We hope we can count on your support as we work to share rowing with all young Philadelphians and empower them to reach their greatest potential! Additional information about the campaign, FAQs, and sample posts can be found below. If you have any further questions, please reach out to info@philadelphiacityrowing.org

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PCR!

FAQs!

What is Philadelphia City Rowing?

PCR is more than just a rowing program – we are a high dosage, high support, youth development organization that seeks to empower our students both on and off the water. Public school students in Philadelphia have historically been excluded from the broader river community, the sport of rowing, and the benefits it provides in terms of personal development, social capital, upward mobility, and connections to high achieving supporters. PCR’s programs work to break down the physical, financial, and systemic barriers of entry into the sport of rowing and mitigate some of the negative social and economic determinants of health faced by PSD students. We believe that by providing positive youth development experiences and rewarding out-of-school time activities, we can positively change the long-term trajectory of students and help them live full, healthy, and successful lives.

We offer three distinct programs each of which provides healthy snacks, team uniforms, swimming instruction, and public transportation tokens to eliminate the financial burden of participation on families and to ensure students have everything they need to succeed.

High-Dosage High School Racing Team - PCR’s high school racing program brings Philadelphia Public School students out of their neighborhoods and onto the Schuylkill River, creating a safe place for them to find their strengths, grow together as a team, and make college a reality. Practices take place six days per week throughout the school year, and include tutoring and academic support, mentoring, rowing and fitness instruction, and local and regional racing opportunities.

Middle School Program - Our middle school program serves students in 7th and 8th grade and meets three days per week for 8 weeks each season. Students learn the basics of the rowing stroke and are engaged in games and other activities that promote overall health and wellbeing. Nutrition education, environmental education, and swim lessons are an integral part of the programs.

Summer Learn-to-Row Camps - These two-week-long camps serve students in grades 7 through 12 and provide a safe, fun, and experiential introduction to the sport. Various enrichment activities are offered and the program culminates in an intra-squad race. Both our middle school program and summer camp serve as feeders to our high dosage high school program.

What services do you provide outside of just rowing?

In addition to our rowing programs, we provide the following support services for all our student-athletes:

• College and career counseling
• Academic support, subject-specific tutoring, and SAT prep
• Swimming and water safety instruction
• Environmental education
• Community service and civic engagement opportunities
• Mentoring
• Nutrition education & healthy habits
• Grit, goals, and gratitude training

Why should I support Philadelphia City Rowing by Participating in the #PCR10kChallenge?

We have 2 key goals for the #PCR10kChallenge:

1) Raise money for our programs so that we can provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to be successful in the classroom, on the water, and in life. (All of our programs are offered completely free of charge and each year we must fundraise 100% of our budget.)

 2) Raise awareness for our program so that members of the worldwide rowing community and Philadelphia fitness community can play an active role in supporting the health, wellness, and personal development of students in the Philadelphia School District.

We hope that with your #PCR10kChallenge post you take the time to share how rowing (or any sport) has impacted your life, share how you are using sport to change the lives of others, or just share your support!

How is this year's #PCR10kChallenge different from previous years?

Last year, we raised over $20,000 for our program and over 300 members of this community participated in the challenge on social media. Over the course of a month, a collection of inspirational captions, fun team photos, rowing music videos, and sweaty selfies were being shared across the entire community.

This year, in order to ensure we see your post AND to be eligible to receive prizes, we are asking that participants fill out a short registration form for the #PCR10kChallenge. You can do so here: REGISTER FOR THE #PCR10KCHALLENGE!
 
Although there are lots of prizes up for grabs, ALL participants who register in advance and make a $15 donation to PCR will receive our brand new Boathouse Row bumper sticker!

Do I have to donate if I take the challenge?

All of PCR's programs and services are offered to our participants at no cost, except the commitment of their time and effort. This means that 100% of our programs are funded through private donations from local foundations and individuals like you. 

That being said, you do not have to donate in order to participate in the challenge. Simply by posting in support of the #PCR10kChallenge, you’re already raising awareness for our programs and our student-athletes. Making a donation, however, will help drive our mission forward and bring our life-changing programs to students throughout Philadelphia who have previously been excluded from rowing and the benefits its provides. So, participating AND donating is ideal.

How do I donate?

To make a donation online, please visit our PayPal page:

You can also donate through Venmo (@PhilaCityRowing) or mail a check made out to Philadelphia City Rowing to 450 Plymouth Road, Suite 305, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Please put 10k Challenge in the memo line with your check or Venmo donation so we know to attribute your gift to this campaign!

Sample Posts:

Pumped to be supporting @philadelphiacityrowing and their #PCR10KChallenge today as they work to engage students throughout Philadelphia in the life-changing sport of rowing. I nominate @person1 @person2 and @person3 to do the same!

Love what @philadelphiacityrowing is doing to bring more diversity to our sport and all the work they are doing with students in the Philly Public Schools. I am happy to support the #PCR10KChallenge and nominate @organization1 @organization2 @organization3 to do the same!

As a rower and a runner, I use the Schuylkill River and adjacent trails nearly every day. Being outside and spending time in nature brings me peace and keeps me happy. I love what PCR is doing not only to share the great sport of rowing with students throughout Philadelphia but also how they are teaching their students to be great stewards of their community and the environment. I am happy to support the #PCR10KChallenge and their #PCRProtectsThePlanet campaign. I nominate @group1 @group2 and @group3 to do the same!