Ann Heler was a resident of Ferndale, Mich. and an active member of the gay and lesbian community. In the early 1990's Heler organized FANs "Friends and Neighbors", to protect the rights of the gay and lesbian population in Ferndale Michigan. As the city became a more tolerant place for the community to live, FANs disbanded about 10 years after they began. Heler later joined Team Great Lakes, participating in Gay Games IV in 1994. The Gay Games began in 1982 as a cultural event for the purpose of unity and identity within the national and international gay and lesbian community.
From the guide to the Ann Heler papers, 1993-1998, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)