Rocking the Boat’s eighth annual Rocking Manhattan fundraiser took place on a warm and gorgeously bright September Saturday, and was one of our best ever. Over 100 people circumnavigated Manhattan with us, starting and ending for the first time on the shores of Brooklyn—from the brand new, beautiful One°15 Brooklyn Marina. For another change of pace, the rowers stopped for lunch at the spectacular La Marina, on the Hudson side of Inwood looking out over the George Washington Bridge and the Palisades. What wasn’t new was widespread enthusiasm and engagement, traditions that have come to define this event. Please enjoy these four examples:
Rocking the Boat’s eighth annual Rocking Manhattan fundraiser took place on a warm and gorgeously bright September Saturday, and was one of our best ever. Over 100 people circumnavigated Manhattan with us, starting and ending for the first time on the shores of Brooklyn—from the brand new, beautiful One°15 Brooklyn Marina. For another change of pace, the rowers stopped for lunch at the spectacular La Marina, on the Hudson side of Inwood looking out over the George Washington Bridge and the Palisades. What wasn’t new was widespread enthusiasm and engagement, traditions that have come to define this event. Please enjoy these four examples:
New Rocking the Boat Board member Oscar Aarts is a Director at the investment bank Houlihan Lokey, where he advises companies on valuation matters. But Oscar could easily take over the Human Resources department given his dominance at recruiting 23 rowers for the Houlihan Lokey team! Rocking the Boat is thrilled to have offered these co-workers a one-of-a-kind teambuilding experience and, needless to say, to have benefitted from the company’s model generosity. Between their Give-a-Day Program, which sponsored nearly every member of the team, a direct contribution from the marketing department, and a matching gift program, Houlihan Lokey contributed $18,500 and counting, helping Oscar and his team raise $26,805 for Rocking the Boat.
For the first time, the Rocking the Boat staff members got in on the fundraising action and collectively raised nearly $4,000 from nearly 100 donors. Messages like this one from Job Skills Social Worker Stevi Feinberg provided the inspiration: “We all come to the South Bronx every day to row, sail, measure, cut, teach, laugh, learn and, at the end of the day, to change kids’ lives. With your support, we can do more of the work we love.”
As the beneficiary of net profits from the all-volunteer Blue Hill Troupe’s entire 2016-17 season, Rocking the Boat was thrilled to welcome 20 cast members from the fall show, the Pirates of Penzance, to their first Rocking Manhattan. Donning tricorns, eye patches, and even a toy parrot, the singers treated rowers to a rousing verse from Act One’s finale "Oh, men of dark and dismal fate." Thanks to the generous sponsorship of six Rocking the Boat Board members, some 30 students and alumni will be attending the November 13 matinee performance. All Rocking the Boat supporters are encouraged to visit www.bht.org and buy a ticket!
"My first row in the legendary Rocking Manhattan event - going down the Hudson leg - it was the most exotic mix of nature - with 2 to 3 foot swells and a 15 mile per hour headwind - combined with - the sheer force of NYC's skyline and its overflowing urban population."
new Rocking the Boat Board member and Houlihan Lokey team captain Oscar Aarts"Leading the team gave me a sense of strength, valor and perseverance. The determined looks on the rowers’ faces when we set out on our journey...the feeling of achievement at the end—eight hours later—was so worthwhile. I'm proud that we fundraised and rowed extensively for Rocking the Boat. We are providing the next step—brighter futures and better tomorrows—for the youth of the South Bronx and their community."
Rocking the Boat Sailing Program Assistant and Half Moon team coxswain Gianmarco Bocchini
