Equipment Replacement Fund

Friends and family. Saturday morning, I was heartbroken to find USF Rowing's boathouse had been broken into. Thieves made off with 3 outboard motors, a roll-around tool box with tools, our new Sony stereo (a very recent donation from Sony), some two-way radios (Plant High's), a Blue Ocean megaphone (Plant High's) and some small toolboxes and other items. USF Rowing is not a high-dollar, funded team. We are a club sport--meaning the kids pay to be on the team. These thieving miscreants didn't steal from the state or USF, no, they stole from a group of fantastic, hard working kids who are putting forth great effort to better themselves and the world around them! These kids don't deserve this at all! I was beyond angry, beyond sad, and beyond disappointed.

Today, I am truly overwhelmed by the offers of support from the rowing community and people just care! It not only reaffirms that good, and caring people far outnumber those few who would commit such an awful deed by stealing from these amazing kids! We had a race this morning and they were obviously down--they had that look of being violated. As I told them about some of the generosity already offered the USF Rowing team, I saw the spark return to their eyes! Thank you for those gifts!

I am still getting many offers of support. As a result, The Rowing Team at USF is setting up a GoFundMe page. Outboard engines are expensive, so every little bit matters. Thank you for taking this vial act of theft and making it a positive for our team!

-Charlie Will
Head Coach 
USF Rowing