9 October 2024
By Göran R Buckhorn
The USRowing Golden Oars Gala in September was a great success.
Katie and Bill McNabb have made a $1M gift in honor of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic teams and in support of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic efforts, USRowing announced in a press release.
The donation was made during USRowing’s celebration of Olympians past and present at the USRowing Golden Oars Gala at NYC’s Central Park Boathouse on 26 September. More than 250 guests had gathered at the event.
Bill McNabb is the Chair of the USRowing Foundation (USRF) and former Chairman and CEO of the investment management company the Vanguard Group. USRF, which is the official fundraising arm of USRowing and the U.S. National Team, has become an important financial supporter for USRowing and the U.S. High Performance Program. The Foundation, established in 2022, has contributed more than $3M to USRowing and the High Performance Program.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of the rowing community for many years, and I’m thrilled to support the continued growth of the sport through the USRowing Foundation,” Bill McNabb said. “Alongside the contributions of my fellow trustees, I look forward to this gift making a significant impact – it is my personal commitment to our athletes, coaches, and the future of rowing in the U.S.”
“I was especially moved and inspired by the comments made at the Gala by the 2024 Olympic gold medalists, Nick Mead and Justin Best. Their remarks drove home how impactful the changes at USRowing and the High Performance Program were for the athletes in the lead up to Paris and the bright future of the national team as we look toward Los Angeles in 2028,” McNabb said.
“Bill’s incredible leadership of the USRF and his generosity is a significant boost to our efforts in supporting our athletes and programs,” USRowing’s CEO Amanda Kraus said. “His commitment, combined with those of our USRF Trustees, reflect the growing momentum in our sport and the collective ambition of the rowing community to achieve excellence on the global stage.”
Two silver medallists of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Team spoke at the event, Ginny Gilder (quadruple sculls) and Fred Borchelt (eights), and “bridged the gap between the history that USRowing honors and the future it embraces as the organization and the Foundation set sights on Los Angeles 2028,” the press release read.
Present was also Coach Josy Verdonkschot, Chief High Performance Officer, who honored the 2024 Olympians and Paralympians. 2024 Olympic gold medalist Justin Best emphasized the importance of donor support for the U.S. athletes.
The Foundation has events in the coming months to support the U.S. National Team, including a silent auction, which will be launched on 17 October.