04/01/2026
When I moved to Dunwoody 13 years ago, the city girl in me didnât find it all that exciting. I had traded the vibrancy of intown Atlanta livingâwhere weekends meant festivals, BeltLine strolls, new restaurants, and spontaneous coffee meetupsâfor suburban life that felt a little quieter.
At first, Dunwoody lacked the energy I was used to. But what I quickly realized was that the potential was there. The people who lived here wanted more connection, more reasons to get outside, and more ways to enjoy their community. They just needed someone willing to help get things moving.
And Iâve always believed something simple: you canât complain about a community if youâre not willing to get involved. So I did.
In 2022, I opened my second Functionize Health & Physical Therapy location in the heart of Dunwoody Village. For years I drove past the building thinking it would be the perfect place for a physical therapy clinic. When it finally became available, I knew Iâd regret it if I didnât pursue it. Managing two locations felt like a stretch, but my gut told me Dunwoody needed what we offer.
Because the truth is simple: you canât fully enjoy your city if you donât feel strong, healthy, and well. My passion has always been helping people stay active so they can live the lives they envisionâwhether thatâs chasing kids, playing tennis, hiking mountains, or simply moving through their day without pain.
At first, I wondered if people would believe in the mission. Would they trust the care we provide? Would they see the vision for proactive health and longevity? Thankfully, Dunwoody answered with a resounding yes.
That same spirit of connection led to something new in 2023. A few friends and I started Active Dunwoody, a group dedicated to bringing people together through movement and exploration. One of our signature events is the Dunwoody Scavenger Hunt, where participants run or walk their way through town solving clues, discovering local businesses, and connecting with neighbors. Itâs playful, energetic, and full of surprisesâand afterward people stay, grab food, and connect with others in the community.
In 2024, that momentum grew even stronger when local business owners formed the Dunwoody Village Merchants Alliance. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships, increase foot traffic, and help turn the Village into the vibrant gathering place our community deserves.One of our first big events was the Village Holiday Celebration, where families and neighbors came together to celebrate the season. The evening ended with a Lantern Parade that lit up the Village and reminded all of us what community can look like.
This year, Iâve continued leaning into servant leadership through Leadership Perimeter, a program that brings regional leaders together to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing our communities. As part of the program, my group is partnering with Dunwoody High School on a creative project called Doorwoody. Students will design small fairy doors placed inside local businesses throughout the Village, inviting residents to explore, search for the doors, and discover new shops along the way.
What Iâve learned through all of this is something powerful: the more you give to your community, the more it gives back.
Serving through my business and through Dunwoody has been a privilege, and Iâm grateful for the support that has allowed Functionize Health to grow while helping more people stay active, healthy, and strong for the long run.
And the FUN keeps growing. Each Active Dunwoody Scavenger Hunt gets bigger than the last. Our most recent event brought out more than 100 participants, all exploring Dunwoody together in the most playful way possible.
If you want to experience the energy for yourself, join us for the next one:
April 23rd at 6:30pm starting at Red Pepper Taqueria. Come walk, run, explore, and connect.
Because after 13 years, Iâve realized something important: Dunwoody isnât just a suburb anymore. Itâs becoming a place where people gather, move their bodies, support local businesses, and invest in the health of their community. A place that feels a little more like FUNwoody every day.
And at Functionize Health, we believe adding more FUN to your life today is one of the best ways to stay healthy for all the days ahead. Thank you, Dunwoody, for believing in the vision!
In Good Health,
Lauren
