Last year, Row for Humanity raised more than $23,000 dollars to benefit the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity and the Colleges' crew teams. This year the goal is $30,000.

January 20, 2004

GENEVA, N.Y.—On Jan. 28, the Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ rowing teams will host Row for Humanity, a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity and the Colleges’ rowing teams. The event will take place in the Warren Hunting Smith Library atrium from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Each participant will row for a continuous hour on an ergometer, raising dollars for their efforts. Hobart and William Smith students who are members of Habitat for Humanity will be rowing exclusively for Habitat, while members of the Colleges’ rowing teams will share a portion of their proceeds with Habitat.

The community is welcome to participate, or simply stop by and purchase a raffle ticket. So far, the event has earned over $22,000 that will be shared by the two organizations and organizers expect that number to continue to rise.

“I’m very pleased with our fundraising efforts so far,” William Smith Head Crew Coach and Row for Humanity coordinator Sandra Chu said. “With more than a week to go before the event, we’re closing in on last year’s total amount raised.

“Last year we raised $23,663.20, completely funding the HWS Habitat for Humanity chapter’s spring break trip. This year, we’ve established a goal of $30,000.”

Row for Humanity is powered by major sponsor Maax, an apparel company based in Manchester, N.H. Other area sponsors include Clemen Quality Signage, Earthly Possessions, Geneva Bicycle Center, Geneva on the Lake, Grandpa Charlies, Kathy Kubacki Massage Therapy, Mike Barnard Automotive Group, Pizza Hut, Rubino’s Italian Subs, and Studio Salon, all of Geneva, and Regatta Sport of St. Catharines, Ontario.

“Our corporate sponsors have been very generous, and the individual donations keep rolling in,” Chu said. “In rowing and in home building, it takes a team to get things done. We feel like we’ve expanded our team to include everyone who has sent in a donation, or made a gift to the event.”

Founded in 1995 by Kansas State University students Seiji Ikeda and Jim Barnard, Row for Humanity combines the efforts of the crew teams and the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity in a unique indoor rowing marathon. At Kansas State, the Row for Humanity fundraiser is annually the largest donation K-State’s Habitat for Humanity receives.

Quickly growing into a national event, nine high school and collegiate programs will Row for Humanity this year: Kansas State, Hobart and William Smith, Boston University, the University of Tulsa, George Washington University, Tufts University, Mercyhurst Prep, the St. Paul’s School for Boys, and the St. Paul’s School for Girls.

For more information on participating in Row for Humanity or to make a donation, contact Sandra Chu at (315) 781-3527 or chu@hws.edu.

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