Jason Read, who won a 2004 Olympic gold medal for rowing, is chief of the Amwell Valley Rescue Squad and helped raise $10,000 for a new building.
By: John Powers
RINGOES The quest continues for Olympic gold medallist Jason Read.
And with Mr. Read, no matter the quest whether as an elite rower, a volunteer or fundraiser there will be Olympic effort.
Saturday, Mr. Read presided at a fundraiser at the Back Brook Golf Club for a new Amwell Valley Rescue Squad building. The effort raised $10,000 and was helped by the attendance of 19 former Olympians, including the 27-year-old Mr. Read, who won a gold medal for rowing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece.
"As an Olympian, you are being pulled in 1,000 different directions," Mr. Read said. "You could say that this was the most distinguished group of Olympians at one place in New Jersey history. This meant so much to me for these people to give us their time to promote sport and volunteerism."
The event was attended by 95 people. Mr. Read, the chief of the Amwell Valley Squad, said the capital campaign still is about $100,000 short.
"Being an Olympian has really opened a lot of doors for me," said Mr. Read, who has lived in the township for 23 years. "There is no greater honor than being an Olympian. The Olympics are a tremendous way to bring people together."
The Olympians who attended were: hurdler Kevin Young, a gold medallist in 1988 and 1992; fencing gold medallist Mariel Zagunis (2004); gold medallist rower Dan Beery (2004); gold medallist Beau Hoopman (2004); gold and bronze medallist Ted Nash (1960 and 1964); fencing bronze medallist Sara Jacobson (2004); bronze medallist rower Bill Carlucci (1996, 2000); swimmer Nikki Dryden of Canada (1992, 1996); fencer Soren Thompson (2004); rowers Patrick Todd (2004) and Mike Altman (2004); silver medallist rower Kevin Still (1984); rower Bob Kahler (1992, 1996 and 2000); rower John Brown (1996); cyclist Hans Wolf of Germany (1960); rower John Cooke (1956); and sprinter Otis Davis (1960).
Mr. Young, who broke track legend Edwin Moses’ world 400 intermediate hurdle record in 1992, spent part of the weekend with Mr. Read at a street fair in Princeton.
"He got to meet a lot of the Princeton (University) track and field athletes," Mr. Read said. "They were star-struck to see him."
As far as his timetable of breaking ground for the new rescue squad building, Mr. Read doesn’t hesitate.
"As soon as possible," he said. "We’re going to present the plans in proper order to the officials."
Mr. Read said he’s going to take some time off from competing so he can work on several projects, including the fundraiser for the building.
"It’s been pretty crazy," he said. "I’ve been traveling between New York (City), Atlantic City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. I’m maintaining my focus for the building."

