EQT Supports the Ohio River Sweep 2018

On Saturday, June 16, many Pittsburgh area residents will volunteer for the Ohio River Sweep, a volunteer, shoreline cleanup of the Ohio River and many of its tributaries. During a single day, more than 3,000 miles of shoreline along the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers are cleaned. Cleanup sites are located at more than 100 locations along the rivers. EQT is one of the underwriters of the 2018 Ohio River Sweep.

Since 2015, the Ohio River Sweep has received exceptional support from EQT Foundation, the charitable arm of EQT Corporation. This support has helped the volunteers from the Pittsburgh area to make tremendous progress cleaning our waterways.

"As part of EQT's corporate philanthropy, we look for opportunities that enable the communities where we operate to prosper, such as supporting environmental initiatives and preserving local natural resources," said Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation Manager. "The Ohio River Sweep is making a difference and we're proud to be a part of it."

The Ohio River Sweep is an important event to remove litter from the Ohio River. Litter continues to be a problem in the Ohio River as many single-use plastics escape the waste management process. Volunteers remove tons of litter, especially single-use plastics, from the Ohio River. The Ohio River Sweep coordinates communities to help a global problem on a local level: plastics in our oceans. Ohio River Sweep volunteers remove plastics from rivers before those plastics reach the oceans. Volunteers from six states, including employees from EQT, participate in the cleanup event.

"The River Sweep is a community effort that teaches the value of our waterways, teamwork and stewardship," said Betsy Mallison, Pennsylvania River Sweep Coordinator. "Plan to spend some time with your family along our rivers and streams and help make a difference in our waterways."

The Ohio River Sweep is funded by contributions from corporations throughout the Ohio River Valley. These contributions provide funding to purchase volunteer supplies like gloves, trash bags, and t-shirts, as well as promotional materials like brochures and posters which make the event successful.

"Corporations within the Ohio River Valley play a critical role in this important river cleanup. Not only do they provide financial support, they also provide volunteers." said Lisa Cochran, program manager for the Ohio River Sweep.

The Ohio River Sweep will occur on Saturday, June 16 at multiple locations in the Pittsburgh area. Please visit www.OhioRiverSweep.org to find the nearest location. Volunteers are needed!