Why I Give: Shirley Wilson

In the words of George Pocock: Rowing has the power to change lives.

It changed mine.

I was 60 years old when I first walked into the George Pocock Memorial Rowing Center—cold turkey—in the early 2000s. I wasn’t there to watch or volunteer. I was there to become a rower.

What I didn’t know then was that rowing would give me far more than fitness or skill. It gave me belonging—a community that lifted me up, challenged me, and connected me to a purpose larger than myself.

As I became more involved with the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, I saw that same spark in young people. Kids who had never been near the water found a team that saw their potential. Through programs like ERG ED®, Camp Lucy, and the Scholarship Program, I watched the Foundation open the boathouse doors to every kid who just needed someone to believe in them.

That’s what keeps me inspired. Rowing may start with one boat, one coach, one kid—but the ripple spreads. Confidence builds. Communities form. Belonging grows.

Over the years, I’ve supported everything from high-performance summer camps to youth development programs. But I’ve never lost sight of what matters most: youth rowing.

For me, it’s always been about creating access—reaching the broadest, most diverse group of kids possible. I’m inspired by the parents who cheer from the shoreline, the ones who work multiple jobs so their children can row, and those who see something powerful in this sport even if they’ve never picked up an oar themselves.

Rowing gave me a second act in life. And today, I give so that more young people can find their first—a team that feels like home, and a sport that teaches them they belong.