Friends of the LA River's annual report details key metrics and wins in environmental justice, equity, and education on the River this year.
www.folar.org
Our Mission
Friends of the LA River builds capacity for communities, students, and future leaders to advocate for nature, climate, and equity on the Los Angeles River. We envision a verdant Los Angeles River that supports vulnerable communities in climate adaptation. The River will be transformed into a dynamic, functioning ecosystem that reduces flood risk, cleans the air, cools temperatures, and supports the biodiversity essential to our collective wellbeing.
The land and the River we work on is the ancestral homeland of Indigenous peoples who were dispossessed of their land. They are the original stewards of the Los Angeles River and these lands. We acknowledge our presence on the unceded territory of the Gabrieleño-Tongva, Fernandeño Tataviam, Gabrieleño-Kizh, and Chumash peoples, and are deeply grateful to the Ancestors, Elders, and Relations.
A Message From Our CEO
Dear Friends,
The LA River is a lot of different things at once — it’s an iconic LA landmark, a vital resource for our city, a powerful tool for addressing the challenges of climate change — but most importantly, it’s your neighborhood River. It connects us all, from Canoga Park to Long Beach, and offers a chance for every community to learn, grow and thrive. At Friends of the LA River, we believe the River belongs to everyone, and we’re working hard to make sure its potential is unlocked for all Angelenos.
This year, we’ve made some big strides in making the River a resource for education, equity, and environmental justice. Here are a few of our key wins:
Environmental Justice Representation: FoLAR has been appointed to the Lower LA River Watershed Steering Committee, where we now serve as the Environmental Justice seat. This role gives us a direct voice in decisions that will shape the River’s restoration, ensuring that historically marginalized communities have a say in the future of their River. Community Engagement in Restoration: We’ve taken on the critical role of convener, bringing together stakeholders to engage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their dredging project in the Glendale Narrows. By facilitating feedback and fostering collaboration, we’re ensuring the River’s restoration is inclusive and responsive to community needs. Leadership in Equitable Development: FoLAR has been named one of three organizational leaders in the Taylor Yard Equity Strategy, a key initiative to ensure that development around the River serves the needs of all Angelenos, especially those in underserved communities. These milestones ensure our community will continue to have a voice in shaping the River’s present and future — but they’re also just the beginning. We’re building programs to connect Angelenos of all ages to their River, from hands-on educational experiences to community events
that foster connection with the River as a natural resource. We’re also working to ensure that the benefits of a restored River — including cleaner air, healthier ecosystems, and climate resilience in every neighborhood — are equitably enjoyed by all of our neighbors. Together, we are making the LA River a hub of education, equity, and environmental justice — a River that connects and enriches all of us. Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us bring this vision to life.
With gratitude, Candice Dickens-Russell President & CEO
A Message From Our Board Chair
Dear Friends,
As Board Chair of Friends of the LA River, I am incredibly proud of all we’ve achieved together this year. Thanks to your support, we’ve made meaningful progress in restoring the LA River and advancing our commitment to environmental justice, equity, and education. We’ve reached thousands of students with hands-on learning, brought communities together around River stewardship, and worked to ensure the River’s benefits are accessible to all Angelenos, especially those who have been historically overlooked. We know the road ahead may be challenging. The River and the environmental community face a difficult future, with growing pressures from development, shifting political priorities, and the impacts of climate change. But with your continued support and collective action, we are stronger than ever, and together, we can rise to meet these challenges. Thank you for being on this journey with us. I can’t wait to see you by the River.
Warmly, Natasha Keefer Board Chair
LA River School Education
Reporting Period: Academic Year 2023-2024
Our Source to Sea watershed education programs bring local students in grades 3-12 on an immersive field trip to the LA River.
87 schools served
20,190 learning hours
3,762 students served
Source to Sea provides two dynamic in-class lessons on the history and biodiversity of the LA River, then leads students on an experiential learning excursion. During their 4 hours on the River, students become naturalists, scientists, and engineers — identifying wildlife on a nature walk, testing the river’s water quality in an outdoor lab, and building their own river models. Following the program, take-home toolkits continue their learning by providing age-appropriate and family inclusive activities.
My dad, he grew up in the same place I’m growing up in and he’s seen the LA River, I’ve seen it, but none of us have actually went to visit. And my grandma has never either. And it’s really exciting! -Ryan, Grade 5
After participating in the 2023-24 Source to Sea program: >70% of students reported an increased understanding of the elements that impact water quality. 70% of students shared that they now felt nature was less boring. >80% of students indicated an increased belief that nature was important to their health. 74% of students expressed an increased interest in exploring nature. 74% of students reported a greater desire to protect nature. 88% of students said they wanted to visit nature again after the field trip.
LA River Fellowship
The LA River Fellowship, a paid eco-STEM program, provides equitable access to green career pathways for 9-11th grade youth from Title I, River-adjacent schools. Reporting Period: Calendar Year 2024
10 Title I schools
2,100 learning hours
28 students served
Workforce development is cited as a parks-related anti-displacement strategy that protects communities, making the Fellows program an opportunity to connect youth to STEM education, job training, and nature while uplifting River-adjacent communities at risk of gentrification.
This fall, the cohort is culminating their time in the Fellowship by splitting into project groups led by field experts, co-conducting research in creative ecology, community stewardship, soil phyto-myco remediation, and plastics pollution. In December, the Fellows will create and present a poster session of their findings to family, peers, faculty, and experts.
This year’s cohort began in late winter with several introductory trips into nature, including a hike in Elysian Park and a 2-day camping trip to Malibu Creek State Park in our neighboring watershed. Fellows spent a lot of time learning about multiple green career pathways from a variety of eco-professionals and guest speakers.
Fellows kicked off the summer with a LA River Kayak Safari trip down 1.5 miles of the Glendale Narrows, where they learned more about the river’s history, water quality, and experienced it firsthand. They then spent the remainder of the summer becoming NNOCCI certified climate change communicators.
Volunteer Stewardship
Reporting Period: Calendar Year 2024
Habitat Restoration
At our monthly and ad-hoc habitat restoration events at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, in partnership with California Native Plant Society and San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, over 1,000 dedicated volunteers removed invasive vegetation like black mustard. This work reduces soil runoff and wildfire risk, opens space for native planting, and increases biodiversity for over 200+ species of local and migratory birds that frequent the reserve.
2,110 volunteer-hours
65,190 gallons of invasive vegetation removed
2.27 acres of land restored
River CleanUps
922 volunteers
Our 34th Annual Great LA River CleanUp made its highly anticipated return on October 5th! Volunteers devoted their morning to remove tons of trash and debris from the LA River and its tributaries. Less trash in the River means healthier riparian and marine ecosystems for people and urban wildlife including great blue herons, ospreys, least bell’s vireos, fish, frogs, arroyo willows, and more! This year, FoLAR formed our Volunteer Corps and Lisa joined as our very Corps member! She has dedicated her time, energy, and talents to helping our team run major events like River Fest and CleanUp. Thank you, Lisa!
6 cleanup sites
27,060 pounds of trash removed
Volunteer Spotlight Lisa C.
Community Engagement
Reporting Period: Calendar Year 2024
Community Education Each month, FoLAR hosts community-centered, family-friendly events on the LA River! Our themes range from Bats & Brews and Queer Ecology Walks to Stories of the River, Naturalist Art Walks, Coffees & Critters, and more. These events are great ways to enjoy and learn more about your neighborhood River. Follow FoLAR on social media or sign up for our newsletter to be first in line for upcoming programs.
2,364 event attendees
1,930 reached at partner events
Earth Day Extravaganza Over 500 Angelenos joined us at Lewis
MacAdams Riverfront Park to celebrate Earth Day on the Los Angeles River! Kids of all ages explored the River Rover mobile museum, learned how to compost, created art with natural ink, danced on the grass, and so much more all while soaking in the best that green spaces like the LA River and our parks have to offer. 3rd Annual River Fest Over 1,100 folks joined us in August at the LA State Historic Park for River Fest — a free arts and community festival celebrating the culture, history, and people that shape the LA River. Featuring FoLAR’s environmental education activities, 50+ partner organizations, dozens of static and performing artists, and delicious food trucks, there was something for everyone at River Fest! Community Outreach
In addition to running our own events, the FoLAR team joins those of community partners to bring more people into the LA River Movement. Want FoLAR at your organization’s event? Reach out to us at contact@folar.org.
Program & Partner Highlights
This year, FoLAR launched our first ever organizational membership program — 12-month blend of traditional event sponsor recognition and employee engagement opportunities on the LA River. Members meet their ESG goals while deeply engaging with the River. To become a member, contact us at sponsorships@folar.org.
FoLAR continued its collaboration with Sand County Environmental using “Phyto (plants) Myco (mycelium) Remediation” to restore the contaminated brownfield at Taylor Yard along the LA River. This year included asphalt removal and using native plants, trees, and fungi to draw pollutants out of the soil and bring this area back to life.
Thank you Smog City Brewing Co. for creating the People to the River IPA through 1% For The Planet. Inspired by the LA River’s native vegetation, their FoLAR IPA was a smash hit resulting in a $5K donation — Sláinte Mhath!
FoLAR launched our periodic Members LA River Field Trips. Individual and organizational members get an inside look at our Source to Sea field trips with a guided nature walk and macro- invertebrate sampling activity.
Join Us In 2025
We look forward to expanding beyond LAUSD to serve 5,000 LA students in grades 3-12 with Source to Sea education and the LA River Fellowship program.
Join FoLAR, CNPS, and SFVAS every fourth Saturday for Monthly Habitat Restoration Day at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve!
We’ll host one free community education event each month — Bats & Brews, Queer Ecology Walk, Stories of the River, and more.
Spend your Earth Day on the LA River restoring habitat at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve! Coming to you on April 26, 2025.
Celebrate local artists, organizations, and how far the LA River has come at our 4th Annual River Fest in Summer 2025!
Get your hands dirty with our team at the 35th Annual Great LA River CleanUp in Fall 2025! Sites are to be announced.
Financials Expenses: $1.51M
Fundraising 9.6%
Operations 13.7%
Programming 76.7%
Revenues: $1.59M
Foundations 8.8%
Individuals 10.6%
Org Memberships 9.8%
Grants 58.7%
Program Income 10.1%
Corporate 1.9%
Reporting Period: Fiscal Year 2023-2024
ESG Metrics Ever wondered what your donation to FoLAR does? Here are some examples.
$10 Removes 37 gallons of invasive plants during habitat restoration
$50 Removes 25 pounds of trash from the LA River during CleanUp
$100 Covers the Source to Sea program for 2 students at 5.5 learning-hours each
$1,000 Funds a full community education public event like Bats & Brews
$4,500 Covers 1 LA River Fellow for half of the year-long program
Reporting Periods: Fiscal Year 2023-2024, Calendar Year 2024, Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Thank You To Our Donors
Reporting Period: Fiscal Year 2023-2024
$250-$499 Alex Ward Allen Luke America's Charities
Vivian Wu Wayne Hunt Whittier College
Barbara Milliken & Jack Prichett Bruce & Madelyn Glickfeld California Trout Camden Bickel Catlan Brinsley Crawford Family Foundation Dan Posel & Jean Lenihan David Engel Diana Friedman Elizabeth Johnson Eric Gutshall Frogtown Brewery Google Harvard-Westlake School Hearst Hilton Global Foundation Hynden Walch Insperity Support Services, LP J Lee Braly Charitable Fund Joanne Weidman Leo & Dorothy Braudy Long Beach Unified School District Los Encinos School M-K O'Connell Morrow Soft Goods Noble & Lorraine Hancock Family Fund North Orange County Community College District Paramount Pictures Primestor Prism Advisors Charitable Fund Radford Studio Center Shirley Shapiro Stacy Marble The Buckley School The Crawford Foundation
Anonymous Anonymous Belinda Walker Benjamin Kushner Byron Taylor Cristina Franco Daniel Kelley Debra Solórzano-Madrid Debra Spinelli Dr. David M. Escobar Eva Gibeau
$500-$999 Anonymous Body Vision Los Angeles Brian Pepper Charles Wilkinson
Corie Brown Dan Hadley Eliza Gibson Funkhaus Grace Fullmer Heath Ceramics Jack Prichett Jaime Carlson James Cronk John Kosta Kelsey Riessen Kerry Martin Los Angeles Conservancy Mary & Clyde Perry Bankston Matt Zaslow Matthew Pond Mia Lehrer Michael & Ruth Coleman Nick Dies PayPal Giving Fund Rebecca Krause Sophie Pennes Stephani Martinez The Kresge Foundation The Wonderful Company $1,000-$2,499 Angelica McDaniel Anonymous Ascent Environmental Inc. Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Grace Phillips Gregory Notz Jason Kruckeberg Jessica Lucey Joy Kamensky Fund Katherine Klapper Katie Kildow Kay Camphuis Kroger
LA Cha Cha Chá Leonie de Picciotto Loreto Frogtown Margolis Cowan Family
Matt Factor Matt Flynn Michelle Schwartz Patricia & Stephen McMahon PolicyLink Richard McCarthy Riley Smith SKUNK Steve Wystrach SWCA Environmental Consultants The Dark Bob The Mermaid Bar
Wildwood School Yuval Bar-Zemer
Thank You To Our Donors Reporting Period: Fiscal Year 2023-2024
$2,500-$4,999 Anheuser-Busch Foundation Anonymous Children's Hospital Los Angeles City National Bank Ed Ruscha Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council Encino Neighborhood Council Good Works Foundation Jenji Kohan Charitable Fund LA Department of Recreation & Parks Laemmle Theatres Charitable Foundation Meltzer-Thorne Family Fund Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Natasha Keefer Pelerine Family Giving Fund Port of Long Beach Prologis Public Media Group of Southern California Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling
Nikki Lorre from The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Northrop Grumman Corporation LA Department of Cultural Affairs LA Department of Water & Power Stantec Consulting Services Inc. Stockel Family Foundation Water Replenishment District of
Southern California Windward School
$15,000-$49,999 Amazon Bank of America Brenda Eddy Calpine Energy Solutions, LLC City of Long Beach Los Angeles Unified School District REI Cooperative Action Fund Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment $50,000+ California Department of Parks & Recreation California Natural Resources Agency Cedars-Sinai Frank McHugh-O'Donovan Foundation, Inc. La Vida Feliz Foundation LA2050 Goldhirsh Foundation Leonetti/O'Connell Family
Rio Hondo College Ruscha Family Fund
Salt Landscape Architects, Inc. The Henrich Charitable Fund The Nature Conservancy The Raftelis Charitable Gift Fund The Saratoga Charitable Foundation YMCA of Metropolitan LA
Foundation M2O, Inc. Niagara Cares US Fish & Wildlife Services
$5,000-$14,999 Alexandria Charitable Fund Amal Charitable Foundation Anonymous Community Partners David Burd Foundation
Thank You!
folar.org/donate | folar.org/signup
Our impacts and this report are madepossiblein part by lead organizational members:
Particular thanks to the following sponsors and organizational members for their support: Bank of America City of Long Beach David Burd Foundation Elysian Valley Arts Collective REI Co-op
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