July 11, 2011 – An armada of 150 canoeists, including the president of Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, floated down the Chicago River on Saturday, ending up at Marina City to celebrate raising money to protect and preserve the endangered river.

According to the company, more than $30,000 was raised from Chicago residents and from the Wisconsin beer brewer’s “fan base” of 300,000.

“Having celebrated clean water and the great outdoors since 1867 when the Big Eddy Spring in Chippewa Falls…was tapped to brew Leinenkugel’s,” said “Jake” Leinenkugel, the fifth generation of Leinenkugel to run the company, “we are proud to help protect and preserve the Chicago River.”

(Above) Jake (left) speaks with two men on the patio at Dick’s Last Resort on Saturday. (Top) A canoe makes a pit stop at Marina City. (Click on image to view larger version.)

Jake also announced an extension of a fundraising campaign on Facebook. Through the end of July, every time the Leinenkugel page gets a “like,” the company will donate 25 cents to Friends of the Chicago River.

Chicago was the company’s first major distribution market outside of Wisconsin.

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