmark National Bank
Walker Foundation
Walter and Deborah Newman
WBA Architecture
William and Camille Morris
Burr & Form an
Sponsored by Meadow brook Wealt h Advisors of Raym ond Jam es
Event Sponsors: Burr & Forman and Meadowbrook Wealth Advisors of Raymond James
2024 Event Co-chairs: Sarah Bentley & Molly Walker
Honoring: Principal Joseph Collins and Boyd Elementary
Table Sponsors
Alliance Business Services
BankPlus
Sarah & Michael Bentley
Cathy Boone
Lanita & Mike Campbell
Entergy
Fertile Ground
Fondren Church
Alison and Thomas Gilbert
Davetta & Jonathan Lee
Shannon & Mathew McLaughlin
Jan Mounger
Nix-Tan and Associates
Coby Parker & John Stringer
Ardarian & David Pierre
Barbara & Barry Plunkett
PraCon Global Investments
Sunbelt Sealing, Inc.
Molly & Robert Walker
Wier Boerner Allin
Symphony photos
established 2024
