The Miami Beach Watersports Center Inc. (“MB Watersports”) is a Florida not-for-profit organization that runs a premier rowing club with over 250 members, mostly Miami Beach residents. They offer a para-rowing program, which teaches people with disabilities how to row and provides a training facility for competitive para-rowers. MB Watersports has been designated as the Paralympic Sport Club by the US Olympic Committee and has already qualified two members to the national para-rowing team. The program has grown in popularity and needs financial assistance to expand. The annual cost to run the program is estimated at $160,000 annually.
During the City’s FY 15/16 budget process, a Budget Enhancement Request of $85,000 was granted to partially fund the para-rowing program at the Ronald W. Shane Center. Subsequently, a Grant Agreement has been executed for the past four years and MB Watersports has purchased adaptive equipment to support the para-rowing program. They have worked with the Parks and Recreation Department on providing proof of purchase and payment, and continue to be reimbursed accordingly.
MB Watersports is grateful for the City’s continuous support and has accomplished the following acheivements in FY 18/19 because of the City’s support:
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Competed at the Southern Sprints Indoor Rowing Championships with 6 participants – the most to date – using equipment purchased through the city grant.
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Two athletes raced at the Sarasota Invitational, bringing home a gold and a silver medal! We trained and competed using equipment purchased through the city grant.
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Held an 8 week clinic with the Miami VA training athletes for the Wheelchair Games. We transported equipment purchased through the grant to the VA every week for this clinic.
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Held monthly outreach/recruiting events at Jackson Memorial and at the boathouse for the Spinal Cord and Neurological Rehab patients.
Funding is included as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s Current Service Level Budget for FY 19/20. The Administration recommends entering into a fifth Grant Agreement with MB Watersports for $85,000. The Grant Agreement will mirror the same requirements as past agreements, which require the grantee to provide a report on the number of participants trained, how the funds were spent and the program’s accomplishments in relationship to the funds provided by the City. Priority shall be given to Miami Beach Residents and U.S. Military Service Members. MB Watersports proposes to use the grant funds to continue to provide this valuable service.