31-Aug-20 – An annual event to clean up the Chicago River has won an award from a national organization that promotes waterfronts.

Friends of the Chicago River has received a Clearwater Award from The Waterfront Center, a nonprofit educational organization that helps communities make the best long-term use of waterfront resources. The award recognizes the efforts of individuals and organizations that work at the grassroots level to make their community and waterfront better.

“Chicago River Day is a special event that raises awareness about the stubborn problem of litter and its terrible consequences for the river system,” said Margaret Frisbie (left), executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, “and equally important, the hard work of our volunteers, partners, and sponsors who literally make the difference in cleaning up tons of trash.”

This year’s Chicago River Day was on May 9. Since 1992, more than 67,000 volunteers have participated, removing about 554 tons of garbage from the river and adjacent lands.