Rowing 100,000 meters to propel marine science support across the finish line
Bill Keithler, a dedicated member of the VIMS Foundation (VIMSF) Board at William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS, recently took on a remarkable fundraising challenge as part of the university’s annual day of giving, One Tribe One Day. While over $219,000 in total was raised for the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS, Keithler’s efforts stood out not just for their financial contribution to the total, but also for his unique approach.
Keithler proposed a 100-kilometer row-a-thon challenge, for which supporters in his network pledged a donation for every kilometer he completed on a rowing machine at the Pennington CrossFit gym in New Jersey. In just under 13 hours, Keithler completed the full 100km—just over 62 miles—and raised over $24,000 in commitments from more than 90 donors.
“The quality of the research at VIMS has been outstanding for decades,” said Keithler. “With this row, I approached it more as an opportunity to start conversations about VIMS and marine science generally. As a board member, I have loved learning about VIMS’ work on flood modeling, ghost forests, submerged aquatic vegetation conservation and so many other topics. The row was an avenue to start a dialogue about the amazing things that happen here.” Keithler’s passion for marine science, combined with his unique challenge, allowed him to educate friends, fellow gym-goers and others in his network about the Batten School & VIMS.
“Bill generated a lot of excitement and awareness around the Batten School & VIMS with his row-a-thon challenge. People from all over the world engaged and supported his efforts—from New York to London and Mumbai,” said Crystal Booker, assistant director of donor relations. “It means so much to have our supporters leverage their networks to amplify the critical work happening every day on our campuses. They help us reach people who have never heard of our great institute, but who feel the impact of our work in their daily lives.”
As a senior member of the investments team at a large insurance company, Keithler was first approached to join the VIMSF Board by another member who was familiar with his work at the intersection of climate risk and financial markets. Although Keithler wasn’t initially aware of the school and institute, the vision and energy of Batten School Dean & VIMS Director Derek Aday ultimately inspired him to join the VIMSF Board and get involved. “I’m just excited to support Derek and the whole team,” Keithler said. “There are so many good things happening.”
When he first had the idea to do a row-a-thon for One Tribe One Day, Keithler intended to row 50km, “but then,” he said, “I was down here last summer for the announcement of the Batten gift. Jane Batten challenged everybody, ‘this is just the beginning.’ And I thought, ‘well, maybe I'll do a hundred kilometers because she donated a hundred million.’”
Another key part of Keithler’s strategy was to encourage donations to the unrestricted Impact Fund, which supports the most pressing and emerging needs at the Batten School & VIMS. Keithler explained, “the opportunity set is constantly evolving, so unrestricted giving helps drive the most immediate impact.” He added, “I trust the team's vision and judgment in putting the money to work."
For Keithler, supporting the Batten School & VIMS is also a personal commitment. “I’m excited for my kids to have access to VIMS and Marine Science Day,” he said, noting that his two boys were present for the conclusion of the row-a-thon. “When they are older, they will think, ‘We support science, we support the community—these are things that we can do as a family.’ So, I’m just trying to be a good dad and a good role model.”
By the end of One Tribe One Day, Keithler’s row-a-thon had exceeded his expectations, not just in the money raised but also in discovering that some members of his broader network were equally as passionate about marine conservation. By combining his personal passions with a recognition of the urgency to contribute to marine science education and research, Keithler set a compelling example for how people can support the Batten School & VIMS in a variety of ways.
“I’m just excited to bear witness to the good things happening at VIMS and put some extra wind in the sails if I can,” he said. “It was fun.”