Blue Piano Fund Supports Community Rowing’s Let’s Row program

BOSTON, MA [May 24, 2022]—Community Rowing, Inc. (CRI) received a grant from Blue Piano Fund to provide support for its middle school and high school Let’s Row programming. Through Let’s Row, CRI brings rowing machines directly into forty Boston Public Schools (BPS)—one of its many initiatives to bring inclusion, diversity, and equity to the sport of rowing.

“We are grateful to the Blue Piano Fund for this opportunity to further our mission,” said Ted Benford, Executive Director of CRI. “We invite individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and experience to grow through rowing—this investment will allow us to continue to break down silos and barriers.”

The partnership between CRI and BPS has deep roots. Over the last decade, the Let’s Row program has introduced more than 25,000 of Boston’s youth to rowing with a curriculum based on BPS Physical Education standards that has been carefully designed to be educational and engaging by incorporating games, competition, and peer support in each lesson plan.

From these classroom visits, students are encouraged to continue their passion at the Harry Parker Boathouse to row on a beautifully restored Charles River with certified coaching and world-class equipment. CRI’s high school rowing team, RowBoston, provides BPS students with the opportunity to train and race alongside other scholastic teams. RowBoston supports participants’ growth as students, athletes, and individuals through a supportive social environment, academic resources, and athletic goal setting. While only BPS students are eligible to participate in RowBoston, BPS students are also encouraged to join any of CRI’s youth programs that match their personal interests and goals. CRI not only provides no-cost programming and financial aid, but has also been able to secure free tutoring, nutritional snacks, and transportation for participants, thanks to generosity from its funding partners.

Blue Piano Fund has been a long-time partner of Community Rowing, not only supporting the rowing nonprofit through a pandemic but increasing its funding level and awarding a multi-year commitment to provide CRI and the communities it serves with greater security.

“Getting to be out on the water with your friends and doing something you love is one of the best experiences,” said one participant in CRI’s youth programming. “I love getting the opportunity to play a sport that is so rewarding, and getting to be around other people who do the same thing.”

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Community Rowing Inc. (CRI) was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that the sport of rowing provides unique opportunities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. We invite individuals of all backgrounds, abilities and experience to grow through rowing.