Double Your Dollar! Turn $10,000 into $20,000 for the River
This September, your support can make twice the impact. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Friends of the Chicago River’s Chicago-Calumet River Schools Network (CRSN) and World Rivers Day on September 27, all donations to Friends through September 30 will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, thanks to a generous gift from Otter Society members Craig and Kate Coit.
Donate Now!
Double your impact today! Donate online, mail your donation, or call us with your pledge.
30 Years of River Education
For three decades, the CRSN has connected students and teachers with the Chicago-Calumet River system as a living classroom. When Friends launched the CRSN in 1996, it was the first of its kind in the region, training teachers and engaging students with the river system as it was recovering from decades of environmental degradation. Since then, more than 600,000 students and teachers have experienced the river through hands-on, place-based learning that builds environmental knowledge, inspires leadership, and fosters a lifelong commitment to stewardship.
Do you have a story to share? Contribute YOUR UNIQUE RIVER STORY celebrating the CRSN. We're looking for photos, artwork, videos, music & quotes that reflect on our program's impact.
The CRSN provides educators with the tools, training, and individualized support they need to bring river-based learning into their classrooms and meet required teaching needs. The program has also consistently been one of Friends’ most diverse and inclusive initiatives. Over the past 30 years, 81% of participating students attended public schools, 72% attended Chicago Public Schools, and 42% of CPS students were from low-income households.
“CRSN brought the tools and expertise that made science tangible and meaningful,” said John Engelbreit, science teacher at Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School and Friends’ 2025 Educator of the Year. “The river field trips have had a lasting impression on my students that I would not have been able to do on my own.”
Celebrate World Rivers Day
World Rivers Day celebrates rivers around the world and raises awareness of their importance to environmental and community health. As we confront the effects of climate change and work toward a healthier, more resilient river system for all people, water, and wildlife, your support is essential. Donate by September 30 and double your dollar to strengthen river education, advance climate resilience, support equitable access, and drive the policy, planning, and on-the-ground work that is transforming the river system.
