Sports Matter Support Youth Rowing in Cleveland

CMSD Rows, the rowing program exclusively for students of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, announced today that it has been accepted to, and is currently receiving donations as part of, the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation's Sports Matter program.

Sports Matter is a highly competitive funding program representing a 100%, dollar-for-dollar match, based on a crowd-funding model. CMSD Rows has set the goal of $38,166, and is only able to receive any funds, matched 100%, if they meet their goal by a deadline of Friday, May 23, 2014. CMSD Rows was one of only 3 sports teams in Cleveland to be selected from hundreds of applicants for the program.

CMSD Rows is a program that has revolutionized rowing in Northeast Ohio. "There's nothing like it out there that is comparable in the state," said Brad Whitehead, chairman of the board of CMSD Rows and president of Northeast Ohio's Fund for Our Economic Future. "We bring kids down to the Cuyahoga River who have never even seen Lake Erie, and their excitement is palpable." Whitehead continued.

Rowing, often perceived as prohibitively expensive due to the nature of the equipment and infrastructure, is made accessible through CMSD Rows to low-income students. CMSD Rows enables students in Cleveland to participate free of charge, provided they meet certain criteria. In addition, the program provides SAT and ACT prep as well as tutoring. Additionally, the program staff facilitates career and college guidance alongside a summertime job and internship placement program.

NCAA women's collegiate rowing hosts 20 full scholarships per academic institution, the most of any women’s sport. CMSD Rows is positioning students regularly to take advantage of the ample opportunities to earn those scholarships, both athletically and academically.

In terms of structure, CMSD Rows is unique in that it mixes student groups from across the Greater Cleveland area. "Urban and suburban kids are working together, on the same team, in the same boat - day in and day out,” said Jon Adams, board member CMSD Rows and Cleveland-based entrepreneur. "What other organization even comes close to doing that so holistically?" Adams said.

CMSD Rows has the opportunity of being awarded a total of $76,322 by reaching its fundraising goal of $38,166 no later than Friday, May 23rd. Donations of any amount are encouraged and accepted by going to: www.sportsmatter.com/move-as-one-rowing-for-cleveland-s-youth. More information about CMSD Rows, its participants, and the Sports Matter program at www.cmsdrows.org.

About CMSD Rows

CMSD Rows is a program of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. CMSD Rows seeks to empower Cleveland’s students through physical fitness, personal growth, and educational success. The vision of CMSD Rows is a growing community of CMSD graduates with the skills, confidence, and motivation to succeed, on and off the water. More information can be found at www.cmsdrows.org

Read More on
Volume 6, Issue 5, Posted 3:18 PM, 06.09.2014