Awards Honor Exceptional Work
This month, Friends of the Chicago River honored six worthy recipients with the 2025 River Commitment Awards at our Member & Volunteer Celebration – including the inaugural River Resiliency Award. Held at the Mathew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the special event and awards celebrate our shared accomplishments, build excitement for the year ahead, and recognize awardees for their exceptional efforts on behalf of our mission to protect and restore the river system for all people, water, and wildlife.
“Our River Commitment Award recipients exemplify the action and advocacy that is instrumental to the revitalization of the Chicago-Calumet River system,” said Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River. “These leaders who choose to represent us in court, lead community action, or tirelessly strive to change how people perceive and use the river are all contributing to real and permanent positive change. Like all our members and volunteers, we could not do what we do without them.”
River Resiliency Award: This award is a new honor that celebrates the vital role our members and donors play in sustaining the mission of Friends. Central to this spirit of donor giving is The Otter Society, our circle of major donors—individuals, foundations, and businesses who prioritize the river in their philanthropy to make a significant annual commitment. The inaugural River Resiliency Award is bestowed upon three extraordinary members of The Otter Society—Friends’ Board President Sally Fletcher, Otter Society Chair Craig Coit, and devoted member and volunteer, Kate Coit.
River Champion Award: For his leadership and outstanding partnership with Friends in our Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative, the 2025 River Champion award honors Timothy Hoellein, Ph. D., and professor in the Department of Biology at Loyola University Chicago, and an expert in the research and study of microplastics and the harmful effects of trash in the river system. Dr. Hoellein is generous with his time to the public and to his students, speaking at events, including for Friends, and training and mentoring students to grow more local experts in the study of trash for strong policies to protect the river. He is a key partner in Friends’ Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative and has been instrumental in the installation and expansion of the Chicago River Trash Trap Network.
Spirit of the River Award: For dedication and enthusiasm, the 2025 Spirit of the River award honors Rachel Schick Siegel whose efforts most embody the spirit of the river this year. Siegel’s desire to learn more about how to protect beavers that had moved into a pond in Glenview grew into a keen understanding of the ecological power of beavers and the unnecessary conflict with humans. This led Siegel to found the Illinois Beaver Alliance in 2021, and subsequently starting the Midwest Beaver Summit, which now provides an important space for collaboration and learning about the ecological significance of beavers in the Midwest, as well as strategies for managing human-beaver conflicts effectively.
Volunteer of the Year Award: For his energy, passion, and commitment, the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award honors Mike Andrews. Mike is an extraordinary a champion of Chicago River Day – especially site captain recruitment – and an active volunteer in our paddle program to install native plants directly into the river’s edge. Andrews is also a volunteer as a Forest Preserves of Cook County Site Steward. This year, he has already given over 700 hours in service to the Forest Preserves, averaging 15 to 20 hours a week spent in ecological stewardship tasks that restore native biodiversity and protect plant and wildlife habitat.
“Friends’ awardees, members, volunteers, staff, board, partners, and funders are passionate, dedicated advocates who take action every day to advance our mission of protecting and restoring the Chicago-Calumet River system,” said Frisbie. “For nearly 50 years, we’ve stood strong and made tremendous progress, and no matter what challenges lie ahead, we will continue our work and inspire more people to join in our action and advocacy on behalf of the river system’s people and wildlife.”
Get Involved
If you are interested in learning more about our many volunteer opportunities please sign up for our monthly Chicago River Eco-warrior volunteer e-newsletter – CREW, join the CREW group on Facebook, or reach out to schedule a River Action Day for your friends, family, or corporate team.
