Rowers are often known for their generosity. The time they commit to training on and off the water is a remarkable testament to their spirit and dedication. That same sense of determination is apparent when contributing to philanthropic organizations-via hours of volunteer time and, oftentimes, financial donations to worthy endeavors.
In 1998 the Head Of The Charles established its Charity Program, enabling rowers to participate in the Regatta by raising funds that support various HOCR official charitable organizations. For several years the Head Of The Charles Regatta has made additional contributions to these carefully considered organizations. To date, since the HOCR Charity Program's inception, well over a half-million dollars has been donated to various philanthropic organizations throughout Greater Boston and beyond.
Athletes who wish to contribute and participate in the HOCR Charity Program must raise their funds by mid-summer-well ahead of the regular entry deadline-as there are a limited number of seats available each year dedicated to the Regatta's fundraising initiative. This year, Charity participants raised a minimum of $1,250 dollars per person (including coxswains!) to row in their choice of events for which they are qualified to race-whether it be in a single, double, four or eight event.
Charitable rowers participating in the 43rd Regatta raised $67,520 that will benefit three local non-profit organizations:
AccesSportAmerica
Cambridge Community Foundation
Community Rowing, Inc.
Information about these organizations is below, and you can visit their booths at the Cambridge Boat Club during Regatta weekend. Rowers who wish to participate in the HOCR Charity Program next year can look for registration updates at www.hocr.org/competitors/charity.asp
While the 2007 HOCR Charity Program is now closed to participants, there is another rowing-related fundraising opportunity for skilled scullers who want to row the legendary three-mile Charles River course in a Quad this year!
Quad entries still being accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) Friday, October 12th
HOCR's "Directors' Challenge Quadruple Sculls" events are still open and accepting entries for this special charity event for experienced scullers only. Athletes need to raise $1,000 ($800 is a tax-deductible donation) to row this prestigious event, as well as document participating rowers are skilled oarsman capable of navigating the curvilinear course (with or without a coxswain). Directors' Challenge participants are the only competitors allowed to row the Regatta course twice; they may race in any other HOCR event AND a quadruple scull event. Nearly 50 Quads (or more!) are expected to participate and compete this year.
The Directors' Challenge was established in 2005 for participants to directly add to the permanent endowment of the Head Of The Charles Regatta, to ensure the longevity of one of the greatest outdoor festivals in the country.
Read more at Skilled Scullers Make It Happen and Directors' Challenge Quad on the HOCR site.
2007 HOCR Official Charities
AccesSport America
AccesSport America is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and achievement of higher function and fitness for children and adults of all disabilities through high challenge sports. Based in the Boston area, AccesSportAmerica specializes in adaptive sports such as rowing, windsurfing, Polynesian outrigger canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, and other water sports as well as adaptive cycling and soccer. Our ongoing challenge is to help our athletes see themselves as just that-athletes. Then we hold them to a higher standard in which they excel and understand a true accomplishment that could easily stand next to the greatest accomplishment of the greatest able-bodied athlete. Over 500 people participate yearly in AccesSportAmerica programs at The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital on the Charles River, Massachusetts Hospital School in Canton, and other sites on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, New Hampshire, and Stuart, Florida.
AccesSportAmerica
119 High Street
Acton MA 01720
866-45-SPORT
www.AccesSportAmerica.org
Cambridge Community Foundation
Founded in 1916, the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) strives to meet the most vital human service needs of the Cambridge, Massachusetts community. The Foundation's focus is on funding direct human services by initiating programs and working through agencies serving in these areas: Early Childhood Services "A Healthy Start"-for babies, preschoolers, and their families; Youth Services "Opportunities for Children and Youth"-to grow into healthy, productive citizens; Senior Services "Support for Our Seniors"-services, activities, and volunteer opportunities; Community Services "A Welcoming Community"-ensuring access to services and resources for new immigrants, underserved groups, and vulnerable individuals; Emergency Outreach "A Community that Cares"-addressing hunger, homelessness, and violence; Arts & the Environment "A Lively, Livable Community"-encouraging creativity and caring for our environment.
Cambridge Community Foundation
99 Bishop Allen Drive
Cambridge MA 02139
617-576-9966
www.cambridgecf.org
Community Rowing, Inc.
Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) is the largest public access rowing club in the United States. Founded in 1985, CRI is dedicated to involving a racially and economically diverse group of people with a wide range of physical abilities in the Olympic rowing discipline that develops fitness, teamwork and strength. CRI offers learn to row, recreational, competitive adult and youth programs and includes opportunities for people who have physical disabilities, people with visual or hearing impairments and people who have intellectual disabilities. Membership and program fees are what keep CRI afloat. However, the organization is committed to making rowing affordable for anyone who wants to take part. Donations to CRI support scholarships, equipments costs and special programs such as G-ROW-CRI's after school rowing program for more than 300 girls from the Boston public schools.
Community Rowing Inc.
600 Pleasant Street
Watertown MA 02472
617-923-7557
www.communityrowing.org
2007 HOCR Charity Program Participants
Robert Ackerman
Victor Altshul
Donald Besser
Thomas Bohrer
Richard de Neufville
Gregg Fields
Dull Grant
Geoffrey Gratwick
Harry Graves
Bud Herzstein
Arthur Holcombe
Michael Hyde
Ken Iscol
Stuart Law
Mary Madison
Saman Majd
Sean Maloney
Jim Miller
Jane Morse
Will Muecke
Ernie Parizeau
Bart Pasternak
Vincent Petrecca
Frank Porter
Daniel Schley
Hugh Scott
Christy Shaver
Cal Sutliffe
Kathyrn Thomas
Stephen Titus
Bradley Whitehead