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The Calumet Center for Healing and Attachment is putting its own virtual twist on the Kentucky Derby to raise funds to help support its programs.  

This year’s third annual Run for the Roses Gala will be held live virtually on multiple Facebook pages with live entertainment. 

The event can be found at www.facebook.com/CCHAEMPOWERS on Sept. 5 at 5 p.m. 

Development Director Kevin Goodson said that Young Singers of West Georgia and Lafayette Society of Performing Arts will both perform during the live event. 

“We were originally scheduled to do an in-person event at the Roanoke Farm and Weddings, which is halfway between LaGrange and Newnan,” Goodson said. “Unfortunately, during COVID, we decided to switch over to a virtual streaming event. The whole focus was it to be a Kentucky Derby viewing and event. So now we’re doing kind of an old-style telethon. Very similar to Jerry Lewis type telethon back in the day.” 

The Calumet Center provides a 3 to 12-month program offering individualized treatment plans and community collaboration for women and their families who have experienced trauma in their lifetime.

“The funds raised from this event will go toward the actual residential and outreach programs,” Goodson said. “Basically, this program, individuals coming into it will need to have gotten free of drug addiction or gone through a trauma program therapy program prior to coming to us. We want them to actually succeed in life rather than just go back to the same sort of state they were in before.” 

Michele Bedingfield said that fundraisers like the Run for the Roses Gala help them with grants that the center writes.

“When we are able to write to a grant, they want to know how well we recognize and support in our own community,” Bedingfield said. “To be able to say that we had this great event and show the funds we raised from it helps then get leverage for other funding dollars.” 

Calumet Center for Healing and Attachment serves Troup County and the surrounding counties.  Its targeted population includes women with a trauma history who suffer from substance use disorders, mental disorders and co-occurring disorders and their families.

“I don’t know of any other organization in Georgia that’s doing what Calumet Center does,” Bedingfield said. “After the recovery part, addressing the trauma and then reuniting mothers and children together is unprecedented in the way that we’re doing.” 

Along with live entertainment, there will be a Derby trivia contest complete with prizes, best Derby Hat competition and a virtual silent auction. Bedingfield said that participants watching live will be able to follow along on how to submit anything and also participate in the event. 

Rather than selling tickets for the event, the Calumet Center is selling a “Down Home Gift Basket.” 

Included in the basket will be a secret way to earn free entries into the Kentucky Derby “Place Your Bets” drawing. 

With a $50 donation participants will receive a the Down Home Gift Basket that includes the following:

Two Stuckey’s Southern Sweet Sauces, two Kimble’s Homestyle Peanut Butter Cornflake Chewy, two Handcrafted Mint Julep Cake Pops by LottyPops, bonified Georgia peanuts, cookies from Crave Cookie Company and a Chick-fil-a gift card. 

As of Monday, the Calumet Center has raised 19 percent of the $3,500 goal. To purchase a basket or donate, visit ccha.rallyup.com/downhome.