USRowing Foundation Chair Contributes $1M toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Quadrennial

October 7, 2024 (New York, N.Y.) — USRowing is pleased to announce a generous $1M gift made by Katie and Bill McNabb in honor of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic teams, and in support of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic efforts. The gift was made during USRowing’s celebration of Olympians past and present on Thursday, September 26 at the USRowing Golden Oars Gala at NYC’s Central Park Boathouse. The sold-out event with over 250 guests officially kicked off the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic quadrennial.  

Bill McNabb is the Chair of the USRowing Foundation (USRF) and former Chairman and CEO of Vanguard. Under his leadership the Foundation - 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 has contributed over $3M to USRowing and the High Performance program since the Foundation’s inception in 2022. Funds from the Foundation also support closing funding gaps and providing organizational stability. 

“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 added. 

McNabb’s fellow USRowing Foundation Trustees include new addition, Gerry Cardinale – Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of RedBird Capital Partners, Scott Sandell – Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of New Enterprise Associates (NEA), and Mary Cranston – retired Chief Executive Officer and Chair Emeritus of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and 30 other seasoned executives and professionals with a broad array of expertise. Two new Trustees were named to the USRowing Foundation this month. 

USRowing’s Chief Executive Officer Amanda Kraus expressed her deepest gratitude, "Bill's incredible leadership of the USRF and his generosity is a significant boost to our efforts in supporting our athletes and programs. 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.” 

Rounding out the success of the evening at the Golden Oars Gala, two distinguished members of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Team spoke at the event - silver medalist and co-owner of the Seattle Storm Ginny Gilder, and Fred Borchelt, a silver medalist, and a distinguished physicist. Their presence 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. Chief High Performance Officer, Josy Verdonkschot honored the 2024 Olympians and Paralympians, while Olympic gold medalist Justin Best emphasized the importance of donor support for the U.S. athletes. 

The USRowing Foundation has multiple events in the next few months to support the U.S. national team, including a silent auction which will be launched on October 17. 

Photos from the 2024 Golden Oars event can be found here.   

About USRowing  

USRowing is the national governing body for rowing in the United States, dedicated to promoting and developing rowing at all levels, from juniors to elite competition. With a membership base of 1,400 member organizations and 77,000+ individuals, USRowing provides theoretical and practical education programs that strengthen and grow rowing while helping members achieve their goals. The national governing body works closely with international rowing bodies to represent the United States at the highest levels of competition, including the World Rowing Championships Olympic and Paralympic Games.  

About USRowing Foundation   

The USRowing Foundation is the official fundraising arm of the United States Rowing Association (USRowing) and the U.S. National Team. Trustees of the USRowing Foundation help grow the USRowing fundraising pipeline –providing opportunities for individuals, foundations, and corporations to support USRowing initiatives and priorities through individual philanthropy and corporate partnerships. To learn more, contact Foundation@USRowing.org. 

For media inquiries, contact Media@USRowing.org.