Author: dadvail

For Immediate Release

Ed Levin
Director of Publicity
Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA – For nearly nine months the schools participating in the Dad Vail Regatta count down the days as they prepare to win a coveted Dad Vail Regatta medal.

Heading into the 79^th Dad Vail Regatta, presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University most of the local schools had high hopes of leaving a lasting legacy at their respective institutions. Rowers from Drexel University, St. Joseph’s University and the University of Delaware did just that in front of spirited crowds despite the heavy rain that fell during the course of the racing schedule on Saturday morning.

With unfavorable conditions predicted for Saturday morning, the Dad Vail Organizing Committee re-arranged the schedule in order to maintain their promise that each school have the opportunity to row at least two races while also figuring a way to complete all of the Grand and Petite finals.

As the rain fell on rowers and spectators the Dragons began the day on fire winning the two premier events. The women got things started in historic fashion. For the first time in school history, the women captured the Varsity Heavyweight Eight title just a couple of weeks after dedicating their shell to Cara Fry, the wife of school president Dr. John Fry.

The men continued Drexel’s hot start by winning their first Varsity Heavyweight title since 2013 just weeks after they dedicated their shell to Lois Krall. Additionally, the Dragons captured three more gold medals; a silver medal and a bronze that played a big role in helping the women capture the Jack & Nancy Seitz Trophy (Women’s Point Trophy) for the first time in school history and a fifth consecutive Jack Bratton Trophy (Overall Points).

The University Delaware men’s program also enjoyed a banner day winning the Thomas Kerr Trophy (Men’s Point Trophy) highlighted by victories in the men’s lightweight eight and the men’s lightweight four while also winning the women’s junior varsity four.

Rounding out the fine performances by the local schools at the Dad Vail Regatta, also presented by Coca-Cola and PECO was St. Joseph’s University. The men’s junior varsity eight and men’s third varsity eight won the first gold medals on the men’s side since 2010 while the women’s freshman/novice eight won the Hawks first gold medal since 2011 on the women’s side. The Hawks finished second in the women’s point standings and third in the men’s standings.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

 

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Ed Levin
Publicity Director
Dad Vail Regatta
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA – Classes may have ended at the University of Wisconsin but members of the women’s lightweight crew team are being taught a valuable history lesson.

When they heard coach Dusty Mattison registered their team for the 79^th annual Dad Vail Regatta, presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University the young women were excited to learn about the event named in honor of Wisconsin’s former men’s rowing coach Harry Emerson “Dad” Vail.

“They do,” said Mattison referring to her team’s understanding of how special attending the Dad Vail Regatta can be. “This year in particular we have talked a lot about the history of rowing at Wisconsin and the legacy they want to leave behind. It is really interesting how things weave together if you really pay attention. They are very proud to wear the “W” and be the ones to represent the University of Wisconsin.”

The Dad Vail Regatta, also presented by Coca-Cola and PECO will be staged on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13 will be the first trip in the history of the women’s program to the largest collegiate regatta in the country that features over 100 universities and colleges and 3,500 athletes from around the country competing for Gold Medals.

Mattison said, “It is very special! One thing we always say is there are Badgers everywhere we travel and this just confirms that. The Badger pride runs very deep at Wisconsin and it is fun to bring that with us to the largest collegiate regatta in the country. We feel honored to be representing one of the original founders of the regatta.    I have always heard about what a great race Dad Vail Regatta is. Fortunately, with Eastern Sprints scheduled at the end of April it allows us to race at Dad Vail. This race gives us an opportunity to line up against very competitive crews before heading into IRA’s. There are five weeks between Eastern Sprints and IRA’s. It is important we stay connected to that racing atmosphere and to be put in as many different racing situations as possible.”

While this may be the first trip east to the regatta named in honor of the man who kept Wisconsin rowing going year after year, it will hopefully be a memorable one and the first of many trips to come.

To learn more about “Dad” Vail, please go to www.dadvail.org and click on the history of the Dad Vail Regatta under the General Information tab.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

Philadelphia, PA – The Dad Vail Organizing Committee, host of the Dad Vail Regatta, presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University is proud to announce that JB Productions will provide live streaming coverage of the races beginning on Friday, May 12 at 11:30 am continuing through the conclusion of racing on Saturday May 13.

To follow all the action, go to www.dadvail.org and click on the live stream link.

“The Dad Vail Organizing Committee is pleased to welcome JB Productions and give collegiate rowers competing in the Dad Vail Regatta the benefit of worldwide coverage through live streaming to family, friends and rowing fans,” said Jim Hanna, President of the Dad Vail Organizing Committee.

There will be six cameras positioned along the course from start to finish. On select races, there will also be drone coverage providing aerial views. Accomplished rower and Dad Vail Board Member Brad Negaard will handle the announcing and commentary throughout the day. Guest commentators including fellow Dad Vail Regatta board member and Florida Tech Bill Jurgens will also join Neegard.

JB Productions has extensive experience live streaming rowing events in Philadelphia including the City Championships.

The 79^th annual Dad Vail Regatta, also presented by Coca-Cola and PECO will be staged on Friday, May 12 and Saturday 13 and will feature over 3,000 student-athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. 

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/Facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

 

Contact:
Ed Levin
Publicity Director
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net

For Immediate Release

Ed Levin
Director of Publicity
Dad Vail Regatta
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA – The Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee is pleased to announce the return of its Dad Vail Regatta mobile app in preparation of the 79^th annual Dad Vail Regatta presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, which will be staged on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13.

The Dad Vail Regatta App is once again available in the Apple App Store. The mobile app allows you to access schedules, heat sheets, weather updates and regatta information.

For those who do not have access through the mobile app, please log onto www.dadvail.org to access schedules, heat sheets, weather updates and other pertinent regatta information.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/Facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

Mayor’s Press Conference Highlights

Opening of Dad Vail Regatta

For Immediate Release

15th Annual Dad Vail Regatta Art Poster Contest Winners To Be Announced And Grant To City’s Summer Rowing Program.

Philadelphia, Pa –The Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee, organizers of the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta, presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University are pleased to announce the winners of the 15th Annual Dad Vail Regatta Art Contest staged again this spring for budding young artists attending Philadelphia area public, private and parochial schools.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Jim Hanna, President of the Dad Vail Organizing Committee will present the cash awards at a press conference on Friday morning May 12 at 9 a.m. amidst the opening races of the 79th annual Dad Vail Regatta, the nation’s largest collegiate regatta.

The Dad Vail Regatta, also presented by Coca-Cola and PECO, will be staged on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia with more than 100 universities and colleges and 3,500 athletes from around the country competing for Gold Medals.

Hanna said, “The Dad Vail Regatta is far more than the largest collegiate rowing event. We also offer students who are gifted in areas other than athletics, the means to be recognized for their artistic ability and to be rewarded for their distinguished achievements by way of our annual Art Poster Contest.”

The contest, which challenges Philadelphia area high school students to best depict the Dad Vail Regatta, North America’s largest and best-known collegiate regatta has five categories of prizes; Grand Prize, First Place, Second Place, Third Place and Honorable Mention.

Members of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee, The School District of Philadelphia, and the Office of Catholic Education comprised the judging committee of the artwork.

At the conclusion of the awards, Mayor Kenney will be presented with a check for the city’s summer rowing program for inner city youngsters, a tradition the organizers have been following for years having donated a total now approaching $50,000.

This program seeks to expose Philadelphia high school students to some of the benefits of rowing; discipline, camaraderie, loyalty, exceptional physical conditioning and teamwork.

The Winners of the 2017 Dad Vail Regatta Art Poster Contest are:

 

Grand Prize

Alyssa Sliwa, Archbishop Ryan

First Place

Angela Myronovych, Central High School

Second Place

Skylar Elliott-Jones, Archbishop Ryan

Third Place

Lika Su, Archbishop Ryan

Honorable Mention

Felicia Broll, Archbishop Ryan

Nichola McDermott, Archbishop Ryan

Xuan (Zoe) Dong, Archbishop Ryan

Otari Iobidze, The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush

Daniel Jurgelewicz, Archbishop Ryan

Kristin Somershoe, Archbishop Wood

 

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

 

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

 

Contact:

Ed Levin
Publicity Director
Dad Vail Regatta
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA – Throughout the history of Temple Men’s Crew, success at the Dad Vail Regatta has been paramount especially in the Men’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight with 20 Dad Vail Gold Medals (including 13 consecutive wins).

“Temple University, so uniquely a Philly school succeeding in a uniquely Philly event like this is pretty special,” said coach Brian Perkins, who was part of a Varsity Heavyweight Eight that won a Dad Vail Gold Medal. “That was always the case. To be able to compete against some of the fastest crews in the country right here on our home course is a gift.”

When the Owls hit the river for the 79^th annual Dad Vail Regatta, presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University taking place on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13 it will be a historic occasion for a number of reasons.

They will be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the men’s program; the opening of their new boathouse and they will be celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the 1992 Men’s Varsity Heavyweight Eight that won a coveted Dad Vail Gold Medal.

“We talk about the 50-year milestone, but surviving that long was not without trials,” said Perkins. “One key reason for Temple’s success would be the consistent leadership of Gavin White. Gavin was the second ever Head Coach of Temple Crew (succeeding Tom “Bear” Curran) and held that position for 35 years. He is still on staff as Head Coach Emeritus. The team changes every year, but having a steady guiding hand is crucial: once success is achieved, maintaining it is a whole other issue and Gavin was great at that.”

Junior Collin McKinney, who rows stroke echoed his coach’s sentiments, “Having a coaching staff that holds the Dad Vail Regatta to such a high regard helps us as student-athletes realize the importance of this regatta to the Temple program. We’ve had such a long history of success at it, the expectation now has become it is our regatta to win.”

After going through a challenging period, the Owls returned to a place they had become accustomed to at the Dad Vail Regatta with a third place finish.

Perkins said, “I was proud of those guys: they worked hard and overcame their own issues. There are bad crews, Good Crews, and GREAT CREWS. I think that last year we became a Good Crew again. Now we need to claw up to the next level and once again become a great crew. I like to hope that the seeds of that greatness are on the team right now. And in 50 more years we can revisit this article and see what we have done!”

It meant a lot to be apart of the first Temple Heavyweight Varsity Eight to be back on the podium in a long time,” McKinney said. “Being a part of the V8+ the year before and getting 6th, it taught me a lot about the level of training that was needed to even get on the podium, so going into the next year we all began to step up more and found that our work paid off with a bronze medal. Going into the Dad Vail this year we all feel more knowledgeable and prepared to improve on last year’s bronze.”

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/Facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

Contact:
Ed Levin
Publicity Director
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, Pa., – The Dad Vail Regatta presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University continues to increase its presence in the social media world, using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to deliver and share information with coaches, athletes and crew enthusiasts.

The Dad Vail Regatta, now in its 79^th year, will be held on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. and expects to host more than 100 colleges and universities and 3,500 athletes.

“Social media continues to be an invaluable communication tool for the Dad Vail Regatta,” says Jim Hanna, President of the Dad Vail Regatta Organizing Committee (DVROC). “It offers us the ability to connect in a very speedy and efficient manner and opens up the world to us. For example, with Twitter, we’re able to post the results of our races immediately, post weather updates and race schedule changes instantaneously, all of which really are really appreciated by our fans and participants.”

To date, the Dad Vail Regatta’s social media presence continues to grow and inform our fans and participants through various platforms. As of May 2016, Internet traffic on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter has shown increased traffic.

As these valuable resources continue to expand and provide more content, the Dad Vail Regatta has been able to increase exposure of North America’s most prestigious regatta to a widespread demographic audience through tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram photos while continuing to have a special appeal to the rowing community.

For collegiate sports events, it made sense for the Regatta to be an early adopter of these more modern methods of communication to connect with a younger audience.

Since adopting the various social media platforms the Dad Vail Regatta has experienced positive results with each platform prompting positive growth by way of augmenting wider exposure.

To follow the Dad Vail Regatta on Social media, please go to:

https://www.facebook.com/DadVailRegatta

https://twitter.com/dadvailr

https://www.instagram.com/dadvailregatta

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8.5 million people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For almost 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/Facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About – Jefferson

Jefferson, through its academic and clinical entities of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, including Abington Health and Aria Health, is reimagining health care for the greater Philadelphia region and southern New Jersey. Jefferson has 23,000 people dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients, educating the health professionals of tomorrow, and discovering new treatments and therapies to define the future of care. With a university and hospital that date back to 1824, today Jefferson is comprised of six colleges, nine hospitals, 34 outpatient and urgent care locations, and a multitude of physician practices throughout the region, serving more than 100,000 inpatients, 373,000 emergency patients and 2.2 million outpatients annually.

Contact:

Ed Levin
Publicity Director
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA – The Dad Vail Organizing Committee is pleased to establish “Friends of the Dad Vail Regatta,” a membership supported endeavor to rally both long-time and new fans of North America’s largest intercollegiate rowing regatta.

The 79th Dad Vail Regatta presented by Independence Blue Cross and The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University will be staged on the Schuylkill River on Friday May 12 and Saturday May 13.

Friends of the Dad Vail Regatta was formed to accept financial gifts from individuals and groups to strengthen the financial underpinnings of an unparalleled rowing tradition that began in 1934 and has become an iconic Philadelphia event according to DVROC President Jim Hanna.

Dad Vail attracts crews from as far north as Toronto, Canada, as far west as San Diego, California, and as far south as Melbourne, Florida, and is far more than a regatta. For those less gifted athletically but with strengths in the humanities, Dad Vail conducts an annual art poster award.  For those wishing to row for life, Dad Vail conducts a corporate rowing event as well as an alumni rowing event. Ever mindful of serving the greater Philadelphia community, Dad Vail supports community rowing, ensuring rowing is a sport exposed to youth who might otherwise be denied access.

“We are fortunate to have support from local and national companies that include Independence Blue Cross, Jefferson Hospital, Coca Cola and PECO, and we know others want to be involved in helping Dad Vail go on,” says Jim Hanna, “which is the reason we are offering an opportunity to individuals and organizations to help ensure a stable and strong future for the Regatta by way of this Dad Vail membership endeavor

To join the Friends of the Dad Vail Regatta and make a financial gift, go to www.dadvail.org and click on the Donate Now button.\

Contact:
Ed Levin
Publicity Director
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net