The fourth annual Northwest Illinois Volunteerism Conference will be held Friday, October 18th, 2013 in Moline.
Friday's speaker will be KeeKee Pregracke. She is the mother of Living Lands and Waters Founder Chad Pregracke. Chad and others pick up trash in rivers throughout the country. Chad is originally from East Moline.
Chad also just received a prestigious nomination. He is a finalist for one of CNN's Hero of the Year Awards.
"I said, 'if no one is going to do something about it, I will,'" Chad said in an interview with CNN. "People want to see change, and they're stepping up to make change."
You have until November 17th to vote for Pregracke as the winner. CNN will announce the winner December 1st. Friday's local event starts at 9 a.m. at Western Illinois University's Riverfront campus.