Rowing Cares Announces 28 New Grants in Support of the Cancer Community

Wilton CT, December 19, 2023 — In celebration of its 30th Anniversary, Rowing Cares, which engages the rowing and cancer communities, today announced 28 grants totaling $170,000  to be awarded to organizations across the U.S. Throughout the year the rowing community and its supporters participated in fundraising campaigns through Rowing Cares regattas: PNW Pink Ribbon Row, Rowing Cares San Diego, Rowing Cares Mercer Indoor Rowing, Miles of Hope Regatta and virtual events: Row 5k Oar Bust and Pink the Boathouse Challenge.

Qualified organizations receiving Rowing Cares grants include:

Community health organizations which support local cancer patients and their families with programs such as free screenings, peer-to-peer counseling, financial assistance, patient navigation and transportation.

Community rowing organizations which empower cancer survivors through rehabilitation and exercise programs while providing camaraderie, support and socialization.

Leading cancer research organizations such as Rowing Cares partner Cancer Research Institute which is dedicated exclusively to saving more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all cancers.

“The Rowing Cares Board members and volunteers are proud to continue our work to engage the rowing and cancer communities. We are pleased to award these grants to community cancer organizations which do such important work so the most vulnerable get the care they need”, said Beth Kohl, President of Rowing Cares. “This year, at the Head of the Charles Regatta, we launched the Survivor Rowing Network which includes 20 organizations and individuals across the U.S. who have found rowing for recovery, rehabilitation and socialization and issued a call to action for cancer survivors of all ages. This call to action has been embraced by our community and was a major contributor to us collectively raising close to $200,000 in 2023. Rowing Cares is grateful to our donors, volunteers, participants, organizers and sponsors who continue to support our mission. We share the awarding of these grants with them.“

 One of the most powerful stories from 2023 comes out of Seattle. PNW PInk Ribbon Row (Seattle) raised over $130,000 during its 23rd Annual Regatta on September 17. One of the beneficiaries was the Providence Foundation which received $42,500. The award will be used as the anchor capital grant for the AI Software that will be implemented Spring 2024. This software will be used for scanning of dense breast tissue to assist in diagnosing early-stage breast cancer and will literally save thousands of lives in the Pacific Northwest each year!  Congratulations to the entire Seattle Rowing Community, including 15 fundraising teams, for supporting this initiative which changes and saves lives!

Providence Foundation Grant awarded by PNW Pink Ribbon Row Regatta Committee and Rowing Cares board member Angie Houtz.

Rowing Cares Grant awarded to the Saugatuck SurviveOars, including seven new cancer survivors who have just begun their program in Westport CT by Survivor Rowing Network Steering team members Lori Boersma, Beth & Russ Kohl and Victoria Madden

2023 Rowing Cares Grant Recipients

Community Cancer Organizations

Breast Cancer Angels – Southern California

Breast Friends – Tigard, OR

Carol Milgard Breast Center – Tacoma, WA

Citrine Health – Everett, WA

Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation – Lagrangeville, NY

Northwest Hope and Healing - Seattle, WA

Pink Lemonade Project – Vancouver, WA

Providence Regional Cancer Partnership – Everett, WA

Scripps Cancer Center – San Diego, CA

Swedish Medical Center Foundation – Seattle, WA

YWCA Princeton Breast Cancer Resource Center – Princeton, NJ

Survivor Rowing Programs

BCS Survivors Crew Team – Westerville, OH

Belmont Rowing for Active Recovery (ROAR) – Belmont, NC

Cortlandt Community Rowing Association - Cortlandt, NY

Crew 309 - Peoria, IL

ROCCrew – Rochester, NY

Recovery on Water – Chicago, IL

River City Rowing Club – West Sacramento, CA

Sag Harbor Community Rowing - Sag Harbor, NY

Saugatuck Survive-OARS – Westport, CT

Upper Valley Rowing Foundation - Hanover, NH

We Can Row Boston – Boston, MA

We Can Row Buffalo – Buffalo, NY

We Can Row Philly – Philadelphia, PA

We Can Row DC – Washington, DC

Wilmington Rowing Center - Wilmington DE

National Cancer Research Organizations

Cancer Research Institute - New York, NY

Sloan Kettering - New York, NY

Susan G. Komen - Dallas, TX