The Butterfly Effect:
AgeAlive Butterfly Gardens Changing the World

                      "Small changes can lead to great transformation."

The MSU AgeAlive Butterfly Gardens represent a collaboration between AgeAlive, Aritist-in-Residence
Zahrah Resh, and community members and organizations.  Participation is fun, easy and provides the enriching experience of creating art!  The project is accessible to people of all ages and skill levels and encourages community-wide participation. 

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1. Follow easy instructions below to create your own butterfly.

2. Take a picture of or a selfie with your butterfly.  Include a name or message on your butterfly or on a sign to honor or thank a person, group or organization (e.g. teachers, first responders, direct care workers) or just to share words of hope.  (Please avoid political topics!)

3. Submit your picture to AgeAlive using the "Submit Your Butterfly Selfie" link below. 

Make your own butterfly for the virtual garden!
See how below:

How To Participate in the
AgeAlive Butterfly Gardens

• ​Community Garden: Make a butterfly and write a message of hope or on the wings or on a sign. Take a picture of or a selfie with your butterfly and submit to AgeAlive. 
  
  
• Healing Garden: Create a beautiful butterfly and write a name or message on the butterfly or on a sign to honor or memorialize a loved one. Submit a picture of or a selfie with your butterfly to AgeAlive. 
  
  
• MSU Federal Credit Union Unity Garden: 
  Visit the Butterfly Garden MSUFCU headquarters at 3777 West Road in East Lansing. The art exhibit exemplifies MSUFCU's commitment to community engagement, responsiveness to major social issues, health, wellbeing and unity. Open March 7 - May 9.
  
  
• 4-H Garden:
  Coming Soon

Visit the Virtual Butterfly Gardens here....

Submit Your Butterfly Selfie

Attention Butterfly Garden Lovers
​Would you like to have one of Zahrah's Beautiful Paper Flowers or Arrangements?

For a Limited Time...
We would like to say Thank You to our AgeAlive Supporters who make a tax-deductible donation by giving you one of Zahrah’s creations as a gift of appreciation. These works of art are part of the exhibit currently on display at the MSU Federal Credit Union – Main Headquarters Building 1 at 3777 West Rd., East Lansing. Each piece takes hours to create as the flowers are all handmade out of hand-dyed coffee filters. The butterflies, designed by Zahrah, have been made by community members at multiple events. The arrangements represent Zahrah’s dedication to inspiring happiness in others through art and beauty.
 
These creations are available at the following suggested donation levels:

• $2,000 and above may receive one of two very large wreath wall hangings. These unique arrangements are built on hoops from MSU Marching Band drums.
• $1,500 and above may receive one of the very large floor arrangements or the magnolia branches.
• $1,000 and above may receive one of the 18 large size floor arrangements.
• $750 and above may receive one of XX medium size wall or floor arrangements.
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Gifts will be available for pick-up on the day the exhibit closes at the MSUFCU headquarters building 1 lobby on May 9th during business hours. If you would like a specific arrangement in the exhibit, notify us at agealive@msu.edu and we may be able to reserve it for you on a first come, first served basis. Donations should be made online, in advance of pick-up, by going to https://givingto.msu.edu, clicking on Give Now & type AgeAlive in the search bar. You will receive a receipt that you can bring when you pick up your gift.
 
MSU AgeAlive welcomes all donations at any level at any time. Please consider giving to MSU AgeAlive in one of the following ways:

1. Online at https://givingto.msu.edu. Click on Give Now & type AgeAlive in the search bar.
2. Mail check to University Development, Spartan Way, 535 Chestnut Road, Room 300, East Lansing, MI 48824. Payable to "Michigan State University" with AgeAlive on the memo line.
3. Call (800) 232-4MSU or (517) 884-1000. Mention the AgeAlive Fund.

Thank you for supporting MSU AgeAlive. We hope you will enjoy your handmade gift in recognition of your donation!

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Butterfly Making Demonstration:
Prince Solace and colleagues at the
MSU Federal Credit Union show you
how to make these simple yet beautiful butterflies:

Get printed instructions HERE...

Meet AgeAlive Artist-in-Residence
Zahrah Resh HERE!