FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Cleveland Rowing Foundation Announces $500,000 Transformational Gift to Strengthen Riverfront Community.

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CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF) has received a $500,000 gift from an anonymous donor, the largest single contribution in the organization’s history. This extraordinary investment will strengthen CRF’s programs at Rivergate Park, enhance the boathouse experience, and support partnerships that connect more people to the river. It gives the organization lasting stability and the ability to build on the momentum growing along Cleveland’s waterfront.

 

“This investment reflects the growing recognition of the Cuyahoga River as a vital public asset,” said Nikki Jaworski, Executive Director of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation. “CRF serves as an anchor for river recreation, and this gift allows us to build on the momentum unfolding along the riverfront. As the Flats continue to transform into a regional destination, investments in recreation deliver real returns — for public health, community connection, and Cleveland’s future.”

 

Jaworski added, “This contribution ensures that more residents can walk through our doors, experience the river for the first time, and see themselves as part of Cleveland’s waterfront story.”

 

The donation comes during a year of significant growth for CRF’s community-facing programs. In 2025, CRF expanded opportunities through new community rowing partnerships made possible by a grant from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, including collaborations with nonprofit partners such as 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland and Argonaut. CRF also continued its longstanding youth rowing partnership with Open Doors Academy, supported through collaboration with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD).

 

“These programs reflect what CRF does best using rowing as a tool for confidence, connection, and opportunity,” said Sue Tyler, Board Chair of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation. “This extraordinary gift secures Cleveland’s rowing presence for decades to come and gives us the capacity to grow thoughtfully and sustainably.”

 

CRF serves as the rowing home for a broad network of affiliated rowing organizations, supporting scholastic, collegiate, adult, veteran, and adaptive rowing programs that call the Cuyahoga River home.

 

CRF also plays a central role in activating the riverfront through major events such as the annual Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta, which brings thousands of athletes and visitors to Cleveland each year and generates significant economic activity for the region.

 

Looking ahead to 2026, CRF plans to continue building on this momentum by expanding partnerships, strengthening infrastructure, and advancing projects that further connect the community to the river.

 

“Our goal is simple,” Jaworski said. “To make Rivergate Park a place where everyone feels welcome — and this gift brings us meaningfully closer to that vision.”