End of Year Campaign

Give Back to the Rivers That Give Us So Much

Our rivers are part of who we are. They provide drinking water, places to fish and paddle, opportunities for recreation, and a natural heritage worth protecting for future generations.

As 2026 comes to a close, Winyah Rivers Alliance is looking ahead to another year of protecting the rivers and waterways that sustain our families, communities, and local economy. Your year-end gift helps support our Riverkeepers, water quality monitoring, pollution prevention, environmental education, conservation, and advocacy for clean water.

What you made possible in 2026

This year, Winyah Rivers Alliance celebrated 25 years of protecting the greater Winyah Bay watershed, and Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce named us its first-ever Nonprofit of the Month. Thanks to you, 2026 was a year of science, stewardship and community:

• Answers about “forever chemicals.” Our Riverkeepers and Coastal Carolina University completed a two-year study of PFAS in the rivers of the Winyah Bay watershed and shared the findings with state regulators.
• A national spotlight on the Lumber River. With the Southern Environmental Law Center, we helped put the Lumber River on American Rivers’ list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® for 2026 because of PFAS pollution.
• Safer summer swimming. Riverkeepers, staff, interns and volunteers sampled more than 40 swimming holes and boat landings every week of the summer and posted the results through Swim Guide.
• A stronger team on the water. Dylan Coleman became our licensed Pee Dee–Lynches Riverkeeper®, and Water Quality Field Specialist Avalon Rosenberger began publishing Black-Sampit water quality reports. The Goebel family donated our second boat.
• Cleaner landings and riverbanks. River Heroes pulled trash from every corner of the watershed, from a tire and 50 pounds of debris on the Little Pee Dee to roughly 150 cigarette butts picked up by students on a Waccamaw kayak trip.
• Community on the river. Waccamaw Week, the 2nd Annual Riverway 5K, Casting Hope at Rocky Point Community Forest, the Pee Dee Pilsner release, and our annual Photography Contest brought neighbors together for our rivers all year long, and the Rocky Point Patriot Run on November 14 is still ahead.

Will you help us protect our rivers in 2027?

Every contribution makes a difference, and gifts of all sizes are welcome. Your year-end gift goes to general operations, so it supports all of our work in the coming year:

• Keeping your Riverkeepers on the water and answering pollution reports
• Water quality monitoring and next summer’s Swim Guide sampling
• Cleanups, Adopt-A-Landing groups and River Hero volunteers
• Caring for Rocky Point Community Forest on the Black River
• River education for students and families, and advocacy for clean water

Give today and help ensure our waters remain fishable, swimmable, and drinkable for generations to come.

Other ways to give

• By mail: send a check payable to Winyah Rivers Alliance to PO Box 554, Conway, SC 29528. Gifts must be postmarked by December 31 to count for 2026.
• Become a member: memberships start at $25. Download a membership form (PDF) or email winyahrivers@winyahrivers.org.
• From your IRA: ask your IRA administrator to send a qualified charitable distribution to Winyah Rivers Alliance.
• Businesses and sponsors: read our Partnership, Membership & Giving Guide (PDF), or contact us at winyahrivers@winyahrivers.org or call 843-349-4007.

Winyah Rivers Alliance (Winyah Rivers Foundation, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 57-1118288). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please consult your tax adviser about your individual circumstances.

Together, we can protect the waters we love. Thank you for standing with your Riverkeepers!