Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, will join us as our featured speaker on August 21. Known for leading the Florida Gators to four SEC titles and their first national championship, Wuerffel’s athletic career spanned the NFL (Saints, Packers, Bears, and Redskins) and NFL Europe, where he won the World Bowl with the Rhein Fire. But his legacy extends far beyond the field. After retiring in 2004, he turned his focus to service, eventually becoming Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering leaders in under-resourced neighborhoods across the Southeast.

Wuerffel’s journey into service began while he was still playing in New Orleans, volunteering in the city’s Upper Ninth Ward. After Hurricane Katrina, he helped relocate and expand Desire Street’s mission from New Orleans to Atlanta, supporting spiritual and community development in some of the country’s most challenged urban areas. His commitment to excellence and compassion is reflected in the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, awarded annually to the college football player who best combines athletic achievement with academic and community service. In 2020, he launched the Wuerffel Foundation to further inspire unity and grassroots leadership.

Danny is also a competitive pickleball player, a team owner, and the host of PickleBowl, a celebrity charity tournament. Through speaking engagements and nonprofit leadership, Danny Wuerffel exemplifies the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self.” We invite all members and guests to join us for this inspiring event and hear how a life of service can be the most meaningful victory of all.