Anchors Aweigh campaign aims to modernize Hudson High weight room
by Judy Stringer
Hudson is flexing its community muscle for a good cause as a group of parents spearhead the ambitious $550,000 Anchors Aweigh campaign to modernize the high school’s weight room.
Operating under the newly formed nonprofit Organization for Athletic Resources and Success (OARS), founders Brent Charriere, Beau Bishop and JF Babitsky have teamed up with Hudson City Schools and The Hudson City Schools Foundation to give Hudson High School’s training spaces a major overhaul. The organizers said that while the district boasts elite academic and athletic standings, its training facilities were slipping behind neighboring districts in the Suburban League.
“We just wanted to make sure we were keeping pace,” Bishop explained.
The initiative aims to do much more than swap out old iron. Plans for the upgraded facility include state-of-the-art Hudson-branded equipment, fresh flooring, visual updates to foster school spirit and an on-site “fuel station” for pre- and post-workout nutrition. Although the committee is leading the financial effort, Bishop said the district will ultimately “have the final say on what all of that looks like.”
The founders also emphasized that the upgraded “Hudson Athletic and Wellness Center” will be designed as an inclusive space for the entire student body, spanning varsity sports, clubs and physical education classes.
“This isn’t just a weight room for a football team, for instance, or certain sports,” Charriere said, noting that some female teams, in particular, may not have felt the old space was a place for them. “This is an athletic and wellness facility that all students can use.”
Fundraising is already underway. Organizers hit the ground running in late September, setting up a presence at high school football games and other athletic events to raise awareness and distribute campaign QR codes. The OARS team is targeting a swift timeline, with hopes to begin the weight-room upgrades shortly after the new year and complete them sometime in the spring or early summer.
Bishop credited Denny Palmer from the Hudson City Schools Foundation and Hudson Athletic Director Mike Shupa for their support in driving the initiative forward, adding that community response so far “has been nothing short of remarkable.”
Donations are tax-exempt and can be made via the Hudson City Schools Foundation by designating “OARS” in the transaction notes. In addition to individual donations, giving levels and sponsorship opportunities are available for families and businesses. For more information, email oars@thehcsf.org.
Photo caption: Proposed design renderings (right) showcase the modern upgrades slated for the Hudson High School weight room (left) under the Anchors Aweigh campaign.