'Glee' Star Jane Lynch, Wife Donate $15K To Palmetto High Rowers

The rowing club is only a few months old, but it's already won over Hollywood -- namely Jane Lynch, star of TV's "Glee."

Lynch, winner of a Golden Globe and Emmy Award for her role as sassy Sue Sylvester on the popular Fox show, announced Wednesday she and her wife, Lara Embry, made a $15,000 donation to the club.

Lynch said Wednesday the lessons the sport teaches young people make it something even her character could get behind.

"It can be brutal," Lynch told Bradenton Patch. "I've seen people doubled over and throwing up after a race. I'm sure Sue Sylvester would love that."

Lynch's wife, Embry, is a friend and former rowing partner of Palmetto coach Trish Jackson. Embry also used to work for Carter Psychology Center in Bradenton until recently moving from Sarasota to California, and she and Jackson have won medals at the U.S. Rowing Master’s Nationals, as well as other races around the country.

Lynch and Embry said Jackson is a "fantastic coach" and they were happy to throw their support behind it.

"Public education is so underfunded these days," Lynch said. "We just had to help financially to get this off the ground."

Embry has visited the Palmetto program to help coach the kids. She said she came away impressed with their passion and willingness to learn.

"It's a young sport, and it creates a lot of opportunity for kids," Embry said.

The donation is for $15,000 in money and equipment, including five Concept 2 rowing ergometers that arrived at the school Jan. 17. A state-of-the-art boat and oars will follow. There's also an additional $5,000 fundraising challenge Lynch and Embry issued to the Manatee Youth Rowing Program, which operates Palmetto's team. If the club can raise $5,000 on its own, Lynch and Embry will match it.

They've already got a head start thanks to a $2,000 donation from one of the Palmetto coaches, Jackson said, and they're holding an informational meeting with parents to brainstorm on fundraising options. Anyone who wishes to contribute can contact Palmetto High or call Jackson at 941-232-8149.

Lynch's and Embry's gift is intended to help jumpstart the rowing program in Manatee County. Dave Gustafson, the county's project manager, said there have already been initial discussions with other county high schools about fielding their own teams. Palmetto's club practices at the newly constructed Fort Hamer Park rowing facility in northern Manatee.

Palmetto formed the county's first rowing club in December and now has close to 40 members. Many of the athletes are first-time rowers, and Jackson said they are still prepping for their first regatta, perhaps at the end of the month. She hopes the donation -- and Lynch's fame -- helps create more awareness locally.

"I'm hoping people will see this and realize, 'Wow, Manatee County has a program too,' " Jackson said. "Right now it's just all about Sarasota."

Lynch said she's never rowed but hopes to get out on the water someday soon with Embry and Jackson and give it a try.

"Everyone looks at me and thinks I should be a rower because I'm tall and I've got these broad shoulders," Lynch said. "I'm going to get out in a boat one of these days."