CBA Teens Raise Nearly $27,000 For U.S. Soldiers In Row-A-Thon

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Two teens on the Christian Brothers Academy crew team — one from Red Bank and one from Brielle — helped raise nearly $27,000 for wounded U.S. service veterans at an ergathon they held Jan. 21 in the CBA gym.

An ergathon is a fundraising event where rowers compete against each other. Stationary rowing machines are connected and electronically monitored. The teens did the event in honor of Lt. Dennis Zilinski, the Middletown native and CBA grad who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005, while he was deployed there with the U.S. Army.

The $27,000 will go to purchase service dogs for injured U.S. soldiers who have PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

When one of the teens, Jack Keavey, approached CBA rowing coach Brenin Ford about hosting a “Row with Dennis” ergathon for The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund, the coach said:

“Absolutely, but you are going to do it. You’re going to organize it, manage it, and run it. I’ll help you, but this will be your event."

"And that's exactly what he did," said Ford. "Jack did a phenomenal job, and it’s a testament to him as an oarsman on our squad. It's also a testament to our squad in general because everyone just rallied to support him and the Zilinski Memorial Fund.”

Jack and Robert Earle, a 17-year-old from Brielle organized the row-a-thon. They were joined by the entire CBA crew team.

On Jan. 21, they packed CBA's McCay Gym with parents, siblings, friends and fellow high school rowers from up and down the Jersey Shore. Incredibly, the ergathon raised $26,875 for the Lt. Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to run this event in Dennis’ name. He is our CBA brother," said Jack. "I think it’s special that we have an American hero as our brother here at CBA, and that needs to be remembered forever."

The event was Jack’s community service project for his scholarship. The goal was to raise awareness about wounded U.S. servicemen and women, and to help support deployed troops and their families.

Zilinski was 23 when he was killed in action. He was a Middletown, New Jersey resident, a CBA alumnus and a distinguished West Point graduate.

“Helping out is important to me because we are supporting deployed troops and veterans who served our country and fought for our freedom," said Brielle teen Robert. "We are honored that two wounded warriors attended this event today along with their service dogs, and we look forward to helping to pair other veterans in need with the funds raised. It’s a good feeling to help others, especially in the name of our fallen CBA brother.”

Dennis' parents and brother Matthew were at the event. (Just this past weekend, Matt was deployed to Syria with the U.S. Army.)

“I am overwhelmed at the effort of these two young men. Thank you, Jack and Robert. As many of you know, CBA opened the gym up 18 years ago for my son’s viewing after he was killed in Iraq," said Marion Zilinski, Dennis' mother. "Being here now and seeing the love, community and patriotism in this room takes my breath away. Dennis would have absolutely loved this."

“It is an emotional time for our family, and we are glad our son, Matt, was able to attend this event before his deployment," said Zilinski's father, Dennis Zilinski. "We are so grateful for this amazing effort. This was such a creative way to fundraise, and everyone had a great time. Please know that with each service dog sponsored by the Memorial Fund, we save the life of a wounded warrior and the life of a shelter dog."

Jack and Robert would like “Row with Dennis” to be an annual event, with other CBA students taking over after they graduate.