Gainesville! Who Knew?

Cresswind Community Fund Part 2

In Part 2 of our Cresswind Community Fund episode, Gainesville Who Knew goes deeper into the real human impact of one of Hall County Georgia's most remarkable neighborhood charities. Mark Nestle, president of the Cresswind Community Fund at Cresswind Lake Lanier, shares stories that will stay with you — a grandmother and her grandchildren living in a tent, helped back into an apartment and stability. Seniors aging in place in their own Gainesville area homes thanks to a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Hall County. Food banks stretching every donated dollar ten times further than you'd expect. We also hear from Dr. Michael Lipsitt, a retired cardiologist who now volunteers at the Good News Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia — one of the Fund's key partners providing free healthcare to uninsured seniors across Hall County. Since its founding, the Cresswind Community Fund has  granted over $1 million to local nonprofits and senior services organizations in Gainesville and Hall County. But as Mark says, the million dollars is not a ceiling — it's a starting point. And here's the part that might surprise you: this model of community giving isn’t necessarily  exclusive to Cresswind. Mark's message to every HOA, neighborhood, and individual in Gainesville and Hall County is simple — you can do this too. Listen to the podcast on gainesvillewhoknew.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music/ OR: Watch on YouTube: Gainesville Who Knew Gainesville Who Knew is a podcast and YouTube channel produced by Umbrella Media LLC spotlighting the hidden history, remarkable people, and organizations of Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Cresswind Community Fund

The Cresswind Community Fund just reached $1 million.  In this episode you’ll hear the story of how a community of neighbors built something that’s now changing lives for seniors across Gainesville and Hall County, Georgia We sat down with Mark Nestle, President of The Cresswind Community Fund and Bud Baker, who leads Help Me Please - the volunteer program that provides hands-on assistance to Cresswind residents every day. Mark shares how the Fund was founded, what drives the mission and what crossing this milestone means for the future.  Bud walks us through everything Help Me Please actually does - and how you can be a part of it - whether you need a hand or want to lend one. The Fund goes far beyond the gates of Cresswind.  In Part 2, we get the full story of the seniors and programs it supports across the greater Gainesville community. Stay tuned. Gainesville! Who Knew? is produced by Umbrella Media and hosted by Lauren Price and produced by Andy Waterman - your neighbors at Cresswind Lake Lanier, Gainesville, GA gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Agnes: The Ghost of Brenau University

She's been haunting the halls of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia for over a century — but who was Agnes, really? In this episode, Andy and Lauren dig into one of Hall County's most beloved ghost stories, weaving together local history, mystery, and more than a little drama. With guest voices bringing Agnes and her world to life through dramatic reenactments, this Georgia ghost story feels less like a podcast and more like settling in around a fire on a dark Southern night. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, you won't look at Brenau's beautiful historic campus quite the same way again. Gainesville Who Knew — because the best stories are hiding in plain sight. gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Season 2 - Behind the Scenes

Ever wondered how our Gainesville! Who Knew?  podcast actually comes together? In this special Behind the Scenes episode, we take you through our entire creative process—from that first spark of an idea to the final polished episode you hear. We'll show you how we decide which stories deserve to be told, track down the perfect people to interview, dive deep into research to ask questions that really matter, and then bring it all together in the recording and editing process. It's messy, it's fascinating, and it's a labor of love for our hometown. While you can still enjoy this audio version, we’re excited to bring you into our world visually and show you what really goes into uncovering Hall County's forgotten history. This is our first episode as Gainesville! Who Knew? transitions to YouTube!   You can watch the episode on our website: gainesvillewhoknew.com [http://gainesvillewhoknew.com/] or on YouTube .  We hope you enjoy it.  Let us know. gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com

Gainesville Who Knew - Season 1 Complete! Taking a Short Break

We've wrapped up Season One of Gainesville Who Knew! Thank you to everyone who joined us on this journey exploring the hidden stories and fascinating history of Gainesville We're taking a short hiatus while we work on an exciting next step— Stay tuned for updates and the launch and Season Two. We'll be back soon with more untold stories from our community! gainesvillewhoknew.com andyandlauren@gainesvillewhoknew.com