The Pacific Northwest is a particular place. From the Indigenous tribes who first inhabited this land, to the generations of innovators attracted by the alternatives right here, our area is outlined by a can-do spirit, grounded in innovation, journey and collaboration. We’re undaunted by the winter rains or the wild great thing about our geography.
Within the Pacific Northwest, we placed on our rain boots and we exit to fulfill the challenges we face — collectively.
All through our area’s historical past, there have been examples of our group pulling collectively to construct the enduring establishments that form our civic and financial life. Amongst them are the College of Washington’s founding in 1861, The Seattle Instances in 1896, the Boeing Company in 1916, and Microsoft in 1997. By way of the years, these establishments, together with many others, and with the assist of extraordinary people, have achieved superb issues collectively. That’s the coronary heart of who we’re and what’s doable after we mix our efforts.
One such effort occurred in 1936, within the depths of the Nice Melancholy. The College of Washington, seated on the banks of the Montlake Minimize, had by then change into a powerhouse for collegiate rowing, holding its personal towards a lot richer faculties. This was thanks, partially, to the brilliance and experience of the boatbuilder George Yeoman Pocock, who constructed his elegant rowing shells in an previous Navy hangar. The UW repurposed the construction because the Related College students of the College of Washington Shell Home. From that constructing, head crew coach Al Ulbrickson led an unlikely staff of 9 UW college students, younger males of humble origins, to earn a spot representing the USA within the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
However the college lacked the funds to ship our “Boys within the Boat” to compete in Germany. So Ulbrickson, with the assistance of Seattle Instances writer C.B. Blethen, launched a “penny drive,” calling for group assist on the entrance web page, with the paper offering the marketing campaign’s largest donation of $500. In simply two days, sufficient small donations got here in to cowl their journey, and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce — one other supporter of the marketing campaign — airmailed Ulbrickson a verify with the proceeds. In Berlin, the Husky crew rowed a heroic race and gained the gold medal — an honor for America and a humiliation for Adolf Hitler.
The younger males who rowed for an American victory went on to contribute nice issues to our area and our nation, serving within the navy, trade, schooling and regulation. A number of went on to work for Boeing, together with Joe Rantz, whose lifetime of poverty was reworked by the diploma he earned from the UW and the chance he discovered there.
On Dec. 25, this story of perseverance, grace and group spirit will likely be on the massive display screen when “The Boys within the Boat” film, primarily based on the 2013 nonfiction guide by Redmond writer Daniel James Brown, is launched in theaters. In celebration, the UW, with assist from The Seattle Instances, Microsoft President Brad Smith and Kathy Surace-Smith, the UW Alumni Affiliation and Seattle Metro Chamber, amongst others, is reviving the spirit of the “penny drive” with the Pull Together campaign. Neighborhood members are invited to assist protect and restore the historic ASUW Shell Home, in addition to assist scholar scholarships and the UW rowing program that carries on the legacy of the ’36 staff.
Our group has stepped up with inspiring generosity — a vivid reminder that whereas the dimensions, form and make-up of our group is regularly altering and evolving, our character, tradition and values have remained a touchstone by means of all of the generations. Thanks to the many individuals who’ve joined in preserving the bodily and religious legacy of the Boys within the Boat. The purpose of amassing $18 million is in attain.
As we speak, our state is house to hundreds of thousands of younger individuals who, like Joe Rantz, solely want the chance to pursue their academic desires and world-changing aspirations. Because of superb group assist for the Pull Collectively marketing campaign, our group can put that chance of their fingers.
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