PROJECT #38: FRIENDS OF THE BIG SIOUX RIVER FUNDRAISER
Education & Awareness
February 8, 2024 | Sioux Falls, SD | The State Theatre
1
film shared for the film festival
100
film festival attendees
$8,500
raised at the event
THE CONNECTION OF RIVER FRIENDS
What is better than a project connecting two river focused non-profits for the sake of community education? Friends of the Big Sioux River organization reached to Rivers are Life to help with a fundraising film festival. They were hoping to show Watershed Warriors a film featuring Friends of the Fox River. It was an honor to share viewing rights for the film to their film festival. This was not an ordinary film festival, but a fundraiser to help the organization keep tackling river projects.
Held on February 8, 2024, the Big Sioux Film Festival was a vibrant night full of educational films, meaningful conversations, and hope for the future of our beloved Big Sioux River. Over 100 highly engaged local citizens attended the event at the newly restored Sioux Falls State Theatre and helped to raise $8,500 for Friends of the Big Sioux River. The festival began with a cocktail hour, complete with hors d'oeuvres, local brews and kombucha, and a silent auction. Following the cocktail hour, attendees took their seats and watched three river-related short films, including Watershed Warriors from Rivers are Life. Throughout the evening, attendees heard from members of the Friends of the Big Sioux River staff and board about the work FBSR is doing to improve the cleanliness of the Big Sioux.
Events like these help the river community as we all work towards protecting our vital watersheds.
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE BIG SIOUX RIVER
Friends of the Big Sioux River's mission is to protect and restore the Big Sioux River and its watershed, improve the water quality, and educate the community to build a conservation ethic.
The river begins as a small stream near Summit, South Dakota, then the Big Sioux River rises on a low plateau known as the Coteau des Prairies. As the river winds through Eastern South Dakota, it grows in size and intensity, eventually flowing over the waterfall at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. The river continues on, flowing through bountiful farmland, rural communities, and state parks teeming with flora and fauna. After flowing for 419 miles, the Big Sioux River empties into the Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa.
PROJECT GALLERY
“We were incredibly grateful to partner with Rivers are Life to show the film Watershed Warriors during our fundraising event. The watershed education and clean-up efforts shown on screen aligned directly with the work we do at Friends of the Big Sioux River. Thanks to organizations like Rivers are Life, people across the county and the world can see how important it is to protect our local waterways, one community member at a time.”
Emily Oyos
Education and Outreach Manager
