DES MOINES, IOWA (June 10, 2019) — 200 Iowans will gather at Pro H2O in Des Moines this Thursday, June 13, to celebrate and honor those making a difference to clean and protect Iowa's waters.
Hosted by the Iowa Environmental Council, the state's largest coalition working to protect Iowa's environment, the annual event gathers supporters, community, and state leaders, and environmental groups from across the spectrum to raise funds and call attention to the critical need to protect Iowa's lakes, rivers, and streams for the enjoyment and safety of all Iowans.
"Clean water is critical to future of our state," says Ingrid Gronstal Anderson, Water Program Director at the Council. "We need clean water for our families, our pets, and our livestock to drink and use. Clean water for recreation is also an important economic driver, with recreation delivering millions of dollars of in-state spending. It can also be a tool to attract the workforce our state so desperately needs."
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 2019 Pro H2O WHERE: The River Center, 340 SW 3rd St, Des Moines WHEN: Thursday, June 13 — 6:30-9PM
The evening will offer live music, unique networking, and a program honoring six Iowans for their efforts:
- Mollie Aronowitz, Land Manager with People's Company in Clive, receiving a Leader in Business Award for her work on sustainable land practices that can improve water quality but also be profitable for farmers;
- Rachel Beck, Sustainability Coordinator with SingleSpeed Brewing in Waterloo and Cedar Falls, and David Moore, Operations Manager with Big Grove Brewing in Solon and Iowa City, are both receiving a Leader in Business Award for their breweries' work to earn a Green Brewing Certification offered by the Iowa Waste Reduction Center at the University of Northern Iowa;
- Jennifer Trent and Joe Bolick with the Green Brewery Certification Program at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center at UNI in Cedar Falls, receiving the Innovation Award for creating the Green Brewery Certification program, which certifies Iowa craft breweries for reducing energy, water, and waste in their production;
- Courtney Wolken, high school biology teacher at Newton Community School District and her students, and Steve Hopkins of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, are both receiving the Youth and Tenacity Award for their collaborative efforts to increase awareness and engagement of water issues with their project to rename a local creek.
MEDIA PASSES ARE AVAILABLE. To request a pass or make other press accommodations, contact Angelisa Belden, IEC Communications Director at belden@iaenvironment.org.
For a detailed schedule of the event and list of the participating organizations, please see www.iaenvironment.org/proh2o.
