This event is our biennial fundraiser.

Thank you for celebrating 40 years of protecting and restoring your Rouge River.

On Thursday, August 13, more than 200 Friends gathered at Rouge Park’s Sorensen Recreation Area for an unforgettable evening honoring four decades of community‑powered stewardship. Heart of the Rouge: Our Ruby Anniversary brought together neighbors, families, partners, and river lovers for a night filled with connection, celebration, and impact.

A Night to Remember

Guests enjoyed:

Live music from the Matt Balos Trio
Interactive river experiences led by Friends of the Rouge staff and naturalists
Great food and drink shared among friends old and new
A vibrant silent auction, featuring local artists and a special collection of staff‑created pieces
A chance to connect with your River, right in the heart of Rouge Park

We were thrilled to welcome Jack Nissen, host of FOX 2 Detroit’s Brother Nature, as our emcee. His passion for Michigan’s natural world brought an extra spark to the celebration and reminded us why protecting the Rouge matters so deeply.

Your Impact

Because of your generosity, Friends of the Rouge can continue empowering more than 10,000+ Friends each year to take action for a cleaner, healthier River through:

Frog, toad, bug, and invasive species monitoring
Trail building and maintenance
Hands‑on river science
Planting new trees and rain gardens across the watershed

Your support fuels the work that keeps our River thriving and strengthens the communities that surround it.

Thank You

Whether you joined us as a member, a Rouge Champion, a first‑time guest, a long‑time supporter, or a partner in stewardship, you made this milestone celebration meaningful. Together, we honored the past, celebrated the present, and invested in a brighter future for the Rouge River.

We’re grateful for every smile, every conversation, every bid, and every moment shared along the water. Here’s to the next 40 years of working together.