Whole Foods Fundraiser Nets $7,500 for USRowing

Tuesday's fundraiser at Whole Foods Market Princeton on Route 1 raised more than $7,000 to help send USRowing athletes to the 2012 Olympics. 

The donation represents 5 percent of the store's net sales on Tuesday, along with the proceeds from a "Giving Grill" that offered lunch in exchange for a $5 donation to USRowing. 

"We are giving them $7,500," said Christina Crawford, culinary instructor at Whole Foods Market Princeton. "It was a really good day."

Some of the Olympic rowers were on hand to meet the community at Whole Foods. 

Jammin' Crepes will host a fundraiser for USRowing on Saturday. Stop by the West Windsor Farmer's Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a crepe, meet some of the rowers and all proceeds will go the U.S. Olympic Team. 

Among those heading to England are the women’s eight crew, the six-time defending world and Olympic champions. The team won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Six of the Olympic rowers are Princeton University graduates, including Caroline Lind '06 (women's eight), Gevvie Stone ‘07 (women’s single sculls), Sara Hendershot ‘10 (women’s pair), Robin Prendes ‘11 (lightweight men’s four) and Glenn Ochal ‘08 (men’s four). 

“These athletes are putting their lives on hold after college to represent the U.S.,” USRowing CEO Glen Merry told Patch last week. "They might be making a stipend of  $800-$1,000 a month to survive on, so it’s their families and their savings and they’re taking out loans to help keep themselves part of this sport.”