Armonk Student Brings Riverkeeper to School

ARMONK, N.Y. - There aren't many 10-year-old students who think about the Hudson River the way James Fallon does. By fourth grade, Fallon has already made financial contributions to environmental group Riverkeeper and reached out to its director for a school visit.

"I really like what Riverkeeper does," Fallon said. "They make our Hudson clean."

As a participant of the school's enrichment project on the Hudson River this year, Fallon was asked to collect information for a multi-media presentation on the subject. He secured an interview with Riverkeeper Executive Director Paul Gallay in June that his mother videotaped and also donated $100 to the group.

Fallon said he found Riverkeeper's work so interesting that he asked Gallay to visit his fourth-grade class at Wampus Elementary School last month.

Gallay spoke in the gymnasium to all fourth graders at the school.

“It was a wonderful tie-in to the curriculum in fourth grade, which focuses on New York State and sustainability,” enrichment teacher Judy Brewster said.

Fallon said he plans to continue his relationship with Riverkeeper and is trying to raise $2,000 to donate to the cause. He’s already collected $300.

“I want to get other people involved to keep the river clean, and I really have a passion about that,” Fallon said. “I admire Mr. Gallay because he has done such a great job.”

Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents.

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