CHICAGO, Illinois - April 23, 2019 - Ducks Unlimited recently announced the top volunteer chapters across the nation honored in three categories: Chairman's Roll of Honor, President's Elite and President's Roll of Honor.

The Chairman's Roll of Honor designation is reserved for the chapters that raised between $250,000 and $999,999, while those that raised between $100,000 and $249,999 were named as President's Elite chapters. Rounding out the three categories, President's Roll of Honor chapters raised between $65,000 and $99,999.

"These fundraising events are the backbone of DU's habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force making a difference for North American waterfowl populations," said DU President Rogers Hoyt Jr. "It takes a great deal of effort to achieve these prestigious levels, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors."

This year's Chairman's Roll of Honor chapters from Illinois include:

  • Lake Forest Area Chapter, Lake Forest

This year's President's Elite chapters from Illinois include:

  • Chicago Downtown Chapter, Chicago
  • Logan County Chapter, Lincoln
  • Quincy Chapter, Quincy

This year's President's Roll of Honor chapters from Illinois include:

  • McHenry Fox Flyway Chapter, Woodstock
  • North Shore Chicago Chapter, Winnetka

The chapters honored this year earned their spots on the nationally recognized lists out of more than 2,400 DU chapters nationwide that hosted more than 3,900 fundraising events. DU's event fundraising system has become a model for other conservation organizations worldwide and has helped conserve more than 14 million acres of waterfowl habitat since 1937.

Some chapters will also have the distinction of being honored during DU's 82nd National Convention in Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, May 28 - June 2, with many chapter representatives in attendance.

"The hard work and dedication from DU's event system volunteers and staff drive the organization's conservation mission from a financial, membership and policy strength perspective. DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities," Hoyt said. "The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage."