2025 Summer Progress Report
The Pacific Northwest summer has been nothing short of dazzling—sunlight on the water, boathouses buzzing, and the long days lending themselves to the kind of connections that keep our rowing community strong.
Regional Engagement
• We visited 11 boathouses throughout the Pacific Northwest this spring—each one offered insight into what young athletes and communities need. This listening tour helps us refine our approach, and we’ll be back in the fall. Let us know if we should visit your club!
• Bainbridge Island Rowing launched its first-ever Annual Report, a milestone that speaks to long-term sustainability and progress.
• At Renton Rowing Center, we met Sabrina Paulsen, the new Executive Director—an Everett alum and former Tacoma head coach—whose work has already generated momentum in the region.
• At Eastside Prep, athletes are thriving both on and off the water. Our visit coincided with the senior stroking their quad, who had just performed in the school play—a nod to their all-around excellence.
• In Everett at Silverlake, ERA’s SnoCoRow middle school program continues to grow, signaling strong interest from younger rowers in the region.
Camp Lucy & Youth Programs
• Camp Lucy at Mt. Baker wrapped up in July, marking another successful session focused on social-emotional development.
• The Renton Rowing Center Camp Lucy session kicked off in August, with the final session launching at Pocock Rowing Center on August 18—each session has shown increased interest in rowing from participants and boathouses.
• Pocock Youth Rowing closed out the spring with a national championship in the Men’s 4+, and we celebrated seniors who have been part of the program since 8th grade. Their words said it best: “Pocock is home.”
Partnerships & Community
• A heartfelt moment: Our Executive Director had coffee with Jan Harville, legendary UW coach and Olympian, who shared stories of George and Stan from before the boathouse existed—connections rooted in history.
• Our Media Cup annual event brought joy and friendly rivalry. Hosted in partnership with Windermere Real Estate, FOX News secured its first-ever win—ending KOMO’s decade-long streak and last year’s surprise KING victory.
• In Vermont with Concept2—now a Perpetual Purpose Trust—we saw incredible synergy. After discussing the impact and future of ERG ED®, Concept2 doubled their support for our regional efforts and committed through 2026 and beyond. Want to see ERG ED® at its best? Read this blog post—it’s happening in Texas, and it’s proof that we’re getting kids from ergs to boathouses.
• Back in the region, at the U.S. Rowing Northwest Youth Championships in Vancouver, WA, the GPRF team cheered on 24 scholarship athletes across nine partner clubs—from Eugene to Inglemoor, Olympia to Vashon Island.
Peer Connections
• Thanks to a connection from CRI’s Ted Benford, our Executive Director got to meet Brigid Ahearn, CEO of ROW NY. Over a “coach launch” lunch in Seattle, the leaders explored fundraising, program models, and scaling access in urban centers. What a gift to have more peers doing this work across the country.
Capacity Building & Staff/Board Development
• The Going Further Fund, created by the Firmani family in 2023 to support Nationals-bound athletes, sprang into action this spring—helping six athletes attend. Another Pocock family stepped in to replenish the fund, ensuring continued support.
• Karla Calvo, our Programs Coordinator, made her Coastal Rowing debut—a moment of pride and growth.
• We hosted a convivial social for board members, enjoyed conversations with board alumni such as Sam Dommer and Shirley Wilson, and our committees—from Nominating to Finance to Building—have been actively shaping our strategy and stewardship of facilities.
Why We’re Here
A reminder of the need behind our work: as shared recently in the Seattle Times, while 70% of 10th graders from high-income families play high school sports, only 43% from low-income families do. That access gap is what we—and our community—are working to close.
Thank you for all you do to fuel this progress. We’re grateful for your support and partnership.
