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Special Pops Tennis Tournament Hosted in Peachtree Corners

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During the last weekend of September, nearly 150 athletes are expected to participate in the Special Pops Tennis 2019 Fall Classic Tournament. They’ll arrive from throughout Georgia and other states — Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland — for three days of tennis, social activity and quality lodging at Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, according to Jim Hamm, Special Pops Tennis Executive Director.

The tournament, held Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 29, features singles and doubles match play at all levels of adaptive tennis. In addition to tennis, there are social happenings planned, including a dinner dance and off-court games.

“Our premier event — the largest adaptive tennis tournament in the nation — is held each year at Life Time Athletic and Tennis Peachtree Corners. This will mark our 14th year of the Special Pops Tennis Fall Classic Tournament,” he said. “And we feel it is a privilege to host it in Peachtree Corners.”

Hamm is one of the founding members of Special Pops Tennis, now in its 15th year as an approved 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. “Our mission is to ‘enrich the lives of children and adults through the lifetime sport of tennis.’ While we teach the sport of tennis, we focus on the development of life skills,” Hamm explained. “We are a grassroots organization that relies heavily on the support of the communities where we exist.”

Some of the many business and organizations that have supported the group include Life Time Athletic and Tennis, Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan School, Norcross High School and Chick-fil-A Peachtree Corners.

Community support also includes volunteers. In past years, more than 300 volunteers have contributed their time to ensure that the athletes enjoy a fun-filled weekend of tennis and camaraderie.

“Our coaches, volunteers and supporters benefit greatly in that they come to serve this deserving population and leave with making a difference in many lives including their own,” Hamm said. “Our motto is Play Tennis; Make Friends; Live Life. The testimonials of our participants give us an awareness that being involved in Special Pops Tennis creates lifetime memories.”

Special Pops Tennis is always interested in recruiting volunteers for the tournament. There are a few requirements: a passion for the population and helping others; and energy and full commitment to the shift and respective responsibilities. Some on-court volunteers also need tennis skill and a good knowledge of the game.

Spectators are encouraged to attend. “Everyone is invited to join in the fun. There is no charge for admission,” Hamm said.

Visit specialpopstennis.org for more details on the tournament and info on getting involved.

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Community

Life in Motion: The Gift of Organ Donation Fuels Active Lives for Recipients

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US Soccer team at the Transplant Football World Cup celebrating on the field

Peachtree Corners resident, Alex Everett traveled to Italy this past September — not as a tourist but as an athlete. The 28-year-old accountant and liver transplant survivor, served as goalkeeper on Team USA as they competed in the first-ever Transplant Football World Cup.

The event — part of the larger World Transplant Games — promoted giving the gift of life through a week of connection and sportsmanship, showcasing how people with organ transplants can live a normal, active life.

Soccer players in the middle of a match. One team is wearing blue, the other red and white.
photo credit: Riccardo Gallini/GRPhoto

“I first heard about the US Transplant World Cup team a few years ago through a social media post,” said Alex. “The first Transplant World Cup was originally going to take place in 2022 but was postponed due to the uncertainty around international travel and COVID. Fast forward to 2024 and Team USA had an interest meeting via Zoom to discuss details about the tournament and fielding the American team.”

Team USA

All together, they had 14 people from around the United States (hailing from Georgia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, California and Hawaii) join the team, which traveled to Cervia, Italy in September to compete.

“There were 10 other countries that were represented in the World Cup, and we were split into two groups, one of five and one of six,” Alex explained.

Soccer players in the middle of a match
photo credit: Riccardo Gallini/GRPhoto

“It was an incredible experience representing the US at an international level, competing against other transplant recipients from around the world. We not only were able to share our passion for soccer but also our stories of transplantation and what obstacles we had to overcome to be where we were.”

Coming together to compete

Team USA played well in their matches but placed 9th out of the 11 teams. Because players came from all over the country to join the team, they hadn’t had the opportunity to practice together — or even meet in person — before the tournament started.

“The first time we met face to face and kick a ball as a team was our first game against France,” said Alex. “While that outcome was not what we wanted, we progressively got better as the tournament went on. Eventually ending with a win in a penalty shoot-out against Wales and a normal time win in our final game against Northern Ireland.”

Soccer goalkeeper in blue, blocking a shot
Alex Everett, photo courtesy of Team USA World Transplant Games

“It was an incredible experience, and I would highly recommend anyone who’s involved with transplantation to reach out and get involved with not only Team USA but also with the Transplant Games of America (TGA), which is an Olympic-style competition for people who have received transplants or living donors,” he added.

Most states in the US have their own TGA team, including one here in Georgia.

World Transplant Games 2025

The next World Transplant Games will be held in Dresden, Germany on August 17-24, 2025.

Over six days, athletes and teams from 60 countries will meet to compete in 17 different sports. The US Team is excited to be part of it again and are currently looking for more players interested in taking part.

A group of players from a coed soccer team wearing white uniforms (except for the goalie in orange), posing for a team photo
photo courtesy of Team USA World Transplant Games

Leave a lasting legacy

Alex is also involved with the Peachtree Corners-based organization LifeLink® of Georgia, a division of the LifeLink® Foundation.

Established over 40 years ago, the foundation’s mission is to inspire new organ donor registrations and celebrate those who have decided to save lives as a registered organ, eye or tissue donor. The mission is carried out locally through education programs and community awareness campaigns.

Earlier this year, LifeLink of Georgia launched The Infinity Campaign, a state-wide educational effort aimed at motivating and registering new organ donors. The campaign is represented by the infinity symbol, to demonstrate the lasting impact of organ and tissue donation.

LifeLink of Georgia partners with hospitals to support and guide families as they establish their loved one’s legacy through organ and tissue donation.

They carry out the decisions of registered donors or their families and honor the life of each donor by providing organs and tissue for transplant to as many patients as possible. 

Mid-sized white and class building with wide walkway leading up to it. The walkway is lined with flags and there are trees and colorful plants.
photo credit: LifeLink of Georgia

In 2023, 457 men, women and children gifted a legacy of life through organ donation with LifeLink of Georgia, yet there are still nearly 3,000 patients in the state awaiting an organ transplant and thousands more that could benefit from tissue transplantation.

“When you become an organ donor, your life story continues through the lives you save, ensuring that your legacy lives on indefinitely,” says Katie Payne, executive director, LifeLink of Georgia. “Life is an invaluable treasure, a lesson we learn anew each day from our donor families. Thanks to their generosity, LifeLink of Georgia saves thousands of lives every year, and we are deeply honored to continue this extraordinary mission.”

The Infinity Campaign 

The Infinity Campaign features a series of real stories from registered donors, each telling what inspired them to register and emphasizing the effect this decision has on saving lives. By sharing these stories, LifeLink aims to motivate more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and spread the message of hope and life.

“The decision to become a donor was deeply personal. It is an opportunity to give the ultimate gift — the gift of life,” said Adán Bean. “I get to continue to tell the story for others, be a little bit of ink in their pen and help them write what they want to write.”

As part of the launch, LifeLink has created the website mystorycontinues.com, which spotlights stories from donors and recipients and offers innovative tools, including the opportunity to upload a photo to share your support and spread the word on social media about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. 

Become a donor

Being a donor is an incredible way for individuals to make a difference and have an impact on the lives of others. One organ, eye and tissue donor can potentially save or improve the lives of more than 75 people.

The need for organ and tissue donors is greater now than ever, given the growing numbers of people on transplant wait lists and increasing numbers of people with diabetes and kidney disease.

Currently, there are about 3,000 people in Georgia on the organ transplant list and thousands more on the tissue transplant list.

There are several simple ways to register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor: 

  • Visit mystorycontinues.com and sign up today.
  • Register when renewing or receiving a driver’s license or identification card at the Georgia Department of Driver Services.
  • Register when obtaining a hunting or fishing license through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

For more about LifeLink of Georgia, visit lifelinkfoundation.org/our-story/#llgeorgia.

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Doing Good

Pickle for Pups Combines Pickleball, Parties and Fun for a Worthy Cause

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The two-day event aims to raise funds for local dog rescue

Show off your pickleball skills, cheer on the players, meet fellow dog lovers and enjoy the beautiful facility and courts at Life Time Health & Fitness Center in Peachtree Corners at the second annual Pickle for Pups fundraising weekend.

large outdoor facility with tennis and pickleball courts
Life Time pickleball courts, courtesy of Pickle for Pups

Whether you’re a tournament-level player or a pickleball beginner, this two-day event offers fun for everyone. With exciting games, drills and open play; a Friday night party; Saturday team tournament; and an online raffle, it’s a great way to meet and mingle with other pickleball enthusiasts while supporting the work done by BarkVille Dog Rescue.

Weekend events

The festivities kick off on Friday, November 15 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with an evening of food, drinks, live music and pickleball. The Life Time pros will offer clinics and drills, and other courts will be available for open play. Some of the rescue’s adorable, adoptable dogs will even be onsite for the fun.

dog on a leash wearing a halo
photo courtesy of Pickle for Pups

Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will feature the team tournament with two divisions: 3.0/3.5 and 4.0/4.5. Matches will include one men’s line, one women’s line and two mixed lines. The top four teams in each level will advance to the medal round, and medals for the top three teams in each division will be awarded.

Participants can form their own team or ask to be placed on a team at their level.

Team tournament players will receive a boxed lunch, and food will also be available for purchase at the club restaurant.

pickleball courts
photo courtesy of Pickle for Pups

In addition to tournament play, beginners clinics and drills will be offered from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and open play will be available for those who can’t commit to the full afternoon but still want to have some pickleball fun.

There will be nine courts available for Friday night and 12 courts for Saturday. All courts are permanent pickleball courts and indoor courts are also available, so the event will be held rain or shine.

Ticket options

The Drinks & Dinks pass includes entrance to the Friday evening party (complete with food, drink, live music and pickleball), as well as entry on Saturday for open play, clinics and drills. Cost: $50.

The Top Dog “Team Up for Rescue” tournament pass is for people playing in the team tournament and includes registration for all of the action on Saturday as well as the Friday night party and an event swag bag. Cost: $75.

Both ticket options allow you to come both days or just one day.

large outdoor pickleball court facility
photo courtesy of Pickle for Pups

The raffle

Pickle for Pups is also holding a raffle featuring amazing prizes, including an all-inclusive trip for two to the Caribbean, a Zane Navratil ProXR paddle and virtual lesson, gift cards to local restaurants and more.

New prizes will be added weekly leading up to the event. Raffle tickets can be purchased online through November 16. The drawing will be held that day at 3:00 p.m.

Ten raffle entries are $25; 140 entries can be purchased for $200. Other entry packages are available for $50 and $100 as well.

The details

Event dates: November 15-16

Location: Life Time Health Club & Fitness Center at 6350 Courtside Dr. NW, Peachtree Corners, GA

For more information or to make a donation, purchase event tickets or buy raffle entries, visit go.rallyup.com/pickleforpups2024.

For more about BarkVille Dog Rescue, visit barkvilledogrescue.org.

Information about Life Time in Peachtree Corners can be found at lifetime.life/locations/ga/peachtree-corners.

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Community

Olympian Jasmine Jones Visits Her Local Alma Mater

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Olympic athlete standing with a school mascot

Olympian Jasmine Jones, a standout alumna of Greater Atlanta Christian School (Class of 2020), returned to her alma mater on September 12 to speak to and inspire the next generation of students there.

GAC staff interviewed Jones and also took questions from the students during a Q&A session that included every grade level.

Female Olympic athlete being interviewed onstage
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

As a member of the U.S. Olympic team and a 12-time Georgia state individual champion during her time at GAC, Jasmine’s visit was a homecoming filled with motivation and reflection. She spoke passionately to the students about the importance of perseverance, goal-setting, and embracing challenges, drawing from her journey from GAC to the University of Southern California and the global stage of the Olympics.

Jones qualified for the Paris Olympics on June 30 and made the U.S. team in women’s 400m hurdles after placing third. She went on to place fourth in the women’s 400m hurdles final at the Paris games.

Female Olympian meeting members of the audience in a school auditorium
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Students and staff at GAC cheered Jones on during the Olympics. And they cheered her again as she took to the school’s stage to address the audience. Before and after the event, Jones posed for photos, gave high-fives and took time connect with some of GAC’s enthusiastic students and faculty.

Female Olympian meeting students at her alma mater
photo courtesy of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Her words — and her accomplishments — left a powerful impression on the crowd, reminding everyone of the heights that can be achieved with dedication and faith.

For more about GACS, visit greateratlantachristian.org.

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