Our Impact

why Rowing?

Rowing can improve your whole health and overall well-being. For decades, young people from Philadelphia have missed out on the myriad of benefits of rowing can provide simply because of where they came from and the schools they attended.

Our programming addresses 3 critical areas:

Physical

Studies show repetitive movement, co-regulation, and high dosage of nature exposure found in rowing all improve youth resiliency.

100% of participants improve their physical strength and endurance.

70% of participants increased their goal orientation.

academic

100% of PCR seniors graduated high school on time with plans to further their education or professional training.

82% of participants increased
their self-regulation and ability to persist through life’s challenges.

83% of participants increased
their academic self-efficacy.

social

In 2022, PCR reached 325
participants from 40 different
schools.

59% of participants were student- athletes of color and more than 70% were from low and moderate income families.

Participants regularly engage in service learning events to
contribute to and learn about
healthy communication and
environmental stewardship.

PCR’s sport-based youth development programming is uniquely positioned to empower and inspire local youth for the following reasons:

• PCR is one of the only FREE opportunities for youth in Philadelphia to try rowing and the only place where students can get on-water access to the Schuylkill River.

• Rowing is a full-body, low-impact sport that is highly accessible and easy to learn, even for youth who have never played a sport or who may be overweight.

• Rowing provides vast opportunities for personal development, builds social capital, improves college access, and can help young people form long lasting connections to high-achieving supporters.

• Rowing offers a unique combination of synchronized movement, balance, breathwork and exposure to nature that have all been independently proven to have positive mental health benefits.

• PCR’s participants come from 40 different schools, allowing our youth to create relationships across neighborhood lines and build a vast network of community support.

meet the pcr alumni: Myi

“It doesn’t matter what skill level you think you’re at. If you come to PCR, the coaching staff, teammates, everybody is gonna help you out no matter what. They want to see you succeed in being the best student-athlete you can be.”

– Myi Harte, PCR Class of 2017

Wawa Foundation Hero Award