2020 Marge Cline Grant Recipients Announced

A family rafting trip to West Virginia in the late 1970s hooked Marge "River Mom" Cline on river sports. She became hooked immediately and made it her life's goal to introduce others to the thrill of whitewater. She began teaching others within a few years and became certified by the ACA. 

Her passion continued off the water as well; Marge edited the Chicago Whitewater Association newsletter for more than 25 years. She also subscribed to similar newsletters around the country and gathered pertinent news for a publication called Confluence, which connected canoeists and kayakers all throughout the midwest U.S. In 1996, she was inducted into the ACA Hall of Fame as a Legend of Paddling award recipient. In 2000, Marge was named one of 100 Paddlers of the 20th Century by Paddler Magazine.

In 2019, a special grant fund was created to honor Marge and her numerous contributions to paddling: applications were accepted between December 2019 and March 2020 from individuals or non-profit organizations whose goal it is to provide paddlesports opportunities for youth in the Midwest. With over two dozen applications submitted, it was a tough task to select the recipients of the funds. The ACA is proud to announce the recipients of these grant funds for 2020:

The Chicago Voyagers:

"Our mission is to empower at-risk youth through outdoor experiential adventures that foster healthy relationships and responsible behavior. We focus exclusively on serving predominantly minority, at-risk adolescents - those living in greater Chicago's high need communities. Funding from the Mike & Marge "River Mom" Cline Memorial Grant will support our outdoor adventure therapy program, with emphasis on kayaking and canoeing. These paddling programs are designed to diminish the impact of adverse childhood experiences as well as promote effective communication, emotional regulation, teamwork, and the development of leadership skills."

River Bend Nature Center:

"This grant funding will enable us to offer a youth sea kayak camp, which will introduce local children to the exciting world of sea kayaking. Our campers come from an urban demographic and have demonstrated financial need. These youth have limited expose to nature or recreational activities, and this four day sea kayak camp will not only help them grow their understanding and appreciation for the natural world, but also will provide an opportunity for them to learn about the ecological health of the waterways of the Racine, Wisconsin area."

Congratulations to both the Chicago Voyagers & the River Bend Nature Center! We can't wait to support your programs which make a big difference in the lives of young paddlers in the Midwest!

To learn more about this grant program, please click here. If you or your non-profit organization fulfills the requirements for this special grant, we encourage you to apply next year!