As we look toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the establishment of the U.S. Soccer headquarters in Fayetteville, our region is preparing for unprecedented demand. Eric Dial shared the launch of the Soccer Housing Bureau, a vital initiative for Fayette County homeowners.
Leveraging the "Masters Rule," residents have a unique opportunity to provide housing for international visitors for up to 15 days tax-free. This is a massive win for local economic participation in a global event.
PEACHTREE CITY, GA – The Rotary Club of Peachtree City hosted a thrilling day of racing for its annual Rotary Peachtree City Half Marathon and 5K, welcoming 600 runners and raising $30,000 to support community nonprofits and service projects. With a near-even split of participants between the two distances, the event featured impressive athletic feats—including a dramatic battle to the finish in the men’s 5K and a showcase of rising young talent. The highest concentration of registered runners are from Fayette and Coweta Counties, with many also registering from across Metro Atlanta, greater Georgia, and from over 20 other states.
The event’s success was anchored by Signature Sponsor Cooper Lighting Solutions, whose support, alongside numerous cash and in-kind sponsors, covered race expenses to ensure all proceeds go directly to charitable causes.
Young Athletes and Veteran Champions Shine
The race results highlighted the incredible depth of local talent, particularly among the community's youth.
In the Half Marathon, 14-year-old Livia Rafter of Peachtree City took the Overall women’s title in a time of 1:30:42. A former PTC Flash athlete and currently considered the #1 varsity runner for McIntosh High School as a freshman, Rafter’s performance was a standout moment of the day.
The 5K also saw a youth victory, with 11-year-old Claire Anewalt—a current PTC Flash runner—winning the Overall ladies title in 22:31.8.
"It is incredible to see the next generation of runners dominating the course," said event organizer Evan Lovelace. " having a 14-year-old and an 11-year-old take home the top honors for the women is a testament to the strength of our local youth programs like PTC Flash. The energy they brought to the race was inspiring."
Vladimir Zander-Velloso of Newnan defended his title to become a three-year champion in the men’s category of the Half Marathon. He finished with a blistering time of 1:07:14, maintaining an average pace of 5:08 per mile.
A Dramatic 5K Duel
The 5K in the men’s field provided the most dramatic moment of the morning. Runners Austin Chrouch and Jim Ellis sprinted it out down the final stretch in a dramatic display of competition. While Ellis crossed the physical finish line first, the race results were determined by chip time—measuring the exact duration from the starting line timing mat to the finish line timing mat.
Austin Chrouch was declared the winner by a mere one-second margin with a chip time of 17:23.3, edging out Ellis who finished in 17:24.5.
Community Support and Sponsorship
The event relied on the dedication of 180 volunteers who managed the course, water stations, and registration.
"We couldn't do this without the 180 volunteers who gave up their morning to help us," said organizer Mike Nelson. "Thanks to them, and the incredible generosity of our sponsors, we were able to raise $30,000 after expenses. That money goes right back into our community and international service projects."
Runners were treated to a robust Race Expo and finish line experience. Solomon Brothers Jewelers provided a generous gift certificate to every runner. The finish line area featured food from Trader Joe’s, coffee from Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, and catering by Waffle House.
Participants also enjoyed recovery services from Onelife Fitness (stretch table and massage guns), and engaged with expo vendors including GameDay Men’s Health, Benetrend Solutions, Southern Conservation Trust, Exuberance GO, Health Choice Center of PTC, CrossFit PTC, and the PTC Running Club.
Support Our Sponsors
The Rotary Club encourages the community to view the full list of sponsors and support the businesses that made this event possible.
"Our sponsors are the backbone of this event," added Nelson. "We encourage everyone to visit our race website to see who supported us, and please consider using their businesses for your needs."
Officer Farrell consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty, exemplifying the values of integrity, compassion, and service that strengthen public safety and build trust within Peachtree City. His dedication to protecting residents, supporting fellow officers, and engaging positively with the community makes a lasting impact on all those he serves.
We are grateful for Officer Farrell’s leadership and daily commitment to keeping Peachtree City a safe and welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, thank you, Officer Farrell, for your exemplary service and for making a meaningful difference in our community.
Congratulations on this well-deserved honor!
Pictured (L-R): Officer Massarelli, Patrol Captain McDowell, District Governor Steve Ivory, Officer Farrell and President Chavdar Zdravkov
"For members of the Rotary Community Corps of Peachtree City, the Christmas season is less about receiving and more about reflecting on a year spent giving back.
The group recently gathered for its annual holiday party, celebrating a year of service projects led by adults with special needs who are committed to supporting their community through volunteer work. The event marked the close of another active year for the Corps, which has continued to grow since its founding in 2015.
“This isn’t a club where people come to get things,” said Joel Norris, founder of the Peachtree City Rotary Community Corps and a longtime member of the Peachtree City Rotary Club. “It’s a place where they give. They give their time and their efforts to help others, and that gives them a lot of pride.”"
We had another fantastic meeting at the Rotary Club of Peachtree City!
A big thank you to our guest speaker, Sara Lue, Director of the Office of Public & Governmental Affairs for the GBI. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise and updates with our club. It was a very informative session!
We also had a very special celebration of generosity and service. Please join us in congratulating our newest Paul Harris Fellows:
Gail McBride Vest, Kelly Williams, David O'Rear
Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow is a significant recognition of a Rotarian's tangible support for the Rotary Foundation's mission to improve lives around the world. Thank you, Gail, Kelly, and David, for your dedication and support!
New Member Spotlight!
Let’s give a warm Rotary welcome to our new member, Troy Uphoff!
Troy joins us as an Owner and Manager for Martin Uphoff Developments, specializing in new custom homes and remodels.
Troy calls Senoia home, where he lives with his wife, Kylie, and their three daughters: Emberly (4), Madilyn (2), and Leighton (3 months). When he isn't busy with work or dad duty, Troy enjoys the beach, camping, carpentry, sports, and firing up the BBQ!
As an Air Force veteran, Troy feels a strong connection between his military service and Rotary’s mission. He sees a natural alignment between the Air Force core values—Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do—and the Rotary motto of Service Above Self.
New Member Spotlight!
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Jeff Martin, new member of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City!
Jeff brings valuable industry expertise to our club as the Owner and General Contractor for Martin Uphoff Developments, where he focuses on building new custom homes and home remodels.
Jeff resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Stephanie, and their three children: Jaidon (21), Sammie (14), and Morgan (11).
A true outdoorsman, you can often find Jeff mountain biking, paddle boarding, or wake surfing when he isn't busy with work. He is also a skilled woodworker! Since moving to Fayette County a few years ago, Jeff has enjoyed meeting new people in the community and is excited to get involved in helping others through Rotary.
We are thrilled to have you on the team, Jeff!
New Member Spotlight!
Please join us in giving a huge warm welcome to the new member of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, Bronwyn Williams!
Bronwyn brings fantastic local business and educational experience to our club. She currently works as a consultant for Concordis Education Partners, where she assists in launching and partnering with private schools. Many of you may also recognize her as the former owner of the Pure Barre gym right here in Peachtree City!
On the home front, Bronwyn lives in Newnan with her husband, Bill, and their two children, Jake (22) and Kenner (9).
We are thrilled to have you with us, Bronwyn! We look forward to serving the community together.
Coffee, Conversation, and Community!
There is no better way to kick off Thanksgiving week than with good friends and great fellowship.
We had a fantastic Coffee Chat meeting this week, giving us a chance to pause the holiday rush and catch up with one another. A massive THANK YOU to our Foundation Chair, Fernando Duenas, for organizing such a wonderful gathering!
Fernando, you did an outstanding job bringing us together. We are so grateful for your leadership and for creating this space for us to connect.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
BIG thank you to Patrick Burke, Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank, for speaking to the Rotary Club of Peachtree City today!
Patrick shared incredible insights into the Food Bank's vital mission, and reminded us why they are not just one of our most valued Grant Recipients, but also one of our very best service partners. Their dedication to fighting hunger across our region is truly inspiring.
We are proud to partner with organizations like Midwest Food Bank to make a tangible difference in our community!
The Rotary Club of Peachtree City is thrilled to announce we've completed the Sensory Path at our grant recipient, Camp Southern Ground, this past weekend!
What an incredible day of service and partnership. We are so proud to support a space that will offer therapeutic and engaging experiences for the families served by Camp Southern Ground.
Best part? Veterans and their families were able to use the path the same afternoon! Seeing the immediate impact of this project was truly heartwarming. Thank you to everyone who pitched in to make this happen!
What an impactful meeting yesterday at the Rotary Club of Peachtree City!
We were deeply moved by Rotarian Amy Matusek, who made a heartfelt donation to the Club Foundation in memory of her beloved mother.
Then, we were thrilled to hear from our guest speaker, Alex Urban, the Executive Director of the PGA Tour Championship! Alex gave us incredible insight into managing one of golf's premier events and, just as importantly, the massive community impact the Tour Championship generates in the Atlanta area.
It was a day filled with fellowship and inspiration!
Another high-energy Rotary lunch in the books!
Big thanks to our Membership Director, Jennifer Lunsford, for the fantastic updates!
The highlight was an engaging and passionate presentation from our own Chris Doane, President & CEO of the Southern Conservation Trust (SCT). We loved learning more about SCT's vital work protecting the beautiful nature around us. It's inspiring to see Rotarians leading the charge!
We had an incredibly insightful meeting today at the Rotary Club of Peachtree City featuring a very special guest speaker: Kevin Dancy, Vice President and Regional Executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta!
This was a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into the current economic situation directly from a leading expert. 
Mr. Dancy, who oversees the Regional Economic Information Network (REIN) in Georgia, shared how they collect economic intelligence from business and community leaders to help inform monetary policy.
It's fascinating to hear about the work that goes into supporting our region's economy, including his role leading the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council and his extensive outreach in Georgia.
A big thank you to Kevin Dancy for sharing his expertise and time with our club!
We are incredibly proud to recognize Heidi Becker as a Major Donor!
Heidi’s extraordinary generosity reflects her deep commitment to the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self. Contributions like hers empower The Rotary Foundation to fund vital projects both locally and around the globe—from eradicating polio to supporting clean water initiatives and promoting peace.
Thank you, Heidi, for your leadership, your dedication, and for helping us make a tangible, lasting difference in the world! Your commitment inspires us all.
What a fantastic meeting today at the Rotary Club of Peachtree City!
A huge thank you to Amy from Doc Brown's Farm and Distillery for sharing her incredible story and insights with us. It was truly inspiring to hear about her journey and the passion behind the farm and distillery.
We appreciate you taking the time to join us!
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Peachtree City, GA 30269-1428
United States of America