Although the Good Neighbor Awards highlight Realtors efforts in the community once a year, they cannot truly capture the full scope of what Realtors are doing in neighborhoods all across the country. This blog post is about one such agent...a lady with Keller Williams in Grand Rapids, Michigan named Michelle Gordon AND a project which is transforming homes and engaging the commitment of volunteers all across West Michigan called F.L.O.W...Friends Landscaping Our World.
Michelle moved to the Grand Rapids, Michigan area approximately 7 years ago not knowing anyone. She quickly built up her business and the referrals started coming in. She soon realized that the economic downturn in Michigan had affected lower income neighborhoods severly and left many new home owners without the resources to landscape their yards. Never one to miss a challenge, she created a non-profit organization with a vision to change people's lives.
Visit Michelle's Blog to read more about a remarkable project that is Renewing Grand Rapids, Michigan neighborhoods...One Yard At A Time! And...watch the show to see proof that Friends Helping Others F.L.O.W. is a wonderful concept which we hope will start in Grand Rapids and Flow to other cities across the nation.FLOW...Friends Landscaping Our World!
Grand Rapids, MI
When you meet or speak with Michelle Gordon, a Keller Williams agent in Grand Rapids, Mi you can't escape one thing...her Passion!
Michelle is a woman on a mission to change Grand Rapids, Michigan neighborhoods one yard at a time. This compassion for others is transforming our community. Here's Michelle in her own words:
"I am Michelle Gordon – Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. I work with many lower income families. Due to the current Real Estate market, homes have become very affordable. The ones that are the MOST affordable happen to be homes that have been vacant for a long time. Therefore you can imagine what the yards must look like."
For many real estate agents, the sale of a home at an affordable price would be the success story. Not for Michelle.
Over the last year, Michelle has enlisted the support of the Women's Council of Realtors and several landscaping companies and a host of volunteers.
Together, they are landscaping homes in communities hit hard by the economic downturn in Michigan and restoring Pride of Ownership.
Join FLOW for a Garden Party:
September 27, 2007
At: Sans Chez Bistro
When: 6 ~9 p.m.
*Vote on Your Favorite Yard Transformation.
To Make a Donation Contact:
Mary Kent mkent@kentcountyhome.com
To read more about Michelle's story and to join the FLOW Movement, visit her on her blog:
http://friendslandscapingourworld.blogspot.com/2008/01/personal-thoughts-from-michelle-gordon.html
Details
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.
The Women's Council of Realtors in Grand Rapids, Michigan has taken up the F.L.O.W. project for the 2008 year. It is our hope to be able to landscape 30 homes this year! The Garden Tour will feature Outdoor Art from Local artists placed within each of the newly landscaped gardens.
Tour tickets will be available and the program will also feature a Live/Silent Auction for the art pieces displayed in the gardens to raise money for future projects. Don't forget to mark you calendar for September 27th at Sans Chez ...one of my Recommended Grand Rapids Favorite Restaurants to Vote for your Favorite Garden.
Missy, Thank you...but the honor is for Michelle for investing her efforts and passion in making a difference in the lives of others.
Michelle has a giving heart. It's important to highlight the ways in which real estate agents like Michelle and others are enriching our local communities. Thanks Linda.
Michelle Gordon here! I have been talking and writng about F.L.O.W. for almost a year now. We did not even have name for the project till September of last year! However to see someone else write about this project has humbled me once again. I so believe in what we are doing, and believe in the people who own these homes. Lola, I want to thank you so much for your support to this project by getting the word out for me. My greatest dream is if this would catch on in other communities and one year we have a Michigan lanscaping day! Would that not be awesome! So let's all get with the F.L.O.W. !!!! I have to thank WCR for their support and sharing my vision. I could not make a big enough impact with out them!
Happy Lanndscaping to all!!!!
Thank you Lola for your blog about this wonderful project! You do such an awesome job! I am so honored to be part of this and to work w/Michelle Gordon as well as ICCF and the West Michigan Chapter of Womens Council! So, watch out new home owners in Grand Rapids MI, We'll be there soon!!
Kudos to Michelle.
And kudos to you, Lola. You shine brighter by helping others shine!
Hi Joey, Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.
Hi Steve, This is a very worthy project. I'm glad that I am able to help in this way.
Hi Robert,
Lola, I hope you do not mind if I answer Roberts question. The yards that are going to be landscaped for 2008 have not been selected as of yet. Before we can select the homes we have to raise funds and see how many we can afford to do. However, anyone can submit a home for consideration. The selection commity will be made up of people from the WCR, who does NOT want to submit a home for consideration. As you can not do both, to make sure it is fair. The homes will have to be in the City of Grand Rapids. Once the homes have been selected, you can buy a garden tour book so you may view the homes. Before and after pics will be provided. At the Garden party you can vote for your favorite yard transformation by placing a dollar in the box. You may vote as many times as you like for the home of your choice.
Michelle Gordon