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Greater Atlanta Christian School Bolsters Salvation Army’s Annual Can-a-Thon

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salvation army gac
Photos from GAC press release

Greater Atlanta Christian School’s community outdid themselves this year, rising to the challenge of providing non-perishable food items in a more significant way than ever before. Already a community leader in the Salvation Army’s annual Can-A-Thon, this year the school collected a record 27,000 cans, surpassing last year’s record of 20,000 cans.

Captain Paul Ryerson of the Gwinnett County Salvation Army spoke in chapels to the GAC students and shared how the pandemic has created food insecurity for many families globally and locally.  In response, the parents, students and faculty/staff rolled up their sleeves with determination to make their collections an even more meaningful impact during this difficult year.

GAC President Dr. Scott Harsh was on hand to help students load the 1,200+ large boxes into two box trucks, and he noted the significance of the day. “It’s incredible to see what our families have done and to see the leadership of our students. In a year when many are focused on what we can’t do, I love seeing our community focused on what we can do. Our students really latched on to the reasons why this help is needed. It’s been such great joy in coming together to give this donation.”

Student -leader and senior Deymon Fleming Jr., son of Deymon and Alesia Fleming of Stone Mountain, added that “GAC does a great job instilling a sense of serving in all the students. Can-A-Thon is a natural extension of how we can have a positive effect despite the challenges of 2020.” Senior student -leader Sydney Deardorff, daughter of Burt and Sherri Deardorff of Buford, heads up service projects for the High School. She said, “It’s been super uplifting and encouraging to see our school come together and collect cans to make a difference in our community.”

GAC’s strives to instill a heart for serving in each of its students throughout the year.  The annual Can-a-Thon food drive is unique since it includes the efforts of the school’s entire student body, from GAC’s very youngest to its oldest Spartans. What began as a challenge from administrators to collect 20,000 cans turned into a school-wide determination to make the greatest impact yet to the metro Atlanta community. The record-setting collection surpassed the goal by 35% by donating over 27,000 cans.

The annual Can-A-Thon is sponsored in the Atlanta Area by Publix and 11Alive and is active through December 31st.  GAC challenges all readers to donate a dozen cans: salvationarmyatlanta.org/

Source: Greater Atlanta Christian School Press Release

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Community

PCBA Awards $3,500 to Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer

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Group of women holding a large check representing a donation from PCBA to GABC

The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) donated a check for $3,500 to the Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer at their October Business After Hours event. The organization was selected by the PCBA Community Outreach Committee and board, who are dedicated to identifying and selecting charities whose mission aligns with supporting the community. 
 
Georgia Alliance for Breast Cancer — formerly It’s the Journey — is a registered 501c3 non-profit that supports Georgia’s breast cancer community by raising funds for breast health and breast cancer programs throughout the state.

Since 2002, the organization’s Georgia 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer has raised over $19 million to fund 554 grants that provide breast cancer education, screening, early detection, support services and continuing care for Georgians. Their mission is to engage with Georgia’s breast cancer community to increase access to care and reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.
 
“Since [our] donations are made possible through our members and sponsorships, we wanted to award this check at our recent PCBA Business After Hours Speaker’s event, allowing our members the opportunity to celebrate with us and learn how this organization supports our community” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA president. “This check represents the first of three charities we raised money for at our annual charity event, Tailgates and Touchdowns, in August of this year. We will be awarding a check to the Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries in November and Spectrum Autism Support Group in December.”

Supporting the community

“We are so proud of our continued commitment to supporting our community,” Proctor continued. “The PCBA has donated over $162,000 to local deserving charities and awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors in our metro Atlanta community since the inception of our community outreach program in 2013.”

Four women at a PCBA meeting
photo courtesy of the Peachtree Corners Business Association

Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA memberships, sponsorships and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded during monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the selected organizations.  

For more information about the Peachtree Corners Business Association, visit peachtreecornersba.com.
 

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Peachtree Corners Dedicates Memorial Garden to its First Lady

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A green sign with white lettering and white post for the Debbie Mason Overlook Garden in Peachtree Corners

Although Debbie Mason, the first First Lady of Peachtree Corners passed away in January 2023 just shy of her 72nd birthday, she left a lasting legacy on the community.

Her obituary summed up her attributes beautifully.

“If Debbie Mason believed in a cause, she could be counted on to work toward it tirelessly. Debbie was known to her family as a full-time mom, part-time Wonder Woman and occasional miracle worker. To her friends and community, she was a professional volunteer, fearless leader and perpetual truthteller.

Before starting her family, she worked as a legal secretary, where she began honing her exceptional organizational skills and trademark charisma, which made her the most formidable fundraiser. PTSA president, Scout den leader, drama club mom, sports team mom, volunteer organizer, teen-driving advocate, recycling and beautification champion — whatever her kids were involved in or called to her heart, she made it a priority.

A consummate ‘mover and shaker,’ there was little in her sphere of influence that didn’t receive a bit of ‘the Debbie Mason touch.’ She and Mike were founders of the Fox Hill Homeowner’s Association, where she worked to build community on the street she called home for 36 years. Hanging holiday decorations, throwing her annual Halloween party and even going door-to-door gathering signatures to have sewers installed in the neighborhood, Debbie spent so much of her time and energy in service of others.”


A loving memorial

At a memorial service in her honor, several members of the community stood around brainstorming a way to truly respect the impact she had on those around her.

“There were a group of us that just kept talking to each other and saying, what else can we do?” said Lynette Howard. “Debbie inspired us. She did so many things for us, and she gave up great things to the city. And the city was something that she just … it was her pride and joy, and she wanted to make sure that everybody was embraced and hugged in this city.”

Ribbon cutting with Mayor Mike Mason at the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden
Ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Mike Mason at the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden dedication, photo courtesy of City of Peachtree Corners

A public garden in Debbie Mason’s name was born from that discussion. And a little less than two years later, a dedication was held on Saturday, October 24 to commemorate the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden.

Her obituary went on to include her love of gardening and the outdoors.

“To nurture was her nature; she loved to look after her home and garden. Visitors often commented on how warm and welcoming the house made them feel and how beautifully decorated it was. She was an artist, viewing the backyard garden as her canvas and the flowers, plants and pots as her paints. Working in the garden restored her soul; it was her special place. She was brilliant, an independent thinker, honest, direct and utterly unique. There will never be another one like her.”

A legacy that will live on

As in life, her kindness, dedication and joy will live on.

“With the opening of this garden today, she will leave an imprint that will be enjoyed by Peachtree Corners citizens for generations to come,” said Dave Huffman during the ceremony.

Debbie inspired those around her to make a positive impact on the city, as seen in the garden project. The Debbie Mason Memorial Garden Committee: Bob Ballagh, Pat Bruschini, Lynette Howard, Dave Huffman, Sarah Roberts, Gay Shook and Robyn Unger worked together to answer questions, prioritize goals and honor Debbie’s legacy.

Large blue vase with colorful faux flowers at the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden
photo credit: Rico Figliolini

To ensure the garden design and features aligned with Debbie’s passions and the community’s input, the committee thought about things the garden shouldn’t be: hectic, feeling noisy, unkempt, sad, forgotten, without a purpose, ostentatious, gaudy, overdone, devoid of interactive things.

“Did we accomplish it?” Howard asked the crowd during the ceremony.

The thunderous applause proved that Debbie would have approved.

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PTC Arts Inc. Furthers Mission to Provide Accessible Art

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A woman in a pink sweater holding a small dog and sitting at a table with pink and white flowers

Not long after the incorporation of Peachtree Corners in 2012, city leaders envisioned an arts council that would ensure local arts and culture were given necessary attention. The Peachtree Corners Arts Council, now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was established in 2016 to bring that vision to life by creating an Arts & Culture Master Plan and Public Art Initiative program for the city.

The council facilitates public art projects, such as a soon-to-be-completed mural on Peachtree Corners Circle by artist Jonathan Bidwell. With another major endeavor, the independently funded Debbie Mason Memorial Garden, also nearing completion, Peachtree Corners Magazine caught up with the organization — now called Peachtree Corners Arts Inc. (PTC Arts) — to learn more about the projects as well as the future of arts and culture in our city.

Debbie Mason Memorial Garden

The Debbie Mason Memorial Garden is an aesthetic and contemplative garden space nestled in an area of the Peachtree Corners Botanical Garden near Town Center. A group of Peachtree Corners residents, with a shared love for the city’s first first lady and an appreciation for all that she has done for the city, formed the Debbie Mason Memorial Committee (DMMC) to raise funds to build the oasis that will delight with flowering color each season.

Painting of a blue birg by Jonathan Bidwell
Blue bird by Jonathan Bidwell

The goal of the DMMC is to preserve Mason’s memory by transforming a space that will offer Peachtree Corners residents a quiet place to reflect, connect and rejuvenate among vibrant colored seasonal plantings and mosaic tiled artwork, according to the PTC Arts website. 

Although the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden falls under the umbrella of PTC Arts Inc., it had its own committee in charge of design and fundraising goals.

“When they started getting going, because they were creating an artistic kind of installation in the city and were going to raise the funds for it, they worked with our council for ideas and input on the plan that they ultimately came up with,” said Marcia Catterall, a member of PTC Arts. “They really ran independently with that. Primarily, they used us as the nonprofit vehicle to raise the funds.”

Independent of PTC Arts, DMMC created all of its own publicity and had a committee tasked with handling all of the fundraising.

Building a master plan

Although the objective of PTC Arts Inc. is simple, the execution can be complicated.

“We had our hands in numerous things,” said Catterall. “We’ve created the city’s arts and culture master plan. We created a public art initiative. Our goal was to think about all of the ways that arts and cultural activities could impact the city and then to help facilitate the creation and the installation of arts and culture in the city.”

The initiative, along with the master plan, took up the first several years of the council’s efforts. The master plan was formalized and officially adopted in 2018. 

Part of a mural painting by artist Jonathan Bidwell
Early mural mock-up from artist Jonathan Bidwell

According to city records, “The resolution requires developers to meet with the Peachtree Corners Arts Council to discuss possibilities for public art on their property. Developers would also be asked to voluntarily set aside one percent of their project costs for public art, either by including public art on their site or contributing money to a public art fund administered by the city.”

“This Public Art Initiative and Vision Map is intended to help city officials, developers and the community at large visualize and implement the city’s public art future. It outlines a vision for public art, offers an inventory of opportunities for public art throughout the city and provides background on the types of projects that should be encouraged and prioritized,” the records continued.

painting of a dog running
Greyhound courtesy of Jonathan Bidwell

Early efforts of the council included designing activities for the Town Green and facilitating the use of public spaces for a variety of arts and cultural activities.

“One of the things that we helped with initially was designing some of the activities and talking about how to host activities on the Town Green,” said Catterall. “Now that’s all handled separately by the city, but we were sort of the sounding board and created a lot of the ideas and the thoughts about how Town Green was to be used.”

The mural project and what’s ahead

The first big art installation project initiated from beginning to end by the council is a mural on the retaining wall at Peachtree Corners Circle.

“That’s going to be our first big project that we’ve started — soup to nuts — and have run with completely on our own,” said Catterall.

Jonathan Bidwell, a well-known artist out of Asheville, North Carolina is creating the mural, having designed several others in the past.

A smiling man wearing a grey shirt and cap holding a white dog with black and brown markings
Artist Jonathan Bidwell (right) with his dog Buster

“He designed, for example, the playful foxes on the Social Fox Brewing Company in downtown Norcross,” she said. “He’ll be covering the big, long retaining wall that will border part of the Botanical Garden Walk around the Town Center area. And it will actually be near the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden.”

Funding for the mural project was covered partly through business donations.

“Part of our arts and culture master plan is to ask businesses, when they either develop or open up a new business, to donate 1% of their project value towards public art on their property or to give that to us,” Catterall said. “So, this is being funded mostly through the donation from QuickTrip’s new development.”

Since the company didn’t have a particular art installation in mind for its property, it allowed the money to go toward an effort elsewhere in the city.

The mural’s background colors were scheduled to be painted by the end of September with the remaining details to be completed by late October, in time for the ribbon cutting for the Debbie Mason Garden. That event is set for 11 a.m. on October 26.

For more information about Peachtree Corners Arts Inc., the mural or the Debbie Mason Memorial Garden, visit ptcarts.org.

You can read this article in the October/November issue of Peachtree Corners Magazine.

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