Dear Rhinebeck,
Rhinebeck Crew provides student athletes from our high and middle schools unique opportunities for mentoring and teamwork in an inclusive team environment.
For this vibrant community, 2024 was a historic year. Rhinebeck Crew’s girls team won the Hudson Valley Rowing League Championship for the first time in our history! Last year we expanded to include a modified program for grades 7/8 students. This was a catalyst that saw our program grow to double its size and has set a strong foundation for this championship year. We hope to build upon this success in the coming 2025 season.
Our team experienced daily after-school practices at the Poughkeepsie boathouse on the Hudson River, competed in several weekend Regattas including NYS Championships in Saratoga which culminated in June with participation in the annual Row for the Cure breast cancer fundraiser.
Rhinebeck Crew is fortunate to have exceptional coaches who provide a rich experience for our student athletes, giving rowers the chance to participate in varied positions in the boat, from coxswain to stroke to bow. Past Rhinebeck Crew alumni continue their rowing careers into college, joining teams ranging from club-level on up to NCAA Division 1 Varsity.
Rhinebeck Central School District supports the Crew team by providing busing services and coaching salaries. All other expenses – rowing shells, oars, rigging, boathouse storage and usage fees, regatta entry costs, insurance, launch and motor maintenance, food trailer -- are the responsibility of the Rhinebeck Crew, Inc. These expenses directly affect the cost of participation for students.
Rhinebeck Crew is committed to making the program accessible to all students regardless of financial means. We have established a needs-based scholarship fund to allow students who would otherwise be unable to afford crew the opportunity to participate. Previously, operational costs necessitated us to charge student fee of $600 plus the cost of uniforms to break even. Given your generous support, we are now able to provide uniforms at no cost to rowers and have reduced our rowing fee to $500 for varsity rowers and $300 for modified rowers. This is among the lowest fees charged by any club in the Hudson Valley. We need your generous support to continue making crew affordable for all students.
Your continued support will get our team back on the water with strength in the coming spring season. It will allow our club to remain affordable for all and help ensure a strong future for Rhinebeck Crew. Our rowers thank you. Crew is an experience that few schools can provide. We are writing to ask for your continued generous financial support that makes Rhinebeck Crew possible.
Thank you for your consideration.
Justin Cole
President
Christian Mundigo
Vice President
Rebecca Connolly
Treasurer
Valerie LaRose
Secretary
