The Foundation for Rowing Education

Support the
Row4All Strong Start Campaign!

Help us take rowing
where it needs to go.

For more information
about Row4All,
e-mail Margot Zalkind
or call her at 413.585.9445

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ANITA L. DeFRANTZ
Member of the International Olympic Committee

I want to congratulate the Foundation for Rowing Education on launching Row4All. This program, which will encourage greater participation in rowing programs for young people from diverse as well as at-risk situations, is greatly needed. Row4All has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of these adolescents.

Rowing offers tremendous benefits for young people. A good rowing program teaches self-discipline and builds self-esteem, while improving health and fitness. We know that many sports can be important for adolescents. But rowing has a unique element that other sports do not. It is a team sport with no heroes or high scorers; a crew races as a team, and all win or lose together.

A young rower learns that every action directly affects the team’s performance and unless every team member is working hard, the boat doesn’t move. Through rowing, young athletes learn true teamwork. These lessons from rowing will serve them well. The future of our nation rests on our ability to “pull together” and rowing requires exactly that.

I’m delighted that Row4All will increase access to comprehensive rowing programs. Row4All does more than simply put kids in a boat. This program nurtures their development on and off the water and provides them with the certainty which is often lacking in their lives. Most important, this program reaches our children who most need this kind of mentoring.

Thank you for developing Row4All. I wish you luck in this important and valuable endeavor.

Sincerely,
Anita L. DeFrantz
Member, International Olympic Committee
Member, United States Olympic Committee
President, LA84Foundation

JL & FRE Help Disadvantaged Kids Suit Up For Rowing

Northampton, MA, 1 June 2009 - JL, the premier rowing clothing manufacturer, and FRE are asking the rowing community to help deserving youth participate in our sport. JL and FRE will distribute used rowing clothing in good condition to outreach programs around the country. Rowers donating clothing before September 30, 2009, will earn a 25% discount on JL purchases.

One challenge in setting up a rowing program for those who lack financial resources is that these young athletes often lack appropriate clothing to wear on the water. The Foundation for Rowing Education’s national outreach initiative, Row4All, helps rowing outreach programs solve problems like this. Row4All staff will work with JL to get the donated clothing to the programs whose kids need it most.

To inquire about receiving donated clothing for your organization’s youth outreach program, email margot@rowingeducation.org.

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Concept2 Partnership Helps Youth Through Rowing

Row together, go far.

Northampton, MA, 20 March 2009 – The Foundation for Rowing Education’s youth outreach program, Row4All, is partnering with Concept2, the leading manufacturer of indoor rowers, to develop indoor rowing programs for underserved elementary, middle school and high school children. Working directly in communities struggling with economic hardship and with minority populations that often lack access to effective fitness programs, Row4All will refine a pilot program model that can be adopted by organizations across the US.

Row4All will begin by creating an indoor rowing program in Western Massachusetts, at a site convenient for urban youth. Fun, music-filled indoor rowing workshops will introduce adolescents to a physical activity that involves the whole body, teamwork, and is a good introduction to the sport of rowing.

Childhood obesity has been described as an “epidemic” in the US, and it is a particular problem in impoverished and minority communities. Together, Row4All and Concept2 will bring an innovative approach to fitness directly to the neighborhoods where it is most needed.

Indoor rowing has gained popularity over the last several years as an individual sport. It has its own competitions and is easily accessible, in gyms, schools and clubs. Rowing machines track fitness levels and strength, making it easy to establish benchmarks and set goals. Setting up an indoor rowing program is within the reach, financially and logistically, of most organizations.

Concept2 has created an indoor rowing program model for schools that integrates rowing into physical education classes and academics. Row4All works with rowing organizations to expand the scope and impact of rowing programs that are committed to reaching diverse populations of underserved youth.

Concept2 was founded by Dick and Peter Dreissigacker in 1976. Fresh from Olympic training, the two brothers designed and manufactured carbon fiber racing oars, then went on to create the world’s first airresistance indoor rower. For more information visit www.concept2.com.