Take 2 to Tokyo Summer Challenge

Since 1966, the National Rowing Foundation (NRF) has provided important funding to USRowing for the US National Team, ensuring that our athletes have the resources that they need to get them to the medal podium. For the next 14 days, the NRF invites you to be part of their "Take 2 to Tokyo" summer challenge. They'll be sharing athlete stories, videos, workout playlists, and more as we work towards a goal of raising $50,000 for the US Team by August 7. 

What is the Million Dollar Challenge Campaign?

The National Rowing Foundation (NRF), together with USRowing (Princeton, N.J.) announced the launch of the Row to Tokyo Million Dollar Challenge Campaign. The Challenge is seeking to raise money from individual donors that will be matched dollar for dollar, sponsored by a generous group of NRF donors.

The coaches and athletes have strong ambitions for multiple podium finishes at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coaches put together a budget that they felt would provide them the greatest chance of the athlete's success in 2020. It totaled $5.1MM, $0.8MM more than they spent in 2019. A few generous donors heard this and said let’s create a campaign to challenge donors to give to meet this funding need. 

If these funds are not raised, USRowing will be forced to make late-season cuts, including personnel, to balance the books. It is critical that this Campaign be successful for the athletes to be successful. They have a full roster of incredibly talented athletes poised for greatness at the Tokyo Games. These athletes deserve every chance for success, and resources to support them as they prepare for the Games are higher than current revenue streams.

Qualifying gifts include i) all donations this year above what a donor gave last year, ii) all donations from first-time supporters, and iii) any donations from donors that did not support the NRF in 2019.  Contributions can be made online through the special giving link HERE. 

An easy way to make a gift during this campaign is to use our new text-to-donate platform. Simply text ROWING to 24365 and you will be taken directly to the NRF giving page on your mobile device.