Georgia Club Foundation Tour of Homes

Georgia Club members and residents are well known for getting together – from Book clubs, Trivia, Ladies Night Out, golf leagues, yoga classes, dinner clubs, happy hour at the clubhouse and Friday nights at the fire pit, the list truly goes on and on. It is safe to say that this is a social neighborhood.

One event tops all others as a get together – the bi-annual Georgia Club Foundation Tour of Homes. Five amazing families will showcase their homes this year: Stan and Donna Berg, Karen and G.A. Nasworthy, Robin Hardin, Ken and Latrelle McLeod and Missy and David Lerch. The event brings over 500 patrons to tour these homes all dressed up in their Christmas finery. Proceeds from this year’s Tour of Homes will benefit St. Mary’s Hospice and Tree House, Inc.

Bringing an event of this scope to fruition takes a lot of work and a very large number of volunteers. Planning for the Tour begins more than a year prior. Denise Rampey and Dianne Hall are co-chairs of this year’s Tour and began their work securing homes and filling committees last fall. Committee Chairs Sylvia Tarpley, Nancy Keech, Judy Moore, Chuck Presswood, Mark Adams, Doug Turner, Elaine Unzicker, Jan Trotter, Amy Duarte Trish Harrison, Carole Durham, Sally Presnell, Sharon Jenkins, Dian Wescott, Carol Nelson and Nan Cantrell began meeting in the spring to hammer out the details.

In addition, over 100 volunteers will support the Tour in a myriad of ways helping homeowners before, during and after the big day. Volunteers help with decorations, ticket sales, transportation, publicity, securing sponsors and raffle prizes. It truly takes a village to pull off the Tour of Homes.

Volunteering is not the only way to support the Tour of Homes. This year, we are excited to announce a new way for members and residents to support the Tour – by becoming a “Friend of the Tour.” With a $100 donation, you will receive 2 tickets to the tour, a handmade “Home for the Holidays” ornament and your name will be added to the “Friends of the Tour” page in the tour booklet.

This is an excellent opportunity for every family to support the tour and this year’s beneficiaries. To become a Friend of the Tour simply email Dian Wescott at dianw100@aol.com.

Why do we do it? The Tour of Homes is the Georgia Club Foundation’s second largest fundraising event. We expect that over $20,000 will be raised this year and that money will go directly to our two beneficiaries: St. Mary’s Hospice and The Tree House, Inc.

St. Mary’s Hospice has provided care to patients and families since 1990. When patient care is beyond what the family can provide or when they need a break, the Hospice House, in Bogart, provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. St. Mary’s Hospice also offers home-based care in the 12-county area which includes Clarke, Oconee, and Barrow.

The Tree House, Inc. is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to strengthen communities by reducing the occurrence and impact of child abuse through counseling, educating, supporting and nurturing children and families in Barrow, Banks, and Jackson counties. This organization began in serving families in 1996 when community members began working towards preventing child abuse.

Together, they created a child-friendly agency that offers prevention programs, as well as a place for children to come when they disclose abuse. The Tree House, Inc. now sees hundreds of families each year and offers a variety of services to help children and families heal from child abuse.

Another addition to this year’s tour is a Holiday Vendor Fair at the conclusion of the tour this year, chaired by Dawn Gray and Diane Hand.  There will be local artisans showcasing unique art, gifts, and unique gifts items.

We know that the Georgia Club community to members and residents will make this tour the best ever. Thank you so much for your support!