Rowing Makes a Difference with Embrace Kids Foundation
Dec 16 | Women's Rowing
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers rowing team continues to positively impact its community with participation in the Embrace Kids Foundation, a local organization that lightens the burden, maintains normalcy, and improves the quality of life for families whose children face serious health challenges.
The Scarlet Knight rowers, led by Grace Lewis, Alaina Feaster, and Olivia Maxton, have been partnered with a young lady for the past three years and will now be heading to college. The foundation, which is partially funded by the annual Rutgers Dance Marathon, provides the space and resources for the kids to share meals, make crafts, exercise, and hang out with their friends from Rutgers Athletics.
Grace Lewis and a dozen Rutgers rowers recently attended Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas events with their Embrace Kids friend.
"The experience has given me an opportunity to see how impactful it is just being kind to someone, or simply showing up as a friend," Lewis said. "You see the situation your kid is in and knowing just hanging out with them for a bit can be the difference between a good and a bad day; that is very powerful."
Embrace Kids and Rutgers University have a longstanding partnership. Located blocks from Rutgers and the and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, the foundation has exclusively supported the pediatric hematology-oncology medical team at those institutions for 30 years. Embrace Kids has jointly started or coordinated programs with Rutgers and RWJ and has also organized many community-based projects, including with other Rutgers Athletics programs such as wresting, baseball, track and field, women's golf, and women's soccer.
The foundation and Rutgers student-athletes have teamed to create a supportive community, in line with Embrace Kids' mission to address spiritual, emotional, and financial needs to patient families in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas.
"We love the kids, but one of the best parts of the program is seeing the families and siblings," Lewis said. "Think about the stress these families are under. We get to see them relax for a few moments at these events, which they don't get to do often. We help provide that with friendship and a bit of support."
Those interested in helping the Rutgers rowers support Embrace Kids can donate directly or get involved in the Rutgers Dance Marathon, a student-run and year-long philanthropy project that culminates in a spectacular event on April 1-2, 2022.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers rowing, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersWRowing). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersWRowing). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
- RU -
The Scarlet Knight rowers, led by Grace Lewis, Alaina Feaster, and Olivia Maxton, have been partnered with a young lady for the past three years and will now be heading to college. The foundation, which is partially funded by the annual Rutgers Dance Marathon, provides the space and resources for the kids to share meals, make crafts, exercise, and hang out with their friends from Rutgers Athletics.
Grace Lewis and a dozen Rutgers rowers recently attended Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas events with their Embrace Kids friend.
"The experience has given me an opportunity to see how impactful it is just being kind to someone, or simply showing up as a friend," Lewis said. "You see the situation your kid is in and knowing just hanging out with them for a bit can be the difference between a good and a bad day; that is very powerful."
Embrace Kids and Rutgers University have a longstanding partnership. Located blocks from Rutgers and the and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, the foundation has exclusively supported the pediatric hematology-oncology medical team at those institutions for 30 years. Embrace Kids has jointly started or coordinated programs with Rutgers and RWJ and has also organized many community-based projects, including with other Rutgers Athletics programs such as wresting, baseball, track and field, women's golf, and women's soccer.
The foundation and Rutgers student-athletes have teamed to create a supportive community, in line with Embrace Kids' mission to address spiritual, emotional, and financial needs to patient families in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas.
"We love the kids, but one of the best parts of the program is seeing the families and siblings," Lewis said. "Think about the stress these families are under. We get to see them relax for a few moments at these events, which they don't get to do often. We help provide that with friendship and a bit of support."
Those interested in helping the Rutgers rowers support Embrace Kids can donate directly or get involved in the Rutgers Dance Marathon, a student-run and year-long philanthropy project that culminates in a spectacular event on April 1-2, 2022.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers rowing, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersWRowing). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RutgersWRowing). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
- RU -
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