Norcal Crew - Erg-a-thon

Norcal Crew Erg-a-thon 2012

Date: Sunday, December 2nd, 2012, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Freemont Park, Menlo Park, CA

What is Norcal Crew and how can I learn more?

Norcal Crew is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Norcal Crew is dedicated to training youth to be competitive in and develop a life-long love of rowing.

Why do we need your help?

Our club is supported solely by membership fees and private contributions. Fees cover our coaching staff, boathouse fees and membership, operational costs, insurance coverage, and race participation. Erg-a-thon funds are used to offset operational costs, but are primarily used purchace new equipment and keep the existing equipment up-to-date. Equipment is expensive; an 8-seated racing shell is $45,000; a cox-box, $500; oars, $370 a piece; rowing ergometers, $1000.

How does an Erg-a-thon work?

We ask family, friends and colleagues to sponsor our participation in the upcoming Erg-a-thon. The entire Norcal team takes turns on Concept2 rowing machines. Our goal is to pull at least a 1 million meters. The erg-a-thon is your chance to support our increasingly competitive youth rowing program. Crew is a demanding sport but the rewards – excellent physical fitness, team effort and character building – are priceless.

How will these funds be used?

In general, crew is expensive. Space rental, organizational fees, our coaching staff, equipment, and regatta fees and support are all part of the sport. In addition, equipment ages, breaks and wears out on a regular basis. Thus, equipment upgrade, replacement, and repair are costly aspects of what we do. Member fees cover only a portion of our annual costs, those funds are dedicated to coaches salaries and other operational costs. Thus, a large expense – equipment needs to be covered by fundraising. For example, each year the club aims to buy a racing shell and accompanying equipment.

How can I participate?

Athletes participate by soliciting donations. Atheltes collect names of family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and colleagues and contact them requesting a donation, explaining why they need support and why Norcal is important to them. Athletes then work together at the event to erg however many meters the team has set as their goal. After donations are received and the event is over, athletes work to send out letters of appreciation as a thank you and for tax purposes.

Parents and family members can participate by helping to coordinate the event. We need help with set-up, meter counting, food preparation and serving, bake sale cooking and selling, clean-up, etc.

If you are intersted in participating as donor, please visit our fundraising website to make a contribution: https://www.piggybackr.com/norcal/erg-a-thon

How can I participate if I don’t like to send letters?

There are several ways to participate, sending letters to family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues is one. Families can make personal donations. Families can donate funds and have them matched by their place of work. Families can also solicit their place of work as a corporate sponsor or search for applicable organizational grants. If every rower’s family raises $450 we will meet our annual goal.

What does the Parent Erg-a-thon committee do?

To date the parent committee, conducted research on other erg-a-thons, created a timeline, created and refined print materials, worked with coaches, and is in the process of soliciting other parent volunteers to help with site selection and permission, promotion, and preparation of fundraising packets.

What else is needed to make Erg-a-thon 2012 success?

Rower and family participation is essential. Additionally, family support with food and kind words during the event are helpful. Volunteers to help promote and organize the event are also needed.

What is corporate matching?

Corporate matching is a program offered my many companies, whereby employees’ charitable gifts are matched by the corporation. Information about these programs is available on your corporate web site or from your HR contact. Corporate matching funds could make a big difference in reaching our fundraising goals and it is free. See the attached list of some local corporations that have matching programs. If yours is not here, check your corporate website or ask you HR contact.

Can potential donors pay by credit card?

Yes, donors can pay by credit card via our fundraiser website: https://www.piggybackr.com/norcal/erg-a-thon. We accept payment via PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.