Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 13, 2017 (Newswire.com) - The Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia, the governing body for Boathouse Row and rowing in the Philadelphia region, announces the formation of The Schuylkill Navy Series, a newly branded series of regattas and other events throughout the year on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. Through the Series events, the organization continues its leadership as the nation’s oldest amateur sporting organization and aims to provide greater access to rowing and events in the birthplace of American rowing.

Toyota, Presenting Sponsor of the Schuylkill Navy’s Stotesbury Cup Regatta since 2014, is expanding its support to Boathouse Row and the region, by extending its sponsorship to cover all six events of The Schuylkill Navy Series presented by Toyota to include:

"Since 1858, the Schuylkill Navy has continuously hosted more than 600 events in the heart of Philadelphia's historic Fairmount Park. As we know, the city's ability to continue to host iconic, mega-events is largely dependent on hosts' abilities to attract and retain generous sponsors who share their vision and see value in what they do. Together, with our city partners and amazing volunteers from our clubs on Boathouse Row and upriver, Toyota is helping to ensure we can continue our mission to promote amateurism on the Schuylkill and support our members' collective needs."

Paul Horvat , Commodore of The Schuylkill Navy

• The Schuylkill Navy Regatta — the nation’s oldest regatta, hosted annually in June
• The Independence Day Regatta — the nation’s oldest and largest summer regatta, hosted annually in early July
• The Philadelphia Youth Regatta — the nation’s largest one-day regatta, hosted annually in late July
• The Schuylkill Navy Run — the nation’s oldest cross-country race, hosted annually on Thanksgiving Day through Fairmount Park
• Ergathon Philadelphia — a 24-hour rowing machine marathon to raise funds for public access to rowing and paddling, hosted annually in April
• The Stotesbury Cup Regatta — Philadelphia’s largest sprint regatta and the largest youth regatta in the world, hosted annually in May

“Since 1858, the Schuylkill Navy has continuously hosted more than 600 events in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic Fairmount Park,” said Paul Horvat, the organization’s Commodore. “As we know, the city’s ability to continue to host iconic, mega-events is largely dependent on hosts’ abilities to attract and retain generous sponsors who share their vision and see value in what they do. Together, with our city partners and amazing volunteers from our clubs on Boathouse Row and upriver, Toyota is helping to ensure we can continue our mission to promote amateurism on the Schuylkill and support our members’ collective needs.”

For the Schuylkill Navy’s member clubs, collective needs include maintaining a safe environment for all Schuylkill River users, developing the next generation of coaches and leaders, and — most urgently — working with city and federal stakeholders to ensure the preservation of Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River course as a venue for all recreational river users, not just rowers. “The Schuylkill River’s depth is dangerously low, and invasive weeds immediately threaten all river users’ safe access to the water,” said Paul Laskow, Chair of the Schuylkill Navy’s River Restoration Committee. “We continue our four-year effort to secure Federal funding to begin dredging both in front of Boathouse Row and on the racecourse itself, and Toyota’s support helps us to continue these efforts.”

Also important to the Schuylkill Navy is maintaining its history as a premier center to develop Olympic and internationally competitive rowers. As a part of its expanded sponsorship, Toyota — the recently named Official Mobility Partner of the Olympic Games — will directly support the new Schuylkill Navy High Performance Collaborative, the group of elite coaches and athletes open to all Schuylkill Navy members. “Throughout a 150+ year history, the Schuylkill Navy clubs have developed Olympic and international champions, but always exclusively through the individual efforts of isolated clubs. Now, for the first time, we are pooling our resources and aiming to have our athletes and coaches from across Boathouse Row and upriver row together to showcase the Philadelphia region’s rowing excellence on the international stage,” said Horvat.

“We are proud to team with the Schuylkill Navy, the organization that not only runs regattas but works 365 days to support the efforts of the community,” said Paul Muller, President of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association. “Their efforts to expand river stewardship, preserve the Schuylkill River racing venue, maintain river user safety, and develop access and rowing talent at every level are efforts we want to support and get behind.”

The announcement will be made at a press conference on June 16, 2017, at 3:00 pm at Vesper Boat Club, #10 Boathouse Row. Congressman Robert A. Brady (D., PA)  will speak.

About The Schuylkill Navy:

Founded in 1858, the Schuylkill Navy is the oldest amateur sporting association in the country and is chartered by its member clubs on Boathouse Row and upriver "to secure collective action and promote amateurism on the Schuylkill." Through the Schuylkill Navy Series presented by Toyota, it has staged over 600 events, most dating back to the mid-19th century. Additional information is available at www.boathouserow.org.

Media Contact:

Jim DeLorenzo, Jim DeLorenzo Public Relations, jim@jhdenterprises.com, 215-266-5943

Source: The Schuylkill Navy