A Season of Gratitude
this season of thanks, we happily shed light on our members and volunteers. You have shown up for your river and the watershed time and time again. Your investment in the protection and restoration of our river system for all people, water, and wildlife leaves us profoundly grateful. We are impressed by you; the time, energy, and resources you dedicate to caring about your environment and community are beautiful and inspirational.
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We are also continuously thankful for the natural beauty of the Chicago-Calumet River system, made more beautiful by the efforts of staff, partners, volunteers, and donors. With shorter days, the business of holidays, and the stress we can feel, we are especially thankful right now for the mental health benefits nature brings. According to the University of California, Davis, “the next time you feel your heart racing and your blood pressure rising, try this: go outside and gaze at a body of water.” Their researchers found that looking at a body of water led to short-term cardiovascular and psychological benefits, and that the larger the body of water, the larger the benefits. Meanwhile, a meta-analysis from Carleton University in Ottawa showed that “traditional markers of health, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and perceived pain… were most strongly reduced (23%) by geophysical sounds of water.” Friends works tirelessly to bring our river to life.
We are proud to share that this year, we informed over 1.2 million people through our communications efforts, engaged more than 60,000 in our programs, and leveraged over 18,550 hours of volunteer time which is worth more than $620,000 in order to improve and restore the Chicago-Calumet River system. We could not do this work without our community’s financial support and volunteerism.
We hope you will consider a donation right now so more litter cleanups, native plantings, field trips, and successful policy initiatives (to mention just a few of our award-winning programs) can take place.
We hope that in this spirited season of gratitude and giving, you offer time for yourself.
Stroll, ride, or run over to your local river-edge park or forest preserve, and let the natural effectiveness of our vibrant ecology work its magic. When we are good to nature, nature is good to us. That’s truly something to be thankful for. Thank you for being a friend to the river.
Just think. If just half of the 16,000 people who receive this biweekly newsletter made a $25 contribution it would provide Friends with $200,000!
Be one of the people who says YES and Donate today.
