ROW2K: A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund Introduces Rowing to 2000 Kids, Shares $450,000 of Equipment and Funding

The A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund (AMBTIF), which launched this spring, just concluded a five-city nationwide tour that saw the distribution of 10 Hudson doubles, 50 C2 ergs, and 60 C2 oars (valued at a total of $300,000) and $150,000 worth of cash grants to support stipends for coaches of color, as well as grants for transportation, swimming lessons, and college readiness.

Over 2000 young people of color were introduced to the sport at the events, with many getting out on the water, on rowing machines, and meeting rowing celebs, local politicians, UFC fighter Uriah Hall, and more.

The 10 boats were named for five prominent Black rowing Olympians - Aquil Abdullah, David Banks, Anita DeFrantz, Patricia Spratlen Etem, and Alex Osborne - as well as the five members of the Manley HS four from the A Most Beautiful Thing movie - Arshay Cooper, Preston Grandberry, Malcolm Hawkins, Ray "Pookie G" Hawkins, and Alvin Ross.