Committed to Our Community.

The Friends of the Hooch is committed to giving back to the community that has helped to ensure our growth and success since the very first Head of the Hooch regatta in 1983. Each year, we look for ways to support the rowing community in the southeast and to promote sustainability practices among our participants.

HOOCH HELPS • 

HOOCH HELPS • 

To further the mission and purpose of the Head of the Hooch® regatta, Friends of the Hooch offers charitable donations in 2024 to three recipients. If you are interested in applying for one of the three donation categories, please follow the link and choose the best fit for your rowing organization: Junior, Collegiate, or Masters. The application must be completed by September 30, 2024. Good luck!

HoTH® Mission

“Promote the virtues of sportsmanship, teamwork, inclusion, and personal responsibility by delivering a world class competitive rowing event, the Head of the Hooch® regatta, supported by volunteers from local rowing clubs and the community we serve.”

HoTH® Purpose

“Foster support, conduct, and promote local, regional, national, and/or international athletic competition in the sport of rowing by running the nationally recognized Head of the Hooch® regatta for high school, college, adult, and elite athletes including para and inclusive para athletes with physical or intellectual impairments.”

Advancing women in coaching & leadership.

We are committed to increasing opportunities for the development of female coaches at all levels of rowing.

The Head of the Hooch® regatta, together with our Title Sponsor the Tennessee Valley Authority, will award three tuition scholarships for female coaches to attend the 2024 Women's Coaching Conference in Boston, MA from December 12, 2024 to December 14, 2024.

Preference will be given to coaches from the Southeast or from under-resourced programs.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 15, 2024

Award decisions will be made by October 7, 2024.

Please email secretary@headofthehooch.org for more information.

Eliminate Plastic Waste.

We need your help!

The Head of the Hooch regatta has a goal to eliminate plastic waste from the venue within 3 years. Here’s what we’re doing now:

  • Volunteers are asked to bring their own water bottles

  • Water refilling stations are being setup around the venue

Contact us to find out how you can help to eliminate plastic waste from our venue or to let us know what you are already doing! Reach out to cleanwater@headofthehooch.org.

Waterway Clean Ups.

Earn a discount on your registration fees by participating in a local waterway clean up project!

Teams and crews can log their hours of service and submit them to the Head of the Hooch Clean Water Committee for a 10% discount on registration fees. A minimum of 50 hours is required to earn a discount across ALL ENTRIES for a team or club and groups that complete fewer than 50 hours are eligible for discounts on individual entries.

Submit your project here. We’d love to see your photos on Instagram, too: #headofthehooch. Projects must be completed and submitted by October 15, 2024.

2024 Support for Community

Friends of the Hooch fulfills its mission in a variety of ways each year including the annual Head of the Hooch regatta as well as financial and in-kind contributions to rowing clubs and affiliated organizations. We look forward to expanding our impact on the rowing community in the southeast and across the country.

Community Partners & Supporting Organizations

Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department

Tennessee River Rescue

Hamilton County STARS

Women’s Coaching Conference

Chattanooga and Nashville Coast Guard Auxiliary

Past Support for Community Organizations

Jack Fish Fund, Chattanooga Rowing

The Jack Fish Fund was started in memory of Jack Fish, one of the “founding fathers” of Chattanooga Rowing. Jack was also the original head coach and administrator of the Chattanooga Junior Rowing Program for more than 20 years! Jack felt that any student who wanted to row should be given that opportunity and, behind the scenes, he personally funded many of the rowers. The Jack Fish Fund is used to perpetuate that vision by providing students that do not have the financial means to row with partial scholarships.

Adaptive Rowing, Atlanta Rowing Club

One of the leading initiatives for the Head of the Hooch regatta over the past several years has been to promote and develop racing opportunities for para and adaptive rowers. In an effort to pursue this vision, past contributions have been made to support and grow the para and adaptive program at the Atlanta Rowing Club.

Boathouses affected by Hurricanes

Cape Coral Rowing Club

Upper Merion Boat Club