Hooked on the Gallatin: community support and annual celebration helps achieve critical funding for the Gallatin
Sunday, July 28th marked the 12th annual Hooked on the Gallatin hosted by the Gallatin River Task Force. The summer celebration of the Gallatin River is the organization’s opportunity to convene community supporters, give project updates, and share successes for the preservation and restoration work for the river, inviting people to give back to the community resource that they love.
Community Support over the Years
As in past years, the event brought together an impressive crowd of community supporters, lovers of the Gallatin, anglers, businesses, out of town guests, and forever friends of the organization and our work to protect and conserve the river.
It was an evening that returned the fundraiser to the banks of the Gallatin, hosted at the Riverhouse and offering some of the best up close and personal views of the river we have.
Hooked on the Gallatin Panel of Experts
A powerful all-women panel included a sneak peak at a new project undertaken by the Task Force with EarthViews, a company that produces fully immersive and experiential maps of waterways around the world, represented by co-owner and CEO, Courtney Gallagher. Sharing the stage was our own Chief Science and Executive officer Kristin Gardner, our Chief Operations Officer Emily O’Connor, and Custer-Gallatin National Forest District Ranger Wendi Urie.
The panel took a dive into what kind of work is most relevant to the Gallatin’s future health, how we continue to use science, data, and visuals like the new interactive map to address challenges, identify solutions and bring about real change, and how partnerships are key to all of it.
Our Community at Hooked on the Gallatin is what Protects the Gallatin
We enjoyed the company of friends and advocates, sharing our work and our dedication to the projects that protect our watershed, and emphasized the critical nature of community collaboration. We shared how our vision for a healthy Gallatin is not realized without all of us working in sync, together.
Fundraising is a Critical Part of Protecting Our Rivers
The Task Force has this one opportunity each year to put the Gallatin at center stage, and while fundraising is a critical piece, so is showcasing our work, our team, our advocates and stewards, and our community partners who all make the work possible.
At the end of the night, we raised critical funding for our projects and initiatives. In all that we do, we know that every dollar counts, and every way in which we envision a healthier Gallatin doesn’t happen without the perfect balance of community engagement and community investment.
Our gratitude is running deep on the heels of this event, and knowing that our projects are now supported by more than $245,000 that was raised as a result of this event is humbling.
Looking Forward to a Year of Conservation
While we reflect on this year’s celebration, we look ahead to the work for the Gallatin, and extend gratitude and ongoing hope, knowing that this community has once again stepped up to help us continue our work for the river.
