The Feeney Legacy Project and the Feeney 5K at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody, GA
In this episode of the What’s Up Dunwoody podcast, host Matt Weber sits down with Lia Armistead to talk about the Feeney Legacy Project and the upcoming Feeney 5K at Brook Run Park. It is a powerful conversation about loss, awareness, and how one local family is working to make sure hesitation never costs another life.
This One Hits Close to Home
I have recorded more than 300 episodes of this podcast, and most of them are fun. We talk about new restaurants, Dunwoody events, school initiatives, parks, and everything in between. But every once in a while, a conversation feels heavier in a meaningful way.
This was one of those conversations.
Lia Armistead joined me to share the story behind the Feeney Legacy Project, which her family created after her brother passed away in 2022 from cardiac arrest. The part that stays with you is not just the medical emergency. It is the hesitation.
The person he was with was afraid to call 911 because of possible legal consequences. There may have been drugs or alcohol involved. Fear took over. That delay mattered.
Instead of letting that be the end of the story, Lia’s mom and her five sisters decided to build something that could help someone else make a different decision in the same moment.
The kind of hesitation Lia described could happen anywhere. At a graduation party. After a football game. At a friend’s house. And if more people in Dunwoody understand the 911 Amnesty laws before they ever need them, then this story has the potential to change an outcome.
And while writing this, I just took a moment to tell my middle-schooler about these laws. Hopefully he won't ever be put in that position, but you never know.
The Mission Is Simple, and It Is Urgent
The Feeney Legacy Project focuses on two core areas. First, raising awareness about Georgia’s 911 Amnesty and Good Samaritan laws. Second, teaching hands-only CPR.
Most people have no idea that Georgia law protects you when you call 911 during an emergency, even if drugs or alcohol are involved. You are not going to be arrested on the scene for making that call. The law is designed to prioritize saving a life.
But in a high-stress moment, people do not think about statutes. They think about consequences. They freeze. They hesitate.
The Feeney Legacy Project exists to remove that hesitation.
Their message is intentionally direct.
Call 911.
That clarity matters.
They also promote hands-only CPR, which means you call 911 first and then immediately begin chest compressions. No complicated steps. No waiting. Just action. On the podcast I joked that many of us learned the rhythm from The Office tv show, but the reality is this education can save a life at a house party, in a parking lot, or even at a crowded Dunwoody event.
This is practical awareness. Not abstract advocacy. Practical steps that ordinary people can take.
The Billboards You May Have Driven Past
One of the most effective parts of the Feeney Legacy Project has been the billboard campaign placed along I 85 and I 285.
If you have driven those corridors, you may have seen them.
They are not cluttered with statistics. They are not overloaded with explanation. They simply say Call 911, include a photo of Feeney, and direct you to the website.
That is it.
During the holiday campaign, those billboards generated massive impressions. For a grassroots nonprofit started by a family connected to Dunwoody North, that level of visibility is remarkable.
As someone who thinks constantly about digital reach, SEO, and how people discover information when they are moving to Dunwoody, I respect the simplicity of that strategy. Clear message. High visibility. Let curiosity do the rest.
Sometimes simple is powerful.
The Feeney 5K at Brook Run Park
The annual Feeney 5K is the primary fundraiser for the project, and it brings everything together in one place.
This year the race takes place on March 8 at the Brook Run Park Amphitheater. It is also an AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier, which adds a competitive draw for serious runners.
But the heart of the event is not about pace. It is about participation.
Families walk. Kids run ahead of their parents. Dogs tug on leashes. Strollers line up at the start. There are games for children, space to gather, and the kind of relaxed energy you expect at a Dunwoody event.
If you have ever spent a Saturday morning at Brook Run Park watching youth soccer or looping the trail, you already know the vibe. The Feeney 5K taps into that same sense of community.
There is even a virtual option, allowing supporters from outside Georgia, including friends and family in Australia where Lia grew up, to participate.
Local roots. Wider reach.
Mad Italian and the Power of Local Support
Mad Italian, located right on the edge of Dunwoody and Chamblee, is hosting a month-long fundraiser from February 9 through March 9 in support of the Feeney Legacy Project.
Guests can add a donation to their check, grab Feeney Legacy swag, and scan QR codes placed throughout the restaurant to learn more.
Tom and Shannon, who own Mad Italian, are friends of mine and former real estate clients. I originally met them when I recorded a podcast at their old location. That is one of the things I love about doing this show. The relationships stack over time.
If you are making a list of the best restaurants around Dunwoody that consistently show up for local causes, Mad Italian deserves a spot.
Grief, Memory, and Saying His Name
One part of the conversation that really stayed with me was when Lia talked about how people often avoid saying the name of someone who has passed away. They worry about making things worse. They worry about triggering emotion.
But for her family, saying Feeney’s name keeps him present.
The Feeney 5K is not just about fundraising. It is about remembrance. It is about choosing action instead of silence.
If you have been in Dunwoody long enough, you have seen how this community responds in hard seasons. We gather at Brook Run. We show up at Dunwoody High. We help neighbors when their apartment complex burn to the ground. We rally around families in Dunwoody North and Village Mill when something unexpected happens.
That rhythm of community is real.
It is part of why living in Dunwoody feels steady.
The Lesson About Showing Up
If you have followed What’s Up Dunwoody for any length of time, you know I believe in consistency.
The Feeney Legacy Project embodies that.
They did not stop at grief. They built billboards. They organized races. They partnered with local businesses. They continue to educate, and the Legacy grows.
Year after year.
We do not get to choose every circumstance in life. But we do get to choose how we respond.
In this case, a Dunwoody family chose to respond with clarity, education, and action.
That is worth supporting.
Call to Action
If this conversation moves you, consider registering for the Feeney 5K at Brook Run Park, supporting the fundraiser at Mad Italian, or simply taking time to learn about Georgia’s 911 Amnesty laws and hands-only CPR.
You can learn more at feeneylegacyproject.org and on Instagram at @feeneylegacy.
And if you are thinking about living in Dunwoody, exploring homes for sale in Dunwoody, or trying to understand what is happening in the Dunwoody real estate market right now, I am around.
Schedule a call at whatsupdunwoody.com/call
No pressure. Just a conversation.
Show Notes
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Lia Armistead shares the story behind the Feeney Legacy Project
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Why Georgia’s 911 Amnesty laws matter in real emergencies
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Details about the March 8 Feeney 5K at Brook Run Park
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How Mad Italian is supporting the fundraiser
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What this project says about the Dunwoody community
About What’s Up Dunwoody
What’s Up Dunwoody is hosted by REALTOR® Matt Weber, spotlighting local businesses, events, and neighbors across Dunwoody, Georgia. Follow along at whatsupdunwoody.com for new episodes and community updates.
