Pregracke received the CNN honor for generating more than 700 clean-up days along the Mississippi River through his nonprofit organization known as Living Lands and Waters. He’s organized more than 70,000 volunteers to pick up 7 million tons of trash, 90% of which has been recycled.
In December 2013, he was nominated and awarded Hero of the Year by CNN viewers over a five-week voting process, but immediately took some of his $250,000 in winnings and dispersed $10,000 each to the other 9 finalists for the award. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper said that had never happened in the history of the Hero of the Year Award.
Tickets to the event include a light breakfast and the program is expected to last from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Waste Management is sponsoring the complementary breakfast served in the theater lobby. Pregracke's appearance is sponsored by Keep Tennessee Beautiful, the Heritage Foundation of Franklin, and Williamson County. Several local organizations, including Franklin Tomorrow, Keep Williamson Beautiful, and the Harpeth River Watershed Association will be in the lobby with information about their efforts and opportunities to get involved.