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Row New York’s Monique Avin was honored with an Urban Hero Award from the Catalog for Giving of New York City this past Thursday at a Manhattan gala. The Catalog, which funds twelve member organizations including Row New York, confers Urban Hero Awards yearly on the most outstanding participants in each organization’s programming. This year, Row New York’s honor went to Monique, whose determination, commitment, and talent on and off the water earned her the distinction.

Immense event space Capitale, housed in the former Bowery Savings Bank Building, hosted the evening’s proceedings. Guests from New York’s philanthropic community mingled, bid on auction items, and heard remarks from Catalog Board Chair Kenneth Horn, event honoree Michael Lehrman, past honoree Steve Kohn, Executive Director Florence Wiener, and from the Urban Heroes themselves. Monique took the stage to accept a plaque and later described her feeling at that moment as one of satisfaction. “I felt like I’ve done my job…being a good athlete and a good role model.”

Monique, a first generation American with parents from Guyana and Haiti, related the story of her involvement with Row New York in the gala’s program. Monique wrote of the obstacles she faced as a novice rower, not the least of which was the fact that she could not swim. “I thought I had overcome all rowing-related obstacles until six months into rowing, when I found out I had to take a swimming test in order to race. I was shocked because I knew I couldn’t swim to save my life. I failed the swim test three times before I finally passed.” Nonetheless, Monique wrote, her perseverance in learning to swim earned her a chance for a spot in the boats. “I…felt independent because I made the choice to either succeed or give up my spot in the boat.”

Monique took other lessons from her experience as well. “The challenges of my novice year taught me to be strong and always work hard for what I want. I also learned to believe in myself…As I move forward as a varsity rower and college freshman I realize that being open-minded and willing to experience new things makes life better. I will continue to think this way as I encounter my college experience.” With a New York State championship under her belt from 2011 and a record of consistent commitment to our academic programming, we expect more achievement from Monique’s college years and beyond.

Congratulations to Monique and thanks to the Catalog for Giving for its continued partnership with us.

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