Fundraising for New Boathouse

A new boathouse for the Greater Columbus Rowing Association is now within reach. This modern facility will not only provide a state-of-the-art home for GCRA and Ohio State women’s rowing, it will put Columbus on the map as a premier rowing venue.

Ohio State has been spearheading its own fundraising effort and the City of Columbus is committed to the project. Now, it’s time to do our part to support construction and ensure GCRA’s place in this marvelous facility.

The new boathouse will be known as The Andy Geiger Boathouse at Griggs Reservoir in tribute to retired OSU athletics director Andy Geiger. You probably know how much Andy did for Ohio State athletics, but you may not know that Andy was himself a rower and a great promoter of the sport. In fact, rowing is one of three women’s sports he added while at OSU. The boathouse is a fitting tribute to his legacy.

An important feature of this new facility is that it will serve as a community resource to attract and train future rowers from throughout greater Columbus. In this way the Andy Geiger Boathouse will provide a strong connection to the community that will help rowing prosper and attract support in central Ohio. The importance of support from the GCRA membership cannot be overemphasized. Before a wider appeal for support is made in the community, we must show that we are committed to this facility and that we are doing our part financially to make it a reality. Naturally, everyone’s financial priorities vary and any level of support will be appreciated greatly. However, after discussing the matter at length, the GCRA board is recommending a pledge of support of $1,000 from each member. Our goal is to contribute a total of $100,000 to the construction of the boathouse.

We are assured of 2 bays in the facility, allowing us to store all of our shells indoors for the first time. The new boathouse will be located north of the yacht club, so there will be no need to walk across the Indian Camp. There will be improved parking and safety will also be enhanced.

The Andy Geiger Boathouse at Griggs Reservoir will bring Columbus rowing to a whole new level and will improve the rowing experience for everyone. Now, we hope we can count on your support. You can learn more about pledging funds to the new boathouse by going to the Donate Funds page.

Thank you for your support.

To read the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the boathouse, visit the FAQ Page