Row For Humanity Event a Fund-Raising Success
Jan 31, 2002 | Rowing
Jan. 31, 2002
Manhattan, Kan. - Members of the Kansas State rowing teams were able to raise more than $27,100 on Tuesday at the Row For Humanity fund-raising event held at the Student Union.
The dollar figure could increase as some pledges are collected over the next few weeks. Collectively, rowers put in 1,619,139 meters on ergometers, according to figures kept by the Wildcat women's rowing program. Approximately 135 rowers, coaches, alumni, volunteers and friends participated in the event.
The women's team raised more money this year than was raised by the entire event a year ago. Last year, the Row For Humanity event raised approximately $16,500.Proceeds are given to the K-State Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, with the rowing event traditionally being the largest one-time donation to the cause each year.
"This event has grown tremendously in the past year,"said K-State women's head coach Jenny Hale. "The efforts of Women's Rowing Action Committee members Rachel Averbuck, Ruth Ann Wefald, Grace Hwang and Mike O'Brien really improved the quality of the event.
"Assistant Coach Sandra Chu also put in many hours to bring this all together as our event manager," Hale said. "I am so pleased that we had such a high level of success. The event will only grow each year."
Some of Kansas State's other head coaches were involved in rowing. Wildcat head coaches Suzie Fritz, Kristi Knight and Deb Patterson climbed onto the ergometers and helped in the effort. Patterson and Hale had a 200-meter "match race," with Hale just edging the Wildcat women's basketball coach, whom Hale tabbed as a "fierce competitor."
Assistant coaches from other Wildcat sports were also involved. Shelia Burrell, from track and field, along with Kamie Ethridge and Sue Serafini rowed against Willie The Wildcat, with Willie edging Coach Serafini.
Other participants who gathered donations were asked to work on an ergometer for an hour.
"Many teams volunteer in a variety of community-service projects throughout the year," said Hale. "With a team this size (60 athletes), it is difficult for us to find a project that can absorb so many people. We chose to use our unique sport to help Habitat for Humanity by making a highly significant impact in a very non-disruptive way in the span of one day.
"I'm particularly proud of the women's team's fund-raising effort. This year, the team has raised almost $15,000 by themselves. This represented a 58 percent increase from last year's effort.
"In addition, because of our own effort to build a 'house' for ourselves, this year's event had particular resonance. While we will be raising funds for Habitat, we will also be using a portion of the money to fund our Boathouse Campaign. Like the families who Habitat for Humanity help, it is time our team has a home instead of just a house."
A number of community businesses and individuals sponsored the event:
Wal-Mart, It's Greek to Me, Powercat Illustrated, First Bank, Wildcat Amoco, Master Landscape, The Pathfinder, the Union Bookstore, Urban Designs, 12th Street Pub, Appleseed Art and Framing, Audio Junction, Body First Salon, Campus Hairstyling, CD Trading Post, Chili's, Claussen's Custon Deseign, CocoBolo's, Danenberg Jewelers, Digital Shelf, Geometrics, The Gold Fork, Grizzly's Restaurant, Gumby's Pizza, Harry's Uptown Supper Club, Haynes West, Hibachi Hut, Texas Star, Kinko's, Little Apple Brewing Company, New Beginnings Salon, On the Wild Side, Pat's Blue Ribbon, Pizza Hut, Pizza Shuttle, So Long Saloon, Royal Thai Cuisine, Salon Essentials and the Kansas State University President's Office.
Of particular note individually were:
Coach who raised the most money: Sandra Chu ($960)
Student-athlete who raised the most money: Ryan Donahue ($910)
Varsity woman who raised the most money: Talara Wait ($750)
Novice woman who raised the most money: Jen Strong ($740)
High school male who raised the most money: Ben Higgins ($206)
High school female who raised the most money: Elke Schnittker ($205)
Most meters rowed by a female: Josie McClellan (14,731)
Most meters rowed by a male: Tristan Pyle (16,413)
Most meters rowed by a novice female: Grace Riekenberg (13,952)
Most meters rowed by a novice male: Todd Crawford (15,352)
--ksu--
