Arshay Cooper is a rower, bestselling and award-winning author, a 2x Golden Oar recipient for his contributions to the sport of rowing, a motivational speaker, and the protagonist of the film A Most Beautiful Thing, executive produced by Academy Award and Grammy winner Common, NBA stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade, the Winklevoss Twins, and Olympian Mary Mazzio.

Arshay grew up on the West Side of Chicago in a community surrounded by gangs. In 1997, he joined (and later became captain of) the country's first All-Black high school rowing team at Manley High School, an experience that changed his life. He then dedicated two years of his life to AmeriCorps, focusing on service and community impact; soon after, he attended Le Cordon Bleu, becoming a personal chef for World Wrestling Entertainment, Warner Brothers film sets, and professional athletes. After years as an entrepreneur in the food service industry, Arshay returned to his true passion: working with young people.

Arshay is the Co-founder of the national award-winning nonprofit A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, which introduces thousands of under-resourced youth to the sport of rowing around the world. Arshay’s mission has sparked the MLK Day of Service “DAY ON” for collegiate and high school sports teams across the country and community rowing events between local police and community members.

Arshay's message has spread all across the world. He has spoken for the members of Congress, the NBA and WNBA, the NAACP, the Obama Foundation, the Congressional Black Caucus, and professional sports team events (including the Oakland A’s, the Atlanta Hawks, the Miami Dolphins, the Atlanta Falcons foundation, and the Chicago Sky). The British, New Zealand, Australian, German, Dutch, Italian, French, Egyptian, Turkish, Canadian, and other Olympic teams have profoundly supported Arshay and the film, including creating new charitable organizations and initiatives with underserved communities. Universities and athletic directors across the United States (from Morehouse and other HBCU institutions to the University of Washington to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) have all hosted events with Arshay. Arshay has spoken at UPS, Bank of America, Target, JP Morgan, Delta Airlines, Starbucks, Microsoft, and many other companies, holding conversations around the film, digging into access and opportunity, and the importance of bringing people together. HarperCollins will publish Arshay’s second book in World English, which will be released in October 2025.

Arshay and his work have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, LA Times, Today Show, NBC Nightly News, BBC, Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated, Hollywood Reporter, BET, NPR, Nike Podcast, Neil de Grasse Show and many others.

 “A Most Beautiful Thing” can be bought anywhere books are sold. The film is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Xfinity Comcast.