We have all faced significant challenges over the last twelve months, and our annual dinner is no exception. Covid-19 prevented us from hosting what would otherwise be our much anticipated chance to meet with our members, share our accomplishments, and celebrate this year’s amazing award winners to rounds of applause. We had to get creative!
October 23rd’s PRN Annual Dinner @Home virtual event was a resounding success! If you missed the premiere of the Prairie Rivers Network event, you’re in luck, you can still watch the video on our YouTube channel!
We had an amazing turnout for our @Home virtual dinner. Over 135 people tuned into the premiere on our YouTube channel, and in the days following, an additional 200+ people caught up on what they missed! That is truly an overwhelming outpouring of support! Thank you!
You Went Local
Also, we want to thank the scores of folks that ordered local Champaign-Urbana food for the dinner. Michael’s Catering and Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery delivered delicious meals to your homes. Thank you for supporting local businesses!
River Steward of the Year
This year’s River Steward Award went to Pat Lawlor of Marengo, Illinois for her work on the Kishwaukee River Water Trail in McHenry County in Northeastern Illinois. Pat was nominated by Cindy Skrukrud and the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, who described Pat as a “force of nature” for her efforts to create a new water trail on the Kishwaukee River.
Pat established a volunteer organization called Paddle the Kish in Marengo and has recruited, organized, and led volunteers to work on the water trail. She tirelessly brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders to protect the Kishwaukee River watershed. She led efforts to fund the development of launch sites on the water trail in order to create areas for family-friendly paddling in the Marengo area. Getting people out on the river is one of the best ways to build the next generation of river and conservation advocates. Her stewardship has made the Kishwaukee Water Trail a reality.
Volunteers of the Year
Our victories are often made possible due to the dedication and passion of people volunteering their money, time, and talents. This year’s Volunteer of the Year award goes to a trio of committed activists—Chris Main, Toni Oplt, and Dulce Ortiz—who have gone above and beyond in the fight to stop coal ash pollution and stand up for impacted communities.
Chris Main is a long time member of Prairie Rivers Network and advocate for the Middle Fork River. In addition to her volunteer work around coal ash, she has volunteered countless hours behind the scenes coordinating outreach for Stand Up to Coal to stop the Bulldog Mine. Chris attended rally days in Springfield on important environmental issues including getting petition signatures and delivering them to Senator Bennett in support of CEJA. She has attended public hearings and founded the all volunteer organization Citizens for a Greener Illinois. She brings energy into everything she works on in a no-nonsense manner and is a strong voice in the environmental movement in Illinois.
Toni Oplt is part of the Metro East Green Alliance, a community organization with a mission to hold polluters accountable and support the advancement of a clean energy economy. Toni has been a long time leader in addressing pollution from the now shuttered Wood River coal plant near Alton, IL. Recent efforts include a demand for public transparency around the demolition and remediation of the plant. In addition to her coal ash work, she is an active participant in downstate efforts to advance a clean energy economy and pass the Clean Energy Jobs Act. You can always count on Toni to volunteer to help behind the scenes or stand out in front, and her home-baked treats make every event better!
Dulce Ortiz is co-chair of Clean Power Lake County, a community driven coalition committed to local action to secure environmental, economic, and racial justice. She is also the executive director of the Mano a Mano Family Resources Center, which empowers immigrants and their families to become full participants in their communities. Dulce is a leader for environmental justice in coal ash work, as well as clean energy work with the Illinois State Climate Table. She has worked to protect Waukegan, IL from NRG’s coal plant, which has two coal ash ponds on the shores of Lake Michigan. Last year, she testified before the house legislative committee in support of the Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act, and this year, she testified before the Illinois Pollution Control Board for the coal ash rulemaking. Dulce is a tireless voice for protecting her community and the environment.
Outstanding Public Servants
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the importance of public health. Officials in Illinois recognized early the threat this virus posed and made science-based decisions under incredibly difficult circumstances. Our public health professionals are on the front lines protecting us from this devastating virus. We appreciate their unabashed commitment to science and telling us the hard truths. We owe them our gratitude for their efforts to keep us safe.
That is why we are so honored and humbled to recognize Illinois’ Public Health Professionals as this year’s recipient of our Outstanding Public Servant Award. Our local public health administrator of Champaign County, Julie Pryde exemplifies these professionals.
On behalf of all of us at Prairie Rivers Network, we are happy to have Julie Pryde and Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health accept this award in honor of all of Illinois’ Public Health Professionals.
Keynote Speaker
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali. A renowned thought leader, Dr. Ali is an internationally known speaker, policy maker, and the National Wildlife Federation Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization.
Dr. Ali echoed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King: we are all in the same boat. Our partners, staff, board, public health officials, and award winners voiced similar thoughts — that we are all in this together. This is the only planet we have. We must all work together to protect it.
You Gave Big!
2020 has been fraught with challenges, and we are appreciative and so thankful of all of you who have given during our Annual Dinner @Home event. This year a generous group of PRN members came together to offer a Member Challenge Match for the dinner. They matched every dollar donated up to $15,000. With this extra $15,000 combined with donations received, the silent auction, and additional pledges promised, we surpassed our fundraising goal for the Annual Dinner and raised $80,000+. Our generous members and your contributions will have a huge impact on the work we do now and into 2021! Thank you!
