Friends Receives PETA’s Hooked on Clean Waters Award

Friends of the Chicago River has been honored with PETA’s inaugural Hooked on Clean Waters Award—a testament to Friends’ longtime work to protect and restore the river system for all people, water, and wildlife.

In bestowing the award, PETA recognized Friends’ annual Chicago River Day which mobilizes thousands of volunteers to clean up litter and restore habitat. This year’s Chicago River Day was the largest since it began in 1992, with more than 2,800 volunteers across 92 locations throughout that river system.

"Friends of the Chicago River’s efforts to rid the waterways of trash and debris have also made them a true friend to wildlife in the Windy City,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA encourages everyone to follow their lead and get up to some good, clean fun that makes the world a better place for all of its inhabitants.”

Friends thanks PETA for this special honor, and we encourage everyone to support, and get involved in, our Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative which works to reduce the amount of trash harming our waterways by working with community and government leaders to develop strong public policy and comprehensive litter reduction programs.