<div><strong>We need your help to get over the Finish Line!</strong>
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<div>Our GoFundMe was hacked, and we had to recreate our fundraiser. 
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<div>We only need a couple thousand more and then we can go to World Championships!    Please spread and share. Thank you!!
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<div>Here are some recent news stories that came out about the Youth team making the world championships: <a href="https://6abc.com/videoClip/18824100/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">6ABC Story</a> , <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/south-philly-youth-dragon-boat-team-compete-world-championships-taiwan.amp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fox 29 Story</a> , <a href="https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/dragon-boat-south-philly-teens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Philadelphia Magazine</a>
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<div><strong>Every donation over $50 will be MATCHED dollar-for-dollar</strong>
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<div>Every Dollar goes directly to help 12 <strong>low-income</strong> South Philly teens to the Dragon Boat World Championships in Taiwan.
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<div>Our Discovery Pathways Youth Dragon Boat Team has officially earned a berth to compete at the Club Crew World Championships (CCWC) in Taiwan in August. This opportunity came from a full year of relentless work — 74 practices, early mornings, cold-water sessions, and a level of commitment that exceeded every expectation.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/103305217_1778110742946181_r.jpg" width="100%" />
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<li>Donations over $50 matched by an anonymous donor- (If you give $100 it becomes $200)
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<li>These young people have already done the hard part. They trained, competed, and earned this berth.
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<li><strong>Now we’re asking our community to stand behind them 1 more time</strong>
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<li><strong>Please donate, share, and help send South Philly to the world stage.</strong>
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<div>From South Philly to the World Stage
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<div>In 2025:
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<li>67 youth trained with our team, 33 completed a full season
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<li>We won 4 Gold medals, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze
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<li>Students bounced back from close losses to work together, help each other, and find their power
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<li>85% of our athletes are immigrants or refugees. All are from low-income families. Nearly all were new to organized sports before joining.
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<div><strong>Our program is 100% free. We cover uniforms, coaching, meals, equipment, and transportation so no student is ever cut or left out.</strong>
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<div>This year, 12 youth will travel as a crew to race teams from Germany, California, Asia, and beyond. Many of those teams are long-established and well-funded.
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<div>We are newer, under-resourced, and still building. But, our students have proven they belong. <strong>Hungry Dogs Run Faster. We are a true Philly Underdog story! </strong>
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<div>With a very old boat, a limited budget and only local sponsors, we keep shattering expectations of what is possible.
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<div>Here is an awesome 2 Minute Video about <a href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=cmekjE-dmEY&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Our Team from 2025</a>
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<div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpr7PmgO454" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Or a Longer Version with TEAM USA Clips</a>
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<div>Here are some stories from 2025: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xLB2q9Iaos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PBS Story</a> , <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj52DCBMp-I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fox 29 Feature</a> ,
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<div><a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/dragon-boat-racing-world-championships-philadelphia-20250325.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inquirer Feature Story</a>
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<div><strong>Building on Momentum</strong>
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<div>Last year, our community raised the funds to help 4 teens compete internationally after they made Team USA. That experience transformed their confidence and raised the standard for our entire program. One student wrote afterward:
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<li>“Never in a million years did I imagine I’d travel across the world to compete in a sport I love. Your generosity didn’t just fund a trip — it opened doors and built confidence.”
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<div><strong>This year, the berth belongs to the team itself. </strong>They trained for it and earned it. Now we need to make sure cost does not stand in the way.
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<div>Our team motto is Team Work, Hard Work, and Have Fun!
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<div><strong>Why This Matters</strong>
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<div>There is no shortage of heavy news right now. This is something hopeful.
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<div>Many of our youth once described themselves as shy, isolated, or unsure of where they belonged. Today they are leaders, captains, and certified instructors who wake up before sunrise to train.
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<div>Dragon boating is only one part of what we do. Every student on this team receives year-round mentorship, college application support, leadership training, and free meals at practices and events. In 2025, 100% of our seniors graduated on time and were accepted to college, earning over scholarships. We distributed more than 2,600 pounds of healthy food, helped families access health resources, and ensured no young person was left out because of cost. This team is built on wrap-around support, not just competition.
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<div><strong>One student shared:</strong>
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<li>“Discovery Pathways brought me back to life. It gave me a community when I felt alone and helped me believe in myself.”
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<div><strong>Another wrote:</strong>
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<li>“Thinking back to before I joined, I could only cry and miss my home country. Now I am stronger and more positive. I know what I want to do in the future.”
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<div>Competing in Taiwan is not just about one race. It reinforces the belief that young people from under-resourced neighborhoods deserve to stand on any stage.
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<div>We will handle passports, flights, lodging, and logistics. Families cannot afford this opportunity, and we will not place that burden on them.
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<div><strong>What Your Donation Supports</strong>
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<div>We are committed to doing this as affordably as possible. We will:
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<li>Book the lowest-cost flights available
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<li>Stay in modest housing
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<li>Cook simple meals and minimize food costs
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<li>Stretch every dollar carefully
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<div><strong>Your donation helps cover:</strong> International airfare, Lodging and transportation, Athlete registration fees, Required uniforms and race gear, Passport and travel costs
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<div>Every dollar goes directly toward getting these 12 youth to Taiwan.
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<div><strong>Please donate, share, and help send South Philly to the world stage.</strong>
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<div><strong> Every donation over $50 is doubled. Thank you!!!!</strong>
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Help 12 South Philly Youth Race in on World Stage in Taiwan

Still $3,400 to go. Help us build momentum.