Giving Tuesday Is Just Days Away and Your Gift Can Go Twice as Far

This Tuesday, December 2, the global celebration of Giving Tuesday offers a powerful opportunity to protect clean water, defend biodiversity, and strengthen the Chicago-Calumet River system. With a generous $10,000 matching challenge, every dollar you give—or pledge—on Giving Tuesday will be doubled, making your impact twice as meaningful.

As we approach Giving Tuesday, keep on the lookout for more e-alerts and information on Friends’ Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts.

In Defense of the Clean Water Act and in Support of Biodiversity

Today, the Clean Water Act, wetlands, and essential river and habitat restoration efforts face growing threats. The EPA is seeking to rollback protections for wetlands and streams, and the Endangered Species Act remains under attack. Across the nation, wild lands, wildlife, and our waters are increasingly vulnerable.

Despite these challenges, our local progress is undeniable. Friends' 46-year dedication to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more accessible river was honored this year with the prestigious Thiess International River Prize—global recognition of the deep, strategic, and long-lasting impact of our work. Just 11 days later, the Chicago River Swim captured worldwide attention, achieving an incredible 3 billion media impressions. New studies continue to show increases in fish species and other aquatic life. And, as the river flourishes, more people are discovering its beauty, gathering along the downtown Riverwalk and finding respite on the North Branch and the South Branch and the Little Calumet River.

Also, this year, in a major victory for the Chicago River, Friends, the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, and the Illinois Attorney General won a permit-violation lawsuit against Trump International Hotel & Tower, resulting in a $4.8 million settlement. The agreement includes $3 million for a Supplemental Environmental Project, designed and implemented by Friends that will restore fish habitat and repair ecological damage caused by years of violations of the Clean Water Act and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.

Our coalition of thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners—known as the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance—continues to grow, now 55 members strong. Now in its fifth year, the Watershed Alliance was formed to advance nature-based solutions that deliver human and environmental benefits. The Watershed Alliance’s award-winning Natural Solutions Tool – developed by Friends and the Trust for Public Land – has proven invaluable. Centered on equity, public health, resilience, biodiversity, and connectivity, the Tool has already helped groups and organizations secure over 10 million in project funds. Another grassroots example is the Neighbors for Environmental Justice, which uses the Tool to study highly polluted sacrifice zones.

Friends also continues our leadership role in facilitating the important River Ecology and Governance Task Force of the City of Chicago which coordinates between government agencies, civic and nonprofit organizations, private developers and local communities to achieve common goals for the betterment of Chicago's rivers.

Not to mentioned the 60,000+ people who participated in our programs including 20,000 school children, 58% of whom were from Chicago Public Schools

Please help continue the fight to protect and restore the Chicago-Calumet River system for all people, water, and wildlife.

Double Your Dollar on Giving Tuesday

With Giving Tuesday just days away, we ask you to consider a gift that will go a long way to support Friends’ critical work to protect and restore our river system.

 

All gifts made or pledged on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.), will be matched up to $10,000 thanks to three generous board members:

  • Harry Lamberton, Director – $5,000
  • Sally Fletcher, Board President – $3,000
  • Corey Bossard, Director – $2,000

If you plan to mail a check or contribute through a donor-advised fund, you can still have your gift matched—simply pledge your donation by emailing Annie Hanrahan at ahanrahn@chicagoriver.org or calling (312) 939-0490, ext. 10.