Endowment Established in Honor of Carol and Jack Bialas

$260,000 Endowment Established to Support United We Row Grants in Honor of Carol and Jack Bialas  

• Gift from Bialas creates permanent support for inclusion-focused rowing programs  
• The Fund will provide at least one United We Row grant annually in perpetuity  
• The endowment is open to additional contributions from donors  

USRowing is pleased to announce the creation of The Carol and Jack Bialas Cool Runnings Fund, a $260,000 endowment established through the USRowing Foundation with a generous gift from Victoria “Vicky” Bialas. Named in honor of her late parents, the fund will provide at least one annual United We Row grant in perpetuity to clubs and programs focused on expanding access and opportunity in rowing.  

The fund reflects the lifelong commitment to sport embodied by the Bialas family. Jack Bialas, a former elite speed skater and tennis player, led sports programs for U.S. military families in London, Puerto Rico, Texas, and New York. He coached Julie Milotz, the first Puerto Rican swimmer to win gold at the Central American Games in Jamaica in 1962. Vicky, originally coached by her father, swam in the U.S. Nationals and the 1972 Olympic Trials. She later took up rowing, continuing the family’s legacy of sport.  

“My parents both felt that sport was incredibly important, and this endowment celebrates them and their values, giving opportunities and gifts of spirit to many programs and athletes,” Bialas said. The name “Cool Runnings” is a nod to the family's time living in the islands, the concept of “run” (for boats, swimmers, or skaters), and the beauty of the Jamaican phrase, which means “all is well” or “everything is going to be alright.” Vicky credits her parents for instilling a deep love of sports and all the magic they can bring. She rows at the Bair Island Aquatic Center in Redwood City, CA.  

“We are honored to help celebrate the legacy of Carol and Jack Bialas through this generous endowment,” said USRowing CEO Amanda Kraus. “We’re deeply grateful to Vicky Bialas for her enduring support of making rowing more accessible.”  

Grant recipients will be selected annually through the United We Row application process, available in early 2026. To read the story of Carol and Jack, and to contribute online to the Cool Runnings Fund, click here.