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The Loyola Crew Team raised close to $2,000 last Wednesday at the annual Row for Humanity. They fell short of reaching their goal amount of $7,000 and cited a lack of student participation as the leading factor.
Row for Humanity is a 12-hour rowing event that primarily raises money for Loyola's chapter of Habitat for Humanity. This event took place in McGuire Hall from 7a.m. to 7p.m., where participants rowed on ergometers, or rowing machines.
Only a few teams outside from Loyola's general student body were involved, and coach Al Ramirez identified generating student interest as the greatest difficulty of the event.
"We need to find a better way to get the student body involved," said Alex Canale, a sophomore member of the crew team.
At Loyola, a percentage of the crew team's profits go to Habitat for Humanity projects in Baltimore.
Al Ramirez, the crew coach, hopes to give 20 percent of the profits made by his rowers to Habitat.
Last year, the crew team also contributed to Hurricane Katrina relief fund and the Red Cross. The crew team will also use the remainder of the profits for uniforms, equipment and competition entry fees. All of the profits from non-crew participants go directly to Habitat for Humanity housing projects in Baltimore.
Each member of the crew team was required to row for an hour. Members of Habitat for Humanity also participated, in addition to The Student Athletic Advisory Council and outside student groups. Door prizes, such as gift certificates and movie packages, were awarded to the teams that raised the most money or rowed the longest distance.
The crew team began preparing for the event in the fall by approaching small businesses, family and friends for donations and support.
Corporate sponsors included Kinko's, Caribou Coffee, and Sam's Bagels, who do-nated money, food and door prizes.
The crew team set a goal to approach 15-20 sponsors ind-ividually though family and friends.
"Our job was to fundraise, talk up the program, and encourage people to not only donate, but to participate," said Canale.
The most successful aspect of the event was the involvement from the Student Athletic Advisory Council and the outside student teams.
This was the first year that the Council put together a team and collected donations from the athletic departments.
The participation from a few outside student groups also showed a growing interest in Row for Humanity.
"I think that was successful and other people should take a more active role because it's a really great cause," said Canale.
Row for Humanity was founded in 1997 by two students, Seiji Ikeda and Jim Barnard, at Kansas University.
"They were rowers that wanted a way to make money for their team and were community service-oriented people. When I heard about [this event], I was amazed. I've never been in anything hands-on with Habitat and rowing before this event," said Ramirez.
Since then, Row for Humanity has become an annual, nationwide event among high schools and colleges, benefiting crew teams and local Habitat for Humanity projects.
"I like the idea of Loyola students taking part simultaneously in an event across the country... All students feel the need to be connected with other colleges," said Ramirez.
"This year is a learning phase. Next year, I want to start [advertising] in the summer. I plan on being really aggressive. We're hosting this event in hopes that everyone will participate," said Ramirez.
Next year, he hopes that about 10-15 teams from the general student body will participate and increase the amount raised to about $4,000.
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