John, we’ve been emailing you a lot over the past month. You know how it goes, December is a big fundraising month, we have a match campaign going on, lions, tigers and bears, etc.

But I’m not writing to sell you on that.

While this time of year feels like it's all about monetary goals and doubling your donations, that is not really what our work is about.

At American Rivers, we want clean water and healthy rivers for everyone. That’s not just an organizational vision, it’s a personal goal for each and every one of us who works here; 365 days a year, not just at fundraising time come December.

Some of us are in the field, walking the banks of the rivers we’re fighting for, some of us are walking the halls of Congress, and others are behind the scenes, directly supporting that work. We are an organization, yes, but we're also people just like you.

We do it because we know the value of rivers, we know the importance of the clean water that rivers provide, and we know that if we don’t fight these battles, rivers and the communities they support are going to suffer. And it is those communities already at a disadvantage who will suffer the most.

So, here’s my pitch: join us, join our president Bob Irvin, join me, in fighting for rivers.

We can’t fight for rivers without your help, that’s just the reality. Many of you have selflessly donated this year, some as recently as this month. But I’m asking everyone for help again, even a little bit more can go a long way.

We appreciate all of your support, whether you donate or not. John, you are among the most passionate supporters in the country, we couldn’t show up to work every day without you. Thank you for everything you do for rivers.