Juliana LoBiondo to Receive National Award

PRINCETON, NJ – USRowing, the national governing body of the sport of rowing, has announced that on November 17, 2017 it will be awarding Juliana LoBiondo, the director of America Rows and Swims Newburgh, the prestigious Anita DeFranz award; the award will be presented at the 2016 Annual Golden Oars awards ceremony at the New York Athletic Club.  The ceremony will also be attended by many luminaries in the sport of rowing, from National team members and coaches to the 2016 Olympic Rowing gold medalists.  Tickets are being sold at almost $400 a plate.  The award is presented to an individual in the sport of Rowing who achieves measurable success in increasing diversity in the sport of rowing.  All proceeds of the event will go to support the US National Rowing Team as well as America Rows.

“I am beyond humbled to receive this award,” said LoBiondo.  “Coach Ed Kennedy, my coach and mentor, and the founder of the Newburgh Rowing club, and I have been working quietly for years to bring free swim clinics to the underprivileged youth of the city of Newburgh.  We also have introduced Rowing to underprivileged youth in Newburgh and to nontraditional rowers such as those with autism and other disabilities.  We have a unique partnership in that I could not have done this without him and he could not have done this without me.  I truly am accepting this award on his behalf as well as mine.  At a time when the city of Newburgh is experiencing so many tragedies, we are pleased that we can bring the national spotlight to the city of Newburgh in a positive way.”