2012AnnualReport

The Chicago Riverwalk winding through downtown canyons.

The beauty of the headwaters of the Chicago River is seen in thisnatural canyon where Sagawau Stream flows down to the Cal-Sag Channel in Lemont, Illinois. Photo by Brittany Harthan

INTRODUCTION

Friends of the Chicago River is very proud that, despite the continuing economic challenges, we finished FY2012 successfully with a positive balance, a 10% increase in Big Fish Ball sponsorship, a 58% increase in visitors to the Bridgehouse Museum, and more than a 50% increase in Chicago River Day sponsorship. An outstanding staff, deeply committed board of directors, and thousands of members, advocates, volunteers, and contributors made this possible.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

CHICAGO RIVER DAY 20/20: See What You Can Do!

When Friends of the Chicago River founded Chicago River Day in 1992, 25 early river enthusiasts signed up, taking care of the river by dragging old shopping carts, mattresses, and plastic bags from its banks. Twenty years and more than 43,375 volunteers later, the Chicago River is no longer aforgotten alleyway filled with sewage and junk. It is vibrant and alive with people in canoes, kayaks and tour boats, 70species of fish, 60 species of birds, and all kinds of nativeanimals including beavers, muskrats, mink, andsnapping turtles.

Friends celebrated the 20th anniversary of Chicago River Day by hosting 20 days of activities and events on and beyond the banks of the Chicago River from April 23 through May 12. Highlights included: a scavenger hunt, a 5k river run & walka river edge pub crawl, a get on the river day, a baby bluegillrelease, an animal habitat day, and educational signage on CTA trains. This incredible celebration culminated with Chicago River Day where thousands of volunteers braved the weather to remove 35 tons of debris, restore miles of river-side trails, plant native plants, and much more. With the support of dozens of corporations, businesses, organizations, and individuals, Friends engaged over 8,000 river supporters.

A group of youth volunteers celebrate 20 years of Chicago River Day!Photo by Brittany Harthan

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Chicago River Schools Network

The Chicago River Schools Network impacted over11,000 students through field trip assistance, classroompresentations, and service learning projects as well asthrough training workshops, curricula and lesson plans,and customized assistance for teachers. Our emphasis on stewardship, even for the youngest students, demonstrates that one person’s action can make a difference in the river’s health. In partnership with over 304 teachers, Friends is pleased to have exceeded our FY2012 goals for engagingstudents in local environmental issues and activities thatsolve everyday problems facing the river. Online datacollection continues to be an essential component of theprogram, providing another resource for teachers andstudents to document and share their data with otherparticipating schools.

Chicago Public School students explore the river and learn about science.Photo by Brittany Harthan

Chicago Public School students enjoy a field trip to the Chicago River.

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

Friends’ Bridgehouse Museum celebrates the Chicago Riverand its world-famous movable bridges, and offers visitors aone-of-a-kind opportunity to explore a historic landmark bridgehouse. Open spring through fall inside the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, our museum gives Friends access to growing new audiences. Our museum welcomed 12,024 visitors between July 2011 and June 2012. The museum’s prominent location, intriguing physical space, and engaging exhibits help strengthen Friends’ visibility and financial base as well as broaden the impact of rivereducation. Additionally, the museum serves as a gatewayto Friends’ other resources and programs, which includetake-home informational materials, river-based curricula and river trips for thousands of school children, educationalpaddling trips, volunteer opportunities for hands-on river clean-up and riverbank restoration, and much more. Our museum exhibits reveal the river’s history and its essential role in our region’s development, and visitors learn why it is important to protect the Chicago River and how they canparticipate in its renaissance. Programs such as our lunchtime lecture series or our partnership with the ChicagoArchitecture Foundation’s Open House Chicago festival helped thousands of visitors gain a new perspective on the Chicago River.

River-walkers watch the Michigan Avenue Bridge lift high into the air.

PUBLIC POLICY AND PLANNING

Aquatic Invasive Species

As the only organization dedicated solely to the ChicagoRiver, Friends continued to devote considerable time in FY2012 to Asian carp as well as the complexities related to aquatic invasive species in general. These efforts included strategy meetings with partner organizations andsupport-building activities to promote realistic and feasible solutions to species transfer through our river system. Friends continues to serve on both local and regional committees to ensure that any proposed methods of species control,particularly for Asian carp, include actions that positively impacts water quality.

Chicago River Blue

In FY2012, Friends presented the third annual Blue Ribbon Awards for excellence in river-friendly design at the Big Fish Ball in June. This year’s blue ribbon winner was the Center on Halsted for their innovative approach to on-sitestormwater management and grey water reuse systems that prevent reusable water from entering our sewer system. In addition to the Blue Ribbon awards, Friends also presented Watershed Action Ally certificates to 20 businesses whose work embodies Blue Principles for River Design.

Blue Ribbon Award winners at the Big Fish Ball on June 6th, 2012.

Chicago River Summit

The 8th annual Chicago River Summit welcomed local and national speakers; Congressman Mike Quigley from the 5th District of Illinois, renowned innovator of ecological design Mitchell Joachim, environmental expert Laurel Ross from the Field Museum, and Geoffrey Baer from WTTW to sharetheir perspectives on what the next vision for the Chicago River might include from an environmental, political, and design framework.

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Paddling Programs

Thirty dedicated volunteer canoe guides provided on thewater, educational experiences for hundreds of paddlers on the Chicago River. Some of our trips include: Moonlight Paddle in Skokie Lagoons, Downtown Canyons, and theEcology Paddle with the Chicago Park District.

Paddling through the Skokie Lagoons. Photo by Cristina Rutter

PUBLIC POLICY AND PLANNING

Clean Water Advocacy

The historic changes that began in 2011 continued during 2012 and we are now, closer than ever to achieving a fishable and swimmable Chicago River. During FY12, Friendscontinued to lead efforts and coordinate public participation in the water quality standards review process beingundertaken by the Illinois Pollution Control Board. New leadership at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has led to a new focus on collaboration and a joint commitment to finding the quickest path to a healthy Chicago River.

Very recent and rare otter sightings along the south and north branchof the Chicago River are hopeful and encouraging signs of the river’s ongoing recovery and renaissance.

what is possible along the river’s banks. In addition,participants learn about what they can do to help the riverand mitigate climate change impacts.

In addition to ongoing work at Edgebrook Woods, Friends moved forward with our new demonstration site at Kickapoo Woods, part of the FPDCC’s Calumet Division. Situated along the banks of the Little Calumet River in Riverdale, the Kickapoo Woods project marks our entry into large scale restoration with significant improvements noted within 12-18 months. In addition, site activities also focus on educating and empowering local stewards.

Friends’ volunteers, including school groups, corporate teams, families, and neighborhood associations, logged 1,625 hours during FY2012! A few examples include: September 2011, 150 volunteers installed native plants, learned about the Chicago River, its history and environmental challenges, and improved habitat; June 2012, 50 volunteers excavated and planted a rain garden and monitored the water quality of the river. These events are designed to introduce people to the river and build a sense of ownership and connection. Getting out and getting muddy is a fun and exciting way to learn that everyone can make a difference.

A workday volunteer plants Purple Coneflower.Photo by Brittany Harthan

ON THE GROUND PROJECTS

Chicago River Day

More than 3,900 volunteers working at over 70 city andsuburban locations participated in Friends’ 20th annual Chicago River Day. Participants included corporate teams,community organizations, school groups, families, andindividuals of various skill and ability levels fromthroughout the 673-square mile Chicago River watershed. Through over 12,000 hours of volunteer action, Chicago River Day resulted in both immediate and long-termimprovements to the ecological health of the river. Event activities ranged from repairing river edge trails to removing 35 tons of garbage, recyclables, and harmful invasive plants to learning to create rain gardens and install rain barrels for home water conservation.

Volunteers remove trash and debris on Chicago River Day.Photo by Brittany Harthan

River Volunteer Stewardship

Edgebrook Woods, part of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a hands-on, year round demonstration site where Friends’ staff and volunteers work together toimplement environmental Best Management Practices (BMPs) that directly benefit the Chicago River. This program utilizes volunteers to restore a river-edge forest preserve to show

ON THE GROUND PROJECTS

Wrigley Company volunteers plant native plants and build bat boxes.Photo by Brittany Harthan

Chicago River Eco-Warriors (CREW)

Chicago River Eco-Warriors is Friends’ volunteer program designed to increase the number of river advocates, expand the efforts of those already engaged, and provide moreopportunities to volunteer with Friends. CREW tracksvolunteer participation across all Friends’ programs andactivities, rewarding volunteers as they cumulativelyacquire hours and become “multipliers” of our mission. Eco-Warriors participate in restoration, take action on river issues, serve on committees, lead paddling trips as well as engage in many other critical activities.

River Volunteer Stewardship Program (RVSP)

An important component of CREW is our River Volunteer Stewardship Program. RVSP forms the backbone of Friends’ restoration efforts and serves as the vehicle to cultivatestewardship across the watershed. RVSP emphasizesrestoration and engagement - complementary in nature these two ideals enable us to better restore and improve natural lands along the Chicago River, promote BMPs both at and beyond the river’s edge, and increase public support of the Chicago River and open space in general.

Getting out and getting muddy is a fun and exciting way to learn that everyone can make a difference. Photo by Brittany Harthan

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Big Fish Ball

On June 6, 2012 Friends had its most successful Big FishBall to date with a 10% increase in sponsorship. Many of Chicago’s leaders in the civic and corporate communities were among the 400 guests, including Illinois Governor,Pat Quinn.

Margaret Frisbie with Friends of the Chicago River board chair,Craig Coit, and Illinois governor, Pat Quinn at the Big Fish Ball.

The festivities included elegant outdoor dining, the BlueRibbon Awards for excellence in sustainable design,river-inspired performances, and an after-party fireworksboat cruise. The downtown city skyline, Chicago’s iconic bridgehouses, and Chicago River views provided abreathtaking backdrop to a spectacular evening along,on and for the river.

Big Fish Ball guests enjoying the after-party cruise.

FISCAL YEAR 2012 SUPPORTERS

The board of directors, staff, and volunteers of Friends of the Chicago River are grateful to all the people, partners, foundations, and companies who supported our work between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.

Charles C. Haffner, IIIStacee A. HasenbalgChristopher K. HehmeyerMartha Hirsh CameronThomas and Barbara HonnBarbara H. HowardDavid Jones and Jayne LilienfeldJennifer Kamp TrethewayEric LacoursiereBruce LittJacqueline LoewePaula LutzKevin McVickerWilliam and Jean O’NeillChris and Nan ParsonJames and Mary RooneyJennifer Steans and James KastenholzDennis WalshVictor and Barbara ZavedukJohn D. Ziesmer

$250-$499

Bryan and Johanna BenavidesEmily BergstromChristopher BissonnetteChristine L. CarlyleKate ChappellRandall and Lynn ClarkRobert G. CunninghamAndrew DahleRobert and Quinn DelaneyJoe and Paula DempseyMark DymAngela ElbertJay Franke and Pamela BakerMike Frerker and Allison ParkMargaret Frisbie and Matt BinnsKevin GarvinNancy GerrieLeo and Linda GordonGinny HolbertRobyn HollweckTimothy HuizengaEugene P. JarvisJim and Ozana KingBob and Ellen Kircher

Jim MacdonaldPaul Marcus and Katherine JudaGeorge MeadAnn MendelsohnMarc MillerMichael and Kim MoranMike and Dana MurphyLisa NelsonPatrick C. O’DayKevin PierceChristopher RandolphJennifer Roche and John SvolosBruce SaganHenrietta SaundersJeanine SheehanJordan Shields and Sarah DonovanDebra ShoreMariyana SpyropoulosJohn StephensReven Uihlein-FellarsGintaras A. VaisnysLaurene von Klan and Sarah KilpatrickWilliam and Jayne WalshJames WilcoxJeff and Marchell WillianMichael and Mary WooleverAllison Wyrwicz Caryl E. Zaar and Evelyn G. Zaar

$100 to $249

Mike McGowan and Evelyn AlfordJill AllreadRisa AlperinRichard M. and Andrea AmendLarry and Therese AmideiKaren Anderson Lindsey ArenbergPaul ArmstrongJanette ArthurDouglas BaconAndy BaconEdward J. BaileyJohn W. BairdKatharine BakerE.M. BakwinCharles A. Barone

Individuals

$5,000 and above

The Crown FamilySally FletcherLawrence and Denise Kaplan

$2,500 to $4,999

Karen AlberFred and Cinda AxleyCraig and Kate CoitRobert D. RodgersDavid Wong and Wai-Sinn Chan

$1,000 to $2,499

Aaron and Nicole BlockBrad Johnson Barbara Morse-QuinnJaye and Barry NagleDavid and Stacy French ReynoldsDavid M. and Rachel SolzmanBryan WhiteheadKenneth M. Arenberg and Susanne SwisherKent Brown and Jane Jacobsen-Brown

$500 to $999

Joe and Ann Marie ArdenWalter and Elsa BandiJohn BlacketorThomas and Dorothy BordersJennifer and Marcus BoschTom CohrsVernita ColeGrant CrowleySteven J. DeAngelesPhilip Enquist and Joanna KaratzasPeter and Ginny ForemanPatricia A. FosmoePhilip Garoon and FamilyCy and Maria Shay Griffith

Peter BarrettAndrew BenderJudith BergenRobert and Barbara BevanChristopher J. Boebel and Glenna R. EavesBarbara BorowskiJoan K. Bradbury and Jo Anderson, Jr.David BrownPamela J. BrunstromLarry and Kathy BurdR.G. BurnsJohn and Toni BurtWendy CartlandRobert and Marsha CassidyDan CekoRyan W. ChewJustin CohenKent Coit and Gail MazzaraJohn and Dorothy CollinsBrian and Mary Faith CookBenjamin and Kristi CoxArnold CraineJohn CullenEric CupJessica DarlingtonKathleen DeaneJulia DeignanDanielle DeungerMark J. DillonCharles and Laurel DohertyLynn Donaldson and Cam AveryHelen DoriaThomas and Theresa DrouillardMelanie EcknerAlbert Ettinger and Susan LanninJeremy FarmerMary Jo FieldLisa FineEdgar FlaggArchibald E. FletcherTom and Cindy FletcherSandra K. FlinkTimothy R. FoxNoam Frankel and Laura SovaGary FriedlanderDario FusatoPete and Pat GarrityMeredith C. GeorgePhillip GerberNancy GidwitzTimothy J. Gilfoyle and Mary Rose AlexanderRichard and Emily Good

Claudia A. GreeneCharley and Jill GrossRachelle GuerreroRaj P. GuptaJames and Kathleen GyslerBrad and Janice HackDiane Hamilton Mick Hans and Ellen DamlichJames G. HansenTimothy, Jane, and Myles HastyH.G. HawesRichard HelfandBrent A. HoffmannLinda M. HoncharevichStewart HudnutHeather HughesDave ImpeyJim Janecek and Ginger CavalierSusan JohnsonThomas and Diane JudgeBrian and Tripti KasalJohn T. KeefeKevin KellyJim KerriganBryan KeytMary and Rob KhouryDouglas and Catherine KnuthTom KokinakosLarry and Debra KozakKevin A. KuhnMichelle LaissNgoan LeLinda LeadbitterJohn and Rochelle LodderDeborah LoeserLewis LoveKeri LynchJames and Susan MaguireGregg MalickiAlex MariniJames and Mary Kay MarkJames Mark, Sr.Suzanne M. MartinezClark and Sari MaxfieldJoan MazurekDaniel McConeghyBarbara McDonough Charles and Alice McEneryMona McNeeseHon. Kathleen Therese MeanySuzanne M. MeyeringFloyd MittlemanAnthony Montag and Katherine GriemWilliam J. Mooney

Kevin MooreLois L. Morrison and Justin DaabHelen H. MorrisonKathryn A. MullaneyFrancis and Priscilla MurphyVan and Ingrid NeatheryJoe NeedhamNancy L. NiemiJonelle NiffeneggerVictoria NoonanRita NormanRandy NornesMark OberrotmanSharon O’BrienMaggie O’BrienJack O’BrienPaul OzingaTim OzingaBrenda PalmGeoffrey A. ParsonL. Robert PasquesiAnn PaziotopoulosKaren PenceMichael PeshkinWalter PetersenAlan and Sigrid PilgrimKenneth J. PojeIrwin PollsIgnacio PonsTom PowersTara L. PrendergastTom and Libby QuailFrancis and Barbara RechtienDouglas M. ReeseStephen RheeGail RiggsTom RodellSusan B. RubnitzRuss and Sophia RuffoloDan RutherfordGene SchulterTerry SchyGlen and Barbara ShellyMark C. ShieldsAlan Sidlo Igor SimkinLanie SnersMaritza SotoMike SpearWilliam A. SpenceJantae F. SpencerJeffrey and Nikki SriverMark StablesMarilynn Stammich

Robert E. StanleyRobin M. Steans and Leonard A. GailGareth and Lucy StevensJerry T. StevensAlex StraughnNoah StudebakerJanet H. TaylorJoseph and Bea TerschRon and Dee TevonianJennifer L. TremblayThomas VarneyJohn and Joan von LeesenCarolyn WagnerTimothy WankThomas WardJeff WasilTimothy WeidmanNick WilderScott and Carol WilkieNora WiseVirginia WituckeChristine WorleyPatricia YoungLaura A. Zaniolo

$50 to $99

Nathan and Mayumi AabergSteve AlbertsonVince and Sally AndersonErin Atwood Danyelle AylsworthJohn and Jane BalabanCherie BalanCharles BarenbruggeDeborah E. BaylyJudith L. BeckerWhitney BehrGershon and Suzanne BerksonStella BlackMike BondRussell and Miriam BonhamGeorge BradleyJoel BrammeierDonald and Joan BrowningAbbe BurkeKathleen CaraherJodi Carlson Mary Corsiglia CarrollMartin CassellJoseph CeithamlChuck and Jodi CernyKapil Chaudhary

Ilan ChorowskyDavid and Judy Chungbin Daniel D. ColemanKatie ColemanBrian and Sue CorryPaul and Diane CulhaneGeorge DavisMark DobrowDavid DreifussElizabeth DuffyEdwin EspinosaRichard and Marjorie EttlingerTerri EvonIrina Faktorovich James FawcettCarol FessendenMark and Janet FisherNona C. FloresPaul and Susan FreehlingLisa FreemanRichard and Margery FrisbieKent and Jeryl FullerLinda Gels Sonja M. GilmanTerry GlennAdvaita GovenderGary GrayAnthony Gullo Paul HagyLu HanJoe HarrisRalph HasenbalgDorothy HawleyDiane Hickey-DavisWendy HidenrickCindy HoppeHariclia E. HristeaIrvin M. JanaMichelle JaquesKelli JohnsonGarry Low and Elizabeth KarierSusie KealyTom and Colleen KeavenyMichael KellyDonna J. KirkJean Klasovsky Megan KlimekKenneth W. KoehlerErica KorakJeff and Deb KubesEdward LaceWalter G. LarkinSheryl L. LarsonJohn and Jill Levi

Cary LoseauDenis Lunev Vladimir LytchakovPam Mack Jim MahoneyRobin MaraIra Pilchen and Kathryn McCabeMartin and Barbara McDonaghMike McDonnellScott McGarveyRoger K. MetzSteven MeyerMai MjolhusCindy MontgomeryBarbara MooreGary MorrisseyBill MossMarty and Colleen MulroeKathryn A. MurphyTom and Patricia NelsonTom and Laurie NelsonWendy Nobriga Pamela NosseCaroline O’Boyle Kathleen O’BrienJohn O’ConnellAnnette ParrentDebra J. PaulsonMichael and Mindy PerryTerry and Lynne PetersenEdward and Elaine PiersonStewart and Evelyn PinsofElizabeth A. PinterTerry and Chris PorterHenry PukalaCheryl PytlarzJen QornJohn QuasaranoEdward and Melanie RanneyG. Benjamin RanneyAmy Little and Lee RavenscroftDavid and Marcia RiggAaron RohrerKatie RooneyYolanda Rosado Rachael Rubino Charles and Louise SaltzmanSusan SchabowskiKenneth SchenatzkiNathan SchlessingerJoanne SchmitzColleen Scully Amy ShivversMaureen M. Slavin

Richard StobMichael SweeneyJoan TurkTheresa WaldackDan and Joanne WeinsteinGeorge A. WerderichLaura J. WestSean and Victoria WiedelGerrit E. WissinkDennis and Nancy WittJarrod WolfIzabella Wolnowska Suellen Burns and Weston Morris Anne Heider and Steve Warner Bradley Winick and Janet Settle Matt Gluckman and Robin Remer J. Peter and Maija B. May Edward Torrez and Andrea Terry Dorr St. Clair and Andrew Herzog

$25 to $49

Jack AileyAlan M. Gunn and Maria Pfister Michael AndersonJoshua AndersonDonald T. Anderson, Jr.Stephanie ArellanoAndrew B. ArmstrongTimothy BackeCodrina BalanPeter BarnesSue Beaumont Judy BeesonLindsay K. BellerBrian BellewJohn La BergMatthew C. BergstromNancy B. BlackDavid BrockCharles BromChris BuckleyWilliam Cadigan L. Colleen CalhanJodi Carlson Michael T. ChirchirilloLouise ClemencyKristen CooperRichard and Mary Lee CorrinAndrew CroweHarlan DellsyStewart and Shari DiamondJanet Janotta Dietz

Ann DillemuthMark DobrowErica L. DolginSusan DonovanOlivia DorothyGreg DreicerGregory EkeyChristine V. EspositoKera C. EvansAddison EverettLoni Fagel James FilippiniLew FoxNancy FreehaferDawn FresaPaul FriedmanMatthew FrieslIldifonso FuentesSara Doss GeogheganDouglas and Barbara GerlemanJanet F. GerskeTerry and Deb GiannoniStan GillThomas E. GoldblattJerold GraffMichael and Juliet GrayRomina GrecuAllen GreenbergerReggie GreenwoodJoanna GromekEston and Sandra GrossRay GrzeniaMichael GuzanLaura HagnellPatrick and Dianne HalliganFred HarboeEmily J. HarrisMarguerite HarroldCharles HasbrouckJohn W. HawesDennis HenryGricelda Hernandez-SimlerJames L. Hogan, Jr.Paul HomerStephen A. HouseRon HuntshaBarbara HydeRyan IversonAlexia J. PaulBonnie JagiellaJames Janossy, Jr.Linda JeneweinJohn and Eva Sullivan-Knoff Lois M. Johnson

Joseph LangNorton JosephsonJosie Yanguas and Carl Rosen Robert KastigarKulvinder KaurBob and Marion KelliherPaul and Vicki KendallPatrick KennedySylvia KeteJason KieronskiEugene KieronskiMichael KiesSamantha KlebbaDavid KleinMatthew KnebelCarol KnightKevin KonslerPatricia KosmerlMilan KratkaKatharine Joy LarsonHoward LearnerRaymond LehmanSandra LeitnerHeidi D. LevinSixto LinaresCharles H. LinhoffDaniel M. LoewensteinMarko LuchtMelissa H. LuebbeSteven M. SirosJohn Macdonald, Jr.Daniel R. MaloneyPat MarshallLeo MayolMargaret McCurryHolly McDonaldSherry McFallShawn McGrathDavid McKeownKatherine F. McSpaddenTodd MelbyTed MeltzerAric MerRichard and Elizabeth MessersmithHarriet MinkinJeffrey MitchumRett NelsonMarta NelsonJudy NewmanPaulino OcampoCatherine O’ConnorJames O’DonnellMike OlsonAmreek Singh Paintal

Traci PattersonChip PetersMichael PetersonJulie PetersonDon PitzenMary Ann PollettRose QuasaranoJody L. ReemePamela J. ReimannKristin RelucioAlane A. RepaElizabeth RiottoAmy RosengardJakub RosickiMarcia RossPeter SalabanLuis SalcesMarianne SchenkerDavid SchmidSigrid M. SchmidtChristina SchrierVirginia SchulteBruce and Margaret SentsLisa ShadePeter and Kristin ShulmanPaula Shur Mike SinnerSmith SmithDon and Susan SobczakRonnie Jo SokolDavid StanfordCarol StarrMaurice SteinerTerry and Ruth StevigMary Grace StewartJohn T. SullivanRoss Sweeny, Jr.Rick SweitzerCharles A. TauscheEdward TennerThomas A. Curry, D.D.S.Scott ThompsonMary M. TierneyAaron TowleVirginia TownsendAnn TranterCharles C. TwichellJeremy Unruh Norman VictorsonJennifer WasikAlane WatkinsLawrence E. WeaverLyman WelchJeffrey Wells

Wally WerderichNeil White Garrett Wolf Amy E. ZieglerThomas and Mary Alice Zimmerman

Foundations, Corporations, andOther Organizations

$50,000 and above

Alphawood FoundationThe Boeing CompanyCrown Family PhilanthropiesMcCormick FoundationNAVTEQ FoundationWrigley Company Foundation

$30,000 - $49,999

MillerCoorsPolk Bros. Foundation

$15,000 - $29,999

AonGaylord and Dorothy Donnelley FoundationThe Richard H. Driehaus FoundationGeneral Iron IndustriesGMR MarketingOberweiler FoundationOpenlandsPrairie Rivers NetworkPrince Charitable Trusts

$7,000 to $14,999

Allied Metal CompanyWilliam Blair & CompanyColliers InternationalEquity Group Investments, L.L.C. BMO Harris BankWalter E. Heller FoundationHinesHSBC - North AmericaKirkland & Ellis Foundation

Harold M. & Adeline S. Morrison Family FoundationThe Elizabeth Morse Charitable TrustPeoples GasShoreline SightseeingThe Skender FoundationThe Siragusa Foundation

$3,000 to $6,999

@propertiesAvison Young Alvin H. Baum Family FundBurke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.CNAEarth Share of IllinoisFirestone Complete Auto CareFletcher Jones Automotive EnterprisesMesirow FinancialO’Briens Riverwalk CaféOgden Avenue MaterialsThe Oppenheimer Family FoundationPizzo & Associates, Ltd.Dr. Scholl FoundationSheffield’s Beer & Wine Garden, Inc.Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLPSTS FoundationThe WaterWheel FoundationWight & Company

$1,000 to $2,999

M.R. Bauer FoundationBayruFrancis Beidler FoundationCanon Business Solutions, Inc.Chicago Botanic Garden Design Concepts 1, LLCHusch Blackwell and SandersIllinois State University, College of EducationIndependence Junior High School Lakeshore Foundation, Inc.Mayer Brown LLPMidwest Generation EME, LLCNuveen InvestmentsOzinga Ready Mix Concrete, Inc.PwCThe David Reinisch and Julie Kiefer FundRoosevelt University Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co.

University of Illinois at ChicagoWeglarz CompanyWendella Boats & Chicago Water Taxi

$300 to $999

Allstate FoundationB & W Land Co.Cardno ENTRIXCardno J.F. New & AssociatesChicago Windy City YPO City Running Tours - ChicagoContinental Paper GradingDOT Graphics, Inc.The Fortnightly of ChicagoGettysGrouponGuaranteed Rate, Inc.The Hechtman Group LTDIIT StudioLawrence’s FisheriesThe Lincoln Park Zoological SocietyLoyola University Chicago McDermott, Will & Emery LLPPrassas Landscape Studio LLCREI Lincoln ParkSims Metal Management, Inc.St. Cloud Ventures, LLCWhitney Inc.Woodside Development, Inc.

$25 to $299

Aquatic Ecosystems Management, Inc.Argonne National LaboratoryBarker Brothers, Inc.Chicago River Canoe & KayakChiropractic for LifeDirk’s Fish and Gourmet Shop, Inc.Divane Bros. Electric Co.Eden Place Nature CenterEngineering Resource Associates, Inc.Flood Brothers Disposal and Recycling ServicesBetty S. and Robert B. Frank Charitable FoundationGenslerHDR Engineering, Inc.Hitchcock Design GroupIntrinsic Landscaping, Inc.Lohan Anderson LLCMagellan Development

McMaster-Carr Supply CompanyMead Witter Foundation, Inc.Muller & Muller, Ltd.Nagle Hartray ArchitectureThe Nature ConservancyPeak Properties, LLCSafer Pest Control ProjectKathy Schaeffer and AssociatesJohn G. Shedd AquariumSPACECO, Inc.Wacker Bait & TackleThe Wetlands InitiativeWolff Landscape Architecture, Inc.

Government Agencies

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoNOAANorth Cook County

Endowment Gifts

Kenneth ArenbergLindsey ArenbergThomas CohrsPaul HagyM. Jaye NagleWalter PetersenBenjamin PierceIgnacio PonsLaurene von Klan and Sarah Kilpatrick

In-Kind Donations

Boom EntertainmentChicago Public MediaCorner Bakery CafeCrain’s Chicago BusinessDream Works Graphic CommunicationsHotel 71Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.MillerCoorsReal Estate Valuation GroupReal Life WeddingsShoreline SightseeingStefani Signature EventsWendella BoatsWRD Environmental

We apologize if any names havebeen omitted, misspelled, or otherwise incorrectly listed. Please contact usat (312) 939-0490, ext. 10, orfriends@chicagoriver.org so thatwe can correct our records.

FISCAL YEAR 2012 FINANCIAL REPORT

Audited Statements of Revenues and Expenses for the 12 months ending June 30, 2012.

Museum Associate Anthony Bronkella in front of the McCormick Braving the cold for a winter paddle on the Chicago River.Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum.

REVENUES

Corporations 25% $274,858

Foundations 33% $365,909

Individuals 8% $88,373

Government 1% $3,500

Special Events 8% $92,036

Other 9% $104,778

Net Assets Released 16% $180,279 From Restriction

Total $1,109,735

EXPENSES

Program 75% $781,258

Fundraising & Development 20% $204,392

Administration 5% $55,348

Total $1,040,998

Net Assets Beginning of the Year $557,193

Change in Assets $74,557

Net Assets at the End of the Year $631,751

75%

20%

5%

25%

33%8%1%

8%

9%

16%

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OfficersPresidentCraig CoitDeputy CFOAon Risk Services

Vice PresidentCy H. Griffith Marketing DirectorBurke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.

TreasurerDavid ReynoldsCommissionerDepartment of GAS and Fleet Management, City of Chicago

Secretary Jacqueline J. LoeweFounding PartnerSheridan Park Consulting

Directors Karen AlberChief Information OfficerMillerCoors

Fred Axley, In memoriam President EmeritusPartner (retired)McDermott Will & Emery

Aaron BlockChief Operating OfficerBayRu

Kent BrownConsultantKraft Foods

Kate ChappellChief Development OfficerAda S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.

Grant CrowleyPresidentCrowley’s Yacht Yard

Sally FletcherVice PresidentFletcher Chicago, Inc.

Kevin E.A. HartmanHead of IndustryGoogle

Stacee HasenbalgAssociate General Counsel and Vice PresidentBMO Financial Group

Lawrence M. KaplanChief Executive OfficerEudora Global

Board and stafflistings are current as of 6/30/13.

James Mark, Jr.Vice President, Director of Chicago Office Wight & Company

Barbara Morse-QuinnChicago Office AdministratorMcDermott Will & Emery

David RosenPresident and CEOThe Competence Group, Inc.

David SolzmanProfessorHonors College of the University of Illinois – Chicago

Bryan WhiteheadDirectorPricewaterhouseCoopers

David WongVice PresidentCertare Ventures

John D. ZiesmerPrincipalAvison Young

STAFFMargaret FrisbieExecutive Director

Kristin AveryDevelopment Manager

Meshawn AyalaCommunity Relations Developer

Ozana Balan KingMuseum Director and Program Manager, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

Cynthia FoxDirector of Operations and ProgramManager, Chicago River Day

Besty Hands Director of Outreach and CommunityRelations

Mark HauserEducation Manager

John QuailDirector of Watershed Planning

Kimberly RicePolicy and Planning Manager

Archita SinghDevelopment Assistant

Claire SnyderOutdoor Education Coordinator

Mary Beth Sova Director of Development

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Friends of the Chicago River is to improve and protect the Chicago River system for people, plants, and animals. Friends achieves our mission through: education programs that foster awareness, involvement, and a stewardship ethic; public policy and planning efforts that result in systemic riverimprovements; and on-the-ground projects that physicallyimprove the Chicago River.

ABOUT THE CHICAGO RIVER

Extending from northern Lake to southern Cook County, the156-mile Chicago River system is an interesting and complexseries of waterways, which are inextricably linked to Chicago’shistory and the development of the region. Flowing throughdozens of communities, the river winds its way past forestpreserves and parks, industrial zones, and through downtownChicago where it provides an elegant backdrop to one of the world’s most famous skylines.

While the Chicago River was once a prairie stream that flowed towards Lake Michigan, over the last 200 years it has been subject to many human modifications including channelization and flow reversal, yet it still maintains its natural character and is an essential asset to the almost 70 species of fish, 60 species of birds, beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and the occasional river otter thatcall it home.

Once considered a community detriment, the Chicago River is now a symbol of ingenuity and progress, and is becoming a treasured resource that is shared and valued by business leaders, government officials, and the residents of our watershed.

411 South Wells Street, Suite 800Chicago, IL 60607T: (312) 939-0490F: (312) 939-0931www.chicagoriver.orgwww.bridgehousemuseum.org

Friends of the Chicago River is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. The governing body of Friends is the board of directors, which sets the organization’spolicies and procedures, controls its fiscal affairs, manages its assets,and oversees the executive director. The executive director is anex officio member of the board of directors and is the principalexecutive officer of the organization.