Dear Friends - Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

I am excited to participate in the 38th Annual The Ben to the Shore, which supports the Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation! This will be my second year... 

I’ll be cycling for Team Kevin Saint Clair in the 38th annual Ben to the Shore Bike Tour. I invite you give gifts that directly impact Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation! Last year we also kicked off the Kevin St Clair Scholarship fund, it’s a great event and these are great causes.  

You see, several of Kevin’s rowing friends, teammates and athletes created the team last year to honor Kevin, who died tragically in 2023. The ride is the signature fundraiser for Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation.  Its mission: support families of fallen first responders; first responders’ mental health; and programs for children in need.  Mark O’Connor, University Barge Club member, is Executive Director.

In Team Kevin’s first year, our fundraising enabled the Foundation to establish a 4-year scholarship for a Philadelphia high school student — a fitting legacy to Kevin, who taught and coached for 30+ years in Philadelphia.  We aim to expand the scholarship, but to do so we need more riders and donors to join Kevin’s team. Last year, 2,290+ riders and 100+ teams raised $1.45M! 

Part of our gifts were designated to the first four-year scholarship to a rising first year Newman-Garretti High School student in need. He is the first designee of the Kevin St Clair Scholarship fund. We are looking to sponsor a student each year - With your help we can add another student this year. 

A little more about Kevin, Goose, Spuds, Pork-boy - Kevin’s coaching, leadership and mentorship positively changed the trajectory of my rowing career, my coaching career and my life. He saw and modelled the way for me to win two World Championships and earn a Henley Royal Regatta Ladies Plate victory. As you can see, my motivations are deeply personal. Even if you didn’t know Kevin, you perhaps you may know of his legacy in and around the Philly rowing and cycling community. So please consider getting behind our team and his scholarship by representing the Schuylkill River rowing and the Philadelphia Cycling community as we do what we like to do - ‘pull together’ to make big impact... on children in need in our community. 

Learn more about FBBCF: https://www.fbbcf.org/

Learn more about the ride:  https://www.ben2shore.org

Thanks so much, 

Chris

The Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation (FBBCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to improving the lives of children in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey area. We achieve this by providing necessary financial relief for the families of fallen or critically injured first responders (police officers, firefighters, EMTs); cultivating positive relationships and interactions between police officers and the children in the communities they serve; and providing mental and emotional wellbeing resources to first responders and their families.