Fundraising
Vesper 2026 Erg Derby
Vesper Boat Club will host the 2026 Erg Derby on Saturday, May 2nd — Kentucky Derby Day — as a fundraising event to support our racing team.
We will be selling tickets to the event, and encourage you to support and attend! We are also looking for corporate sponsors. If you know someone at a local business that you think might be interested, please get in touch with JB Kelly at jbkellyiii@gmail.com or Ross Ramunno at rossramunno@yahoo.com.
What is the Vesper Erg Derby, exactly?
It’s a garden party — Derby style — at the Kelly House in East Falls, with racing and wagering to support Vesper’s high-performance team. Vesper athletes will compete in short-course erg races on an electronic course, demonstrating their skill and strength. Proceeds support the training expenses of the athletes as they work to make the U.S. National Team. Stay tuned for more information.
Support Vesper Boat Club
For over 150 years, Vesper Boat Club has stood as a beacon of excellence, camaraderie, and tradition on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Generations of rowers, from novices to Olympic champions, have launched from our docks with a shared purpose: to push beyond limits and uphold the proud legacy of “All Together!”
This summer our athletes demonstrated their commitment to competitive excellence through a powerful showing at the Independence Day Regatta. Vesper boats earned eight first-place finishes and proudly took the Efficiency Points Trophy. Our victories spanned Under 23, Open, and Masters events. At the 2025 Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, Vesper’s Racing Team posted standout performances and Vesper’s Masters earned both the Overall and Women’s Points trophies.
On June 1st, Marqus Brown took the reins as Head Coach of the Racing Team and quickly recruited additional athletes to the squad. With plans to boat competitive men’s and women’s eights by next year's racing season, Marqus is currently focusing on fundamental technique, fitness, and efficiency.
Continued domestic success of the Racing Team and Club remain important milestones. Our ultimate goal, however, is regaining Vesper’s international notoriety in big boats.
In the spirit of “All Together,” we can only get there with you. To ensure Vesper continues to provide top-tier resources, coaching, and facilities for our high-caliber athletes, we’re asking you to donate to our fundraising appeal.
Whether you are a Vesper alum, parent, rower, or friend of the sport, your donation makes a tangible difference. This collective effort has a singular goal: international podiums. Your gift, large or small, propels us closer, fueling the dreams of the next generation of Vesper champions.
Thank you for being part of the Vesper family. Together, we row further and faster.
Click below to donate via PayPal. You may also send a check to:
Vesper Boat Club
Attn: Kathleen Barron
10 Kelly Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19130