Chad Pregracke is the internationally named 2013 CNN Hero of the Year, founder and president of Living Lands & Waters; a nonprofit river cleanup organization, author and professional public speaker. He is proof one person can make a difference. At the age of 17, he decided to take action. Twenty two years later, Chad and his Living Lands & Waters crew have organized and led over 1000 community cleanups on 23 rivers in 20 states and removed 9.3 million pounds of garbage. Chad had an idea that evolved into a movement that has helped to restore one of America’s greatest icons, the Mississippi River.