In January, the Vinings Cumberland Rotary Club celebrated its 25^th anniversary of donating to children’s charities. This year, the club once again donated over $100,000, this time to 15 charities for children’s projects. Grant Recipients included The Calvary Children’s Home and Good Samaritan Health Center, Atlanta Union Mission, Bankhead Boys Association, Boy Scouts of America Atlanta Council, Canine Companions, Center for Children and Young Adults, Cobb County Public Library Foundation, Girls On The Run of Atlanta, Hearts Everywhere Reaching Out to Children,Inc., Jason Cunningham Charitable Foundation, Inc. (JCCF), Kenrod, Inc., Lekotek of Georgia, Inc., MUST Ministries, and Youth Villages. 

The 65-member Rotary Club in Cobb County, with Rotarian Todd Ash, President, held its live 25^th Anniversary Vinings Down Hill 5K Run for the Kids last August. Over 600 runners ran in the Live Race (with some virtual) on that beautiful day one year after the 2020 Virtual Only race.  Vinings, the historic village across the Chattahoochee River northwest of Atlanta, saw hundreds of Rotarians and volunteers starting the race at The Lovett School and finishing up at the Vinings Jubilee for the After Party. The race was almost cancelled completely because of the developing variants of the Covid pandemic. 

In its 25^th year the race was a success because of the persistent hard work of the Race Committee. Race Chair, Jolene Northrop, lead the club through the race for the second year which was very successful. Rotarians Assistant Committee Chair, Ann Hudgins, held an After Party that was exceptional as well as the 1K and Doggie Dash. Sponsor Chair, Betty Smith, Race Administrator, Paul Harris, Grant Chair-Steve Hughes, and Operations Chair, Kelly Gacutan and many others contributed many hours of volunteer time. 

The Club recognized 133 Sponsors at the Ceremony. Printpack returned as the Presenting Sponsor, and 57 Sponsors were extremely generous in their donations. The rest of the sponsors donated in Memory of Charles Heinz, Founder and Director of the Run for the Kids for 23 years.

If you would like information about the Vinings Cumberland Rotary Club or about the 2022 race in August go to: viningsrotary.org or viningsdown5k.com.  You can also contact Betty Smith at
valleycreekbetty@aol.com or call 404-625-3287.