What Donating to CTC Really Means

When you donate to Chicago Training Center (CTC), you are investing in far more than a sport. You are investing in access, equity, opportunity, and in the belief that every young person deserves the chance to discover what’s possible for their future.

CTC is one of the only rowing programs in the nation that is completely free for every athlete. Rowing is traditionally an expensive sport—boats, oars, travel, coaches, regatta fees, uniforms—but we remove every barrier so that cost never determines who gets to participate. Your donation goes directly toward that promise.

It means a young person gets to feel the power of belonging.

Many of our athletes come to us searching for community, stability, and a place where they feel seen. CTC provides a safe, structured environment where young people build friendships, find mentors, and experience the joy of working together toward a shared goal.

It means opening the door to experiences that can change a life.

Rowing teaches discipline, resilience, time management, and leadership—skills that help young people thrive academically and personally. With your support, our athletes train year-round, travel to regattas, and gain exposure to opportunities that stretch far beyond their neighborhoods.

It means supporting academic success—and a 100% graduation rate.

For the fourth consecutive year, every CTC senior has graduated high school and matriculated to college. Donations help fund tutoring, college guidance, enrichment activities, and the wraparound support that keeps our young people moving forward.

It means giving youth a safe place to grow.

At a time when many families face limited access to safe after-school opportunities, CTC provides a consistent, encouraging environment where students are supported by caring adults who believe in them.

It means representation in a sport that has historically lacked diversity.

Your contribution helps change the face of rowing. It tells our athletes that they belong in spaces that were not built with them in mind. It builds confidence, pride, and possibility.

It means changing a young person’s story—one stroke at a time.

Every $25 fuels snacks and hydration.

Every $100 supports essential equipment needs.

Every $250 supports a month of training and healthy meals.

Every $500 buys a uniform kit.

Every $1,000 sponsors a young person for an entire year.

Your donation is not just a gift. It’s a step toward real change.

A spark that expands through a young person’s life...…into their classroom,…into their family,…into their future,…and into the communities they will one day lead.

At CTC, we believe that when you lift up a young person, you are investing in the strength of Chicago itself. Thank you for supporting a program that transforms lives, expands horizons, and shows our youth that they are capable of greatness.

Together, we’re creating lasting change—one stroke at a time.