Honored at Every Level: Celebrating the Thiess International River Prize
Friends' Executive Director Margaret Frisbie (left) with MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn.
Friends of the Chicago River is deeply honored to be recognized by leaders at the federal, state, and local levels following our win of the 2025 Thiess International River Prize from the International River Foundation. This extraordinary global award celebrates trailblazing organizations advancing lasting ecological, social, and economic benefits through river restoration. And now, our work across the Chicago-Calumet River system has been formally recognized across every level of government.
United States House of Representatives
Introduced by Congressman Mike Quigley, the recognition, entered into the Congressional Record, honors Friends as the 2025 recipient of the Thiess International River Prize and underscores the transformation of our waterways into a thriving urban ecosystem. The resolution recognizes the more than 60,000 people engaged by Friends annually in education, outreach, stewardship, and policy work to strengthen biodiversity and climate resilience.
Illinois House of Representatives
Rep. Will Guzzardi introduced a House Resolution congratulating Friends on this international achievement and affirming Illinois’ commitment to clean water and environmental stewardship. The resolution notes the global significance of the award and the collective vision of ecological renewal and environmental justice that drives our work.
Cook County Board of Commissioners
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle sponsored a proclamation celebrating Friends’ achievement and recognizing the County’s partnership in advancing climate action, open space protection, and watershed collaboration. The proclamation highlights how the Chicago-Calumet River system's transformation reflects what is possible when communities, agencies, and nonprofits unite around a shared vision.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
The Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago passed a formal resolution last year honoring Friends’ 2025 Thiess International River Prize win. The resolution, introduced by Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn, was presented to Executive Director Margaret Frisbie at the 2026 Chicago-Calumet River Summit (pictured). This recognition underscores decades of partnership and a shared commitment to improving water quality and advancing a cleaner, more resilient Chicago-Calumet River system.
