To encourage and recognize the sustained effort that is so important to clean water advocacy, Prairie Rivers Network has created the Bruce Hannon Friends of Illinois Rivers, named in honor of the person who got us started and led our board for 33 years.
In 1967, Bruce Hannon learned that the Army Corps of Engineers was planning to dam the Sangamon River and flood Allerton Park. The area was his family’s favorite retreat, and one of the only large forested areas left in agricultural Central Illinois. He knew that he couldn’t just let it happen.
It took nearly 10 years of sustained effort by Bruce and many other dedicated friends to stop the dam. Through this fight they realized that there were many such wasteful and unnecessary projects threatening natural Illinois, and that true progress required activists to find the root causes and confront them.
For 45 years, Bruce and friends have continued fighting for Illinois rivers and natural places. Several long-term members of Prairie Rivers Network have supported the organization for decades, and many more have joined the ranks of a committed core of financial supporters who ensure that Prairie Rivers Network can take on the long-term fight for systemic changes that make it possible to enjoy clean drinking water and natural places in the future.
Our goal is to identify 45 Friends of Illinois Rivers to celebrate Prairie Rivers Network’s 45th anniversary in 2012.
The first 45 Friends will be the charter members of a group of core supporters. Our multi-year aim is to enroll 100 supporters as Friends and go from there!
It is easy to be a friend.
Friends are supporters who donate year after year at the level of $1,000 or more. Friends are donors who indicate, simply but importantly their commitment to sustaining the work of Prairie Rivers Network into the future. Friends will come together at occasional special gatherings. They’ll be encouraged to offer advice on Prairie Rivers’ program work and if willing, be honored in publications and on this website. Each friend encourages others to enroll!
Join today!
1. Donate online.
2. Contact us about setting up recurring donations. This option ensures that we will not have to ask you year after year.
3. Donate at a level that covers several years. You can donate online or by check.
4. Contact us about other ways to donate such as appreciated securities, land, endowments, etc.