Chad Pregracke, Founder of Living Lands & Waters, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year

Palmer Johnson Power Systems would like to offer congratulations to Chad Pregracke, 2013 CNN Hero of the Year. Pregracke, an Illinois man who has dedicated his life to cleaning the Mississippi River and other U.S. waterways, was given the honor on December 1, 2013, during an airing of “CNN Heros: All All-Star Tribute”. He was chosen as Hero of the Year through a five-week public vote on CNN.com.

Pregracke organizes community cleanups across the country through his nonprofit, Living Lands & Waters. About 70,000 volunteers have pitched in, helping Pregracke collect more than 7 million pounds of trash in the past 15 years. "The garbage got into the water one piece at a time," Pregracke said earlier this year. "And that's the only way it's going to come out."

Palmer Johnson is proud to be a supporter of Living Lands & Waters and the m/v River Cleanup II, supplying Twin Disc electronic control systems, servicing Twin Disc marine gears, and providing installation and start-up assistance.

For more information of Pregracke and his CNN Hero of the Year award, please click here.

For more information on Living Lands & Waters or to make a donation, please click here.