Mount Vernon High School Crew

The Mount Vernon Crew team is fully funded by students, parents, volunteers and the boosters, receiving no monetary support from the school or the county.  Crew is an extremely costly sport to participate in and maintain, with an annual budget nearing $50k.  Students participate in various fundraising activities, including: car washes, community landscaping and door-to-door solicitation to attempt to earn these funds.  Aside from fees, which are minimal compared to other teams, we are unable to have a guaranteed income.

The Mount Vernon Crew team is a remarkably diverse and inclusive group of teens, which accepts all students who are interested in participating.  There are no tryouts for the team and no student is ever turned away due to physical ability or disability or because they cannot afford the costs associated with the sport.  Mount Vernon High School has over 56% of their students on the free or reduced priced meal plan, the highest in all of Fairfax County.   Mount Vernon Crew is, by far, one of the most diverse teams on the water due to the inclusive practices of the Crew Leadership. 



Crew provides stability and structure that may otherwise be lacking for these students, assisting them to develop life skills and enabling them to become successful, responsible young adults.  Several of our coaches are former rowers who have returned to give back to the team and their community, teaching others what they have learned.   These coaches are essentially volunteers because the team can only afford to pay them minimally for their work and devotion to the team.


 
The funds raised on gofundme will help us repair the dock that the team rows out of for practice.  This dock is in desparate need of repair.   Part of it is under water.   The Mount Vernon Crew team does not have a fancy boathouse.