FMR has a second $20,000 challenge gift to earn

The Mississippi River at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, circa 1999.

Photo: Whitney Clark

For 20 years, we have worked together to give voice to a river that cannot speak for itself. We have made measurable progress toward our shared goal of a clean, healthy river and watershed that support and contribute to the vitality and livability of our local and regional communities.

The first half of our 20th anniversary year has been an exciting one, full of successes as well as challenges. Most gratifying has been the rising support of the community for our work, including some of our most energized donors stepping up to offer first one and now a second $20,000 challenge gift to encourage additional support for our work!

If you are able to consider making a new or increased contribution before December 31st to help us earn this challenge, there is a lot more that we can do for your river, your watershed, and your community.

Specifically, in the coming year, these extra funds will help us to:

• Build our capacity to engage more constituents – particularly the next generation of river stewards – and raise the volume of the rivers voice.
• Work with key partners to ensure that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency completes the first-in-the-nation river phosphorus and nitrogen standards by 2015.
• Move forward key land protection and restoration projects in the region for native habitat and healthy biodiversity, improved water quality, greenway connections, and recreational opportunities for regional residents.
• Continue to leverage the State of the River Report and other programs to raise awareness of what the river needs from us and foster consensus and measurable action steps toward a healthier river, watershed and community.

We know that the river can heal itself if we let it. Yet while progress has been made, there are aspects of river health that are suffering and bound to get worse if not addressed comprehensively and decisively. As we have done for 20 years, FMR is taking a comprehensive, inclusive approach to solving these issues.

Friends of the Mississippi River provides an opportunity for you to make a difference locally, where you can see the impact of your involvement and your investment. But what we do here and now in Minnesota will also benefit multiple communities downstream and generations yet to come.

Your new or increased tax-deductible gift to Friends of the Mississippi River by December 31st will result in your gift being doubled and will further strengthen our ability to act as the voice for the river in the Twin Cities region and beyond. You can make your gift right now on our donation page.

Thank you for your support!