Arshay Cooper and the greater rowing community of Chicago celebrated the new partnership between A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund (AMBTIF) and Chicago Training Center (CTC), the first of five selected core programs to receive support from AMBTIF and industry partners, HUDSON and Concept2.
The event featured a learn-to-row experience for interested students, the unveiling and christening of new Chicago inspired HUDSON SHARK boats, guest speakers from The Obama Foundation and the WNBA Chicago Sky, live music and special appearances by members of the Manley High School Crew and Chicago Police Department featured in the award winning 'A Most Beautiful Thing' documentary film directed by Mary Mazzio.
"AMBTIF is premised on the belief that rowing, when paired with strong academic support, yields very powerful returns. Rowing teaches work ethic, teamwork, and resilience, while also fostering leadership, tenacity, and ambition in its participants" author and documentary film star Arshay Cooper said.
Programs selected by AMBTIF will receive dedicated grants to support (a) coaches of color, (b) transportation, swimming lessons, & academic tutoring, (c) racing in local and regional regattas competing in world class HUDSON SHARK Pair/Doubles and Concept2 Oars and Ergometers. Additionally, the AMBTIF will provide ongoing EDI training to all its partners and feature Arshay along with role model guest athletes to work with each partner city recipient program on athlete school aged recruitment.
The five core programs receiving grants and equipment in Year 1:
"We are proud to be partners with an initiative that will positively impact the sport of rowing. We believe in Arshay's mission which will realize more diverse athletes being represented in our sport," said Dan Walsh, the industry liaison for HUDSON and Concept2. "HUDSON is proud to present two world class, Chicago inspired, Pair/Doubles to The Chicago Training Center and the other four core recipient programs in this inaugural year of the AMBTIF."
For more information on upcoming AMBTIF events, visit www.arshaycooper.com
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