Local Effort

The 2026 Rotary Club of Gwinnett County's Derby Down South event is dedicated to supporting veterans and their families in our community.

 

The Gwinnett Tech Foundation has been selected as a beneficiary of this year's event. Grant funding will directly support the veterans served through Gwinnett Technical College's Veterans Affairs Office, which assists more than 350 veterans and approximately 500 of their family members each year. The GTC Veterans Affairs Office provides individualized support with enrollment, VA Educational Benefits, academic assistance through a dedicated veterans' lab, a new refreshment and networking area, and a variety of professional development workshops and support groups.

Valor Wellness Program

The proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Gwinnett Tech Foundation, which will support the launch and expansion of the Valor Wellness Program at Gwinnett Technical College. This new initiative was created in response to frequent requests from veteran students for better physical fitness options and creative outlets that promote mental health. Since Gwinnett Technical College does not have a campus gym, this program addresses a critical need.

 

Funding will allow the Gwinnett Tech Foundation to provide:

 

• Gym memberships for enrolled veteran students through a partnership with the J.M. Tull­ Gwinnett Family YMCA, offering six-month memberships that can be renewed with continued enrollment at Gwinnett Tech.

• Art therapy workshops, in collaboration with the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning, provide veterans with access to creative expression and emotional support.

• Emergency financial assistance for tuition, books, program supplies, transportation, childcare, and unexpected living expenses through the Gwinnett Tech Foundation's existing emergency assistance fund.

 

The short-term goal of the Valor Wellness Program is to enhance overall wellness for veteran students by expanding access to physical, emotional, and financial support resources. In the long run, the Foundation aims to build sustainable partnerships that guarantee ongoing wellness services for veteran students at Gwinnett Technical College.

 

About Gwinnett Tech: Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers over 160 associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as hundreds of seminars, workshops, and courses that provide specialized training. Gwinnett Tech is Gwinnett County's largest corporate training provider and serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane,

 

Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. In addition, some college programs hold separate licensure or accreditation status with appropriate agencies. For more information, visit GwinnettTech.edu. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.

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International Efforts

Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and we won't stop until we end the disease for good.

As the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County is also part of Rotary International, 10% of our net fundraising efforts will go towards Rotary International’s effort to eradicate Polio.

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