IL HR0557

Congratulates Friends of the Chicago River for receiving the 2025 Thiess International River Prize, the world's most prestigious award for river restoration and management established in 1999

Friends of the Chicago River, founded in 1979, is the only organization dedicated exclusively to restoring and protecting the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system

The organization engages more than 60,000 people annually, including 20,000 youth, through education, outreach, and hands-on stewardship under Executive Director Margaret Frisbie

The award was presented at the International River Symposium in Brisbane, Australia on September 10, 2025, with other finalists including rivers from the United Kingdom, United States, and Albania

Directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to Friends of the Chicago River as an expression of respect and admiration from the Illinois House of Representatives