STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY LISA WORTHY
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In an effort to support inclusion and diversity efforts, the Head of the Charles Regatta and the Gold Cup of Philadelphia have announced a partnership to fund $100,000 in seed capital to launch a program that will make annual grants to rowing programs serving under-resourced youth and communities throughout the country.
The fund will also provide in-kind equipment and mentoring services that will allow the programs to field competitive teams of 19-and-under youth.
The Head of the Charles/Gold Cup Fund will immediately launch a nationwide fundraising campaign to encourage contributions to the fund as it creates an endowment for ongoing annual grantmaking and will immediately begin accepting grant applications and can be submitted up until Aug. 15. Grant recipients will be announced by Sept. 15.
“It is long past time for the sport of rowing to honestly confront its lack of diversity and implement concrete actions to attract, mentor and retain a diverse set of athletes, coaches and supporters,” said Blair Crawford, chair of the board of the Head of the Charles Regatta, in a release announcing the effort.
“As a highly visible leader in the sport, the Head of the Charles Regatta must do better. Establishing this fund is just the beginning phase of our intentional and sustained commitment to supporting greater equity in rowing.”
The full release and details of the program are posted online.
