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It\u2019s a late July morning and the mist is slowly starting to burn off Great Hosmer Pond in Craftsbury, Vermont. Soft, cheerful laughter can be heard as campers for the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund\u2019s Arshay Cooper Camp work together to bring boats and oars down to the water for morning practice. Athletes have traveled here from across the world to attend camp. They do not know each other yet, but they are all unified by the commonality of rowing and the new bond of Arshay Cooper bringing them together with his advocacy work. While each athlete is training in the single, they are all working together as a team. By the end of the week, they will leave as family, connected for life by their experiences and memories shared.<\/p>\n
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Arshay Cooper is an author, motivational speaker, and cofounder of\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund<\/a>\u00a0(AMBTIF), which was founded after the success of his award-winning book and film,\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing<\/em><\/a>. He leads AMBTIF\u2019s efforts to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable sport in rowing. AMBTIF aims to equip young people with the tools to become champions in their communities, on the water, and in life. Since its inception, AMBTIF has impacted 19 rowing programs in historically underserved communities by helping raise over $3 million dollars through a combination of AMBTIF grants, in kind donations of Ergs, oars, and boats, and fundraising efforts. Parallel to these programs, Cooper has been working diligently with partners in the rowing community to create opportunities for young athletes to gain leadership skills. This initiative aims to help the programs they came from blossom and to provide them with the tools to help others succeed. That is where the\u00a0AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp\u00a0at Craftsbury comes into play.<\/p>\n Over the last five years, diverse and underserved youth rowers from all over the world have been coming to Craftsbury Outdoor Center to learn, grow, lead, and share their stories with Arshay Cooper\u2019s Camp. The annual camp has been made possible by the hard work, organization, and funding from\u00a0AMBTIF<\/a>,\u00a0Concept2<\/a>,\u00a0Craftsbury Outdoor Center<\/a>, and Concrete Foundation, Inc. \u201cBeing able to take kids from seeing dirt and concrete everyday… and experiencing physical, mental, environmental, emotional and social wellness at Craftsbury…It made kids feel complete,\u201d says Cooper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Seeing the change and growth that athletes had in just one week at camp is truly incredible. Jo Victorio-Sharma, Deputy Director of AMBTIF saw this firsthand. \u201cI expected teamwork, but I wasn\u2019t prepared for how boldly this new generation steps up – willing to take risks, hold themselves accountable, support each other, celebrate new skills, and recognize every small win. It reminded me that sometimes community can form faster and stronger than we expect when people feel safe, seen, and encouraged,\u201d Victorio-Sharma said. Seeing this evolution over a greater period of time is even more profound. Curtley Anthony van Wyk, who was a camper in 2024 and then returned as an intern in 2025 said, \u201cCamp sparked a genuine curiosity in me to dive deeper into the sport\u2014not just to row, but to truly understand it. I\u2019ve been motivated to bring that knowledge back to my rowing club so I can guide and educate others. In short, camp lit a fire under me.\u201d Zach Williams, also a camper in 2024 and an intern in 2025, had a similar experience. He told us this year that he wants to use his experience in other sports to help others and also shared his developing mentorship with RowLA, a youth-girls club in Los Angeles, California. He says, \u201cWith this relationship (with RowLA), I want to help promote their mission by welcoming young women, especially black young women to become empowering leaders and competitive student-athletes. I would also want to use my track and field background to have runners and rowers learn from each other, which not only promotes physiological diversity but also creating expanded social spaces for athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Wyk and William\u2019s stories are just two of the over 100 athletes who have now been impacted by the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp. It goes beyond just the athletes that are impacted though \u2013 their families and communities also see the returns. Cooper says, \u201cIt\u2019s life changing for the parents and caregivers too… They\u2019re like, \u2018I don\u2019t know what happened to them this week, but they\u2019ve changed!\u2019\u201d It is of significance to note that 100% of athletes who have attended camp have gone on to graduate from high school and attend college. Cooper says, \u201cWe use education and rowing to help honestly break the cycle of poverty for some of these families. We believe that education combined with rowing yields\u00a0a powerful return.\u201d Concept2 is honored to be a part of the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp and help his mission to transform the lives of young people, their communities, and the sport of rowing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2025 in particular marks many milestones for Arshay Cooper, AMBTIF, Concept2, and the Concrete Foundation, Inc. In March, the Concrete Foundation established by Concept2 Founders Dick Dreissigacker and Judy Geer would become\u00a0the fiscal sponsor of AMBTIF<\/a>. July marked the five-year anniversary release of the highly acclaimed feature film,\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing<\/em>. This summer also marks five years since the launch of AMBTIF and the partnership with Concept2 to help fund the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp at Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Cooper explains how the cumulative effect of these milestones added up to impact the campers, \u201cBeing able to travel, being able to be in that environment, being able to meet the founders after spending so much time on the Erg and being able to visit Concept2 is a huge deal for them\u201d.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s next? AMBTIF plans to continue expanding their partner programs even further- increasing to 23 rowing programs in total this October. Ultimately, they want to help give the athletes, coaches, and leaders the tools to excel and expand diversity on the biggest and most competitive stages of rowing, at higher learning institutions, organizations, and at major businesses. Cooper says, \u201cI want to see in the next five years more of our athletes graduating from college. Making national teams. Stepping into roles as directors, coaches and leaders of camps and rowing programs. We want to give them the tools to give back to the places that gave to them. That’s a huge part of our goal.\u201d To do that, AMBTIF is investing more time and energy into their Leadership Academy. Victorio-Sharma says, \u201cThis will help grow the next generation of leaders\u2014 creating more opportunities to bring people together, build connections, and strengthen our rowing community.\u201d Giving athletes a platform, encouragement, and tools to tell their stories to inspire others with storytelling is also a part of this goal. Van Wyk says, \u201cI never imagined I\u2019d be inspired to step into motivational speaking. But I realized something powerful\u2014every single person\u2019s story matters, no matter how small or \u201cordinary\u201d it might seem. Turns out, our life chapters can inspire others\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n While AMBTIF continues making an impact within the rowing community, Cooper is simultaneously releasing his third book,\u00a0Let Me Be Real with You<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>in October of 2025.\u00a0Let Me Be Real with You<\/em>\u00a0looks at the world from Cooper\u2019s perspective and discusses eight elements of wellness to help readers take better care of themselves and the world around them. These elements and lessons were all learned by Cooper growing up and they aided his growth in rowing and in life.\u00a0Let Me Be Real with You<\/em>\u00a0is now on pre-order\u00a0<\/strong>and can be purchased\u00a0here<\/a>, or wherever books are sold.<\/p>\n Curious how you can get involved with AMBTIF and their initiatives? There\u2019s really so many ways. Victorio-Sharma says, \u201cEvery bit of support makes a real difference\u2014helping young athletes thrive, empowering athletes of color, and building a stronger, more inclusive rowing community. Whether you donate, volunteer, or share our story, you\u2019re helping more people learn about our work and get involved.\u201d Below are a few resources of how you can stay informed and get involved.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a late July morning and the mist is slowly starting to burn off Great Hosmer Pond in Craftsbury, Vermont. Soft, cheerful laughter can be heard as campers for the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund\u2019s Arshay Cooper Camp work together to bring boats and oars down to the water for morning practice. Athletes have traveled here from across the world to attend camp. They do not know each other yet, but they are all unified by the commonality of rowing and the new bond of Arshay Cooper bringing them together with his advocacy work. While each athlete is training in the single, they are all working together as a team. By the end of the week, they will leave as family, connected for life by their experiences and memories shared. Arshay Cooper is an author, motivational speaker, and cofounder of\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund\u00a0(AMBTIF), which was founded after the success of his award-winning book and film,\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing. He leads AMBTIF\u2019s efforts to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable sport in rowing. AMBTIF aims to equip young people with the tools to become champions in their communities, on the water, and in life. Since its inception, AMBTIF has impacted 19 rowing programs in historically underserved communities by helping raise over $3 million dollars through a combination of AMBTIF grants, in kind donations of Ergs, oars, and boats, and fundraising efforts. Parallel to these programs, Cooper has been working diligently with partners in the rowing community to create opportunities for young athletes to gain leadership skills. This initiative aims to help the programs they came from blossom and to provide them with the tools to help others succeed. That is where the\u00a0AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp\u00a0at Craftsbury comes into play. Over the last five years, diverse and underserved youth rowers from all over the world have been coming to Craftsbury Outdoor Center to learn, grow, lead, and share their stories with Arshay Cooper\u2019s Camp. The annual camp has been made possible by the hard work, organization, and funding from\u00a0AMBTIF,\u00a0Concept2,\u00a0Craftsbury Outdoor Center, and Concrete Foundation, Inc. \u201cBeing able to take kids from seeing dirt and concrete everyday… and experiencing physical, mental, environmental, emotional and social wellness at Craftsbury…It made kids feel complete,\u201d says Cooper. Seeing the change and growth that athletes had in just one week at camp is truly incredible. Jo Victorio-Sharma, Deputy Director of AMBTIF saw this firsthand. \u201cI expected teamwork, but I wasn\u2019t prepared for how boldly this new generation steps up – willing to take risks, hold themselves accountable, support each other, celebrate new skills, and recognize every small win. It reminded me that sometimes community can form faster and stronger than we expect when people feel safe, seen, and encouraged,\u201d Victorio-Sharma said. Seeing this evolution over a greater period of time is even more profound. Curtley Anthony van Wyk, who was a camper in 2024 and then returned as an intern in 2025 said, \u201cCamp sparked a genuine curiosity in me to dive deeper into the sport\u2014not just to row, but to truly understand it. I\u2019ve been motivated to bring that knowledge back to my rowing club so I can guide and educate others. In short, camp lit a fire under me.\u201d Zach Williams, also a camper in 2024 and an intern in 2025, had a similar experience. He told us this year that he wants to use his experience in other sports to help others and also shared his developing mentorship with RowLA, a youth-girls club in Los Angeles, California. He says, \u201cWith this relationship (with RowLA), I want to help promote their mission by welcoming young women, especially black young women to become empowering leaders and competitive student-athletes. I would also want to use my track and field background to have runners and rowers learn from each other, which not only promotes physiological diversity but also creating expanded social spaces for athletes.\u201d Van Wyk and William\u2019s stories are just two of the over 100 athletes who have now been impacted by the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp. It goes beyond just the athletes that are impacted though \u2013 their families and communities also see the returns. Cooper says, \u201cIt\u2019s life changing for the parents and caregivers too… They\u2019re like, \u2018I don\u2019t know what happened to them this week, but they\u2019ve changed!\u2019\u201d It is of significance to note that 100% of athletes who have attended camp have gone on to graduate from high school and attend college. Cooper says, \u201cWe use education and rowing to help honestly break the cycle of poverty for some of these families. We believe that education combined with rowing yields\u00a0a powerful return.\u201d Concept2 is honored to be a part of the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp and help his mission to transform the lives of young people, their communities, and the sport of rowing. 2025 in particular marks many milestones for Arshay Cooper, AMBTIF, Concept2, and the Concrete Foundation, Inc. In March, the Concrete Foundation established by Concept2 Founders Dick Dreissigacker and Judy Geer would become\u00a0the fiscal sponsor of AMBTIF. July marked the five-year anniversary release of the highly acclaimed feature film,\u00a0A Most Beautiful Thing. This summer also marks five years since the launch of AMBTIF and the partnership with Concept2 to help fund the AMBTIF Arshay Cooper Camp at Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Cooper explains how the cumulative effect of these milestones added up to impact the campers, \u201cBeing able to travel, being able to be in that environment, being able to meet the founders after spending so much time on the Erg and being able to visit Concept2 is a huge deal for them\u201d. So, what\u2019s next? AMBTIF plans to continue expanding their partner programs even further- increasing to 23 rowing programs in total this October. Ultimately, they want to help give the athletes, coaches, and leaders the tools to excel and expand diversity on the biggest and most competitive stages of rowing, at higher learning institutions, organizations, and at major businesses. Cooper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5887,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/concept2.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AMBTIF25-50-720x480-dff51d8a-384a-4893-a904-7dd73478cc03_0-1.jpg\")
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