Welcome to the Hutch Project, Inc.

Hutch Project History

The Hutch Project, Inc. is an outgrowth of the Hutchinson Cup Regatta, created in memory of Tom C. Hutchinson III.

Tom was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1992 yet continued to pursue his many interests, curiosities and passions over the next eleven years. In 1999, after many years of watching rowers on the Schuylkill River, Tom took up rowing just a few months after he was told his cancer had spread to his spine. He quickly became addicted to the sport and founded a racing program for masters in Philadelphia. The group has grown over the years and continues to train and race together year round. Tom was on the river everyday, weather permitting, until 2001. We are all certain he would be proud of our racing achievements in the past few years.

Tom passed away in August of 2003. His family wanted to hold an event in his honor and memory. Tom benefited greatly from hospice and palliative care services during the last months of his life. Knowing how grateful he was for the care, support and encouragement the hospice staff gave to him and his family, a regatta seemed the perfect venue to honor Tom’s spirit, it provided the opportunity for many to experience rowing, the sport he loved so much, while supporting hospice and palliative care services for many others.

In September 2004, with the help of a group of master rowers, the first Hutchinson Cup Regatta was held in Philadelphia. In spite of hurricane Ivan, the first Hutchinson Cup was a great success. One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to Wissahickon Hospice for their Education Program and planned In Patient Home. As the regatta grew in 2005 and 2006 we extended our reach to support Hospice and Palliative Initiatives both locally and world wide.

In July 2006 Tom’s wife, Joyce, founded The Hutch Project, Inc. The regatta remains The Hutch Project’s primary fundraising event. A masters head race attracting many racers, volunteers and spectators. The regatta features twenty-six events, most noteworthy, the Turning the Stake Race, a revival of a popular 19th century rowing event and the subject of several famous Thomas Eakins paintings.

In addition to the Wissahickon Hospice, The Hutch Project has donated funds to the Penn Hospice and Palliative Care International Scholars Program, facilitating the exchange of staff and faculty from a hospice in Botswana with faculty, staff and students from the University of Pennsylvania Health System and sponsored the “Future of Hospice and Palliative Conference” designed to meet the educational needs of health care professionals and the public

As one close friend wrote upon Tom’s passing; “He was a visionary who saw what could be done and went after it full speed ahead. He was full of wonder and always made everyone feel that life couldn’t get any better than what you were enjoying for the moment. I believe he knew the “big secret” and it was a pleasure to learn the ropes from someone who did.”

The Hutch Project, Inc. is happy to continue Tom’s legacy of giving to others and sharing the “big secret”.

(Of Tom Hutchinson)

A man of many passions
A man who loved passions in others

Celebrated

The dance of life
The words of the spirit
The art of the hand

Experiencing the movement of seasons

The breath of
The skier
The oarsman
The dance

Filling the spirit with the song of eternal possibilities
Of becoming your potential
Of this he wished
And nothing more.


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		Hutch Project History The Hutch Project, Inc. is an outgrowth of the Hutchinson Cup Regatta, created in memory of Tom C. Hutchinson III. Tom was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1992 yet continued to pursue his many interests, curiosities and passions over the next eleven years. In 1999, after many years of watching rowers on the Schuylkill River, Tom took up rowing just a few months after he was told his cancer had spread to his spine. He quickly became addicted to the sport and founded a racing program for masters in Philadelphia. The group has grown over the years and continues to train and race together year round. Tom was on the river everyday, weather permitting, until 2001. We are all certain he would be proud of our racing achievements in the past few years. Tom passed away in August of 2003. His family wanted to hold an event in his honor and memory. Tom benefited greatly from hospice and palliative care services during the last months of his life. Knowing how grateful he was for the care, support and encouragement the hospice staff gave to him and his family, a regatta seemed the perfect venue to honor Tom’s spirit, it provided the opportunity for many to experience rowing, the sport he loved so much, while supporting hospice and palliative care services for many others. In September 2004, with the help of a group of master rowers, the first Hutchinson Cup Regatta was held in Philadelphia. In spite of hurricane Ivan, the first Hutchinson Cup was a great success. One hundred percent of the proceeds were donated to Wissahickon Hospice for their Education Program and planned In Patient Home. As the regatta grew in 2005 and 2006 we extended our reach to support Hospice and Palliative Initiatives both locally and world wide. In July 2006 Tom’s wife, Joyce, founded The Hutch Project, Inc. The regatta remains The Hutch Project’s primary fundraising event. A masters head race attracting many racers, volunteers and spectators. The regatta features twenty-six events, most noteworthy, the Turning the Stake Race, a revival of a popular 19th century rowing event and the subject of several famous Thomas Eakins paintings. In addition to the Wissahickon Hospice, The Hutch Project has donated funds to the Penn Hospice and Palliative Care International Scholars Program, facilitating the exchange of staff and faculty from a hospice in Botswana with faculty, staff and students from the University of Pennsylvania Health System and sponsored the “Future of Hospice and Palliative Conference” designed to meet the educational needs of health care professionals and the public As one close friend wrote upon Tom’s passing; “He was a visionary who saw what could be done and went after it full speed ahead. He was full of wonder and always made everyone feel that life couldn’t get any better than what you were enjoying for the moment. I believe he knew the “big secret” and it was a pleasure to learn the ropes from someone who did.” The Hutch Project, Inc. is happy to continue Tom’s legacy of giving to others and sharing the “big secret”. (Of Tom Hutchinson) A man of many passions A man who loved passions in others Celebrated The dance of life The words of the spirit The art of the hand Experiencing the movement of seasons The breath of The skier The oarsman The dance Filling the spirit with the song of eternal possibilities Of becoming your potential Of this he wished And nothing more.