Our heroes
Congratulations to David Schick, Nithya Tammana and Detroit Hives
We’re excited to share our top three environmental enthusiasts, each earning $30,000 from the James M. Cox Foundation to continue growing the good in their communities.
STATE: California
Area of impact: waste & circularity
David Schick
David received the Groundbreaker Award in the adult category. Through his work with Precious Plastics San Francisco in California, David trains volunteers, students and nonprofits to transform plastic waste into durable products such as furniture while raising awareness about plastic pollution and microplastics. He has trained hundreds of people on open-source recycling equipment and partnered with students from 20 Bay Area schools, five University of California campuses, Stanford University, Loyola Marymount University and Pitzer College, as well as businesses, hospitals and environmental organizations. Through a global network of more than 450 Precious Plastics groups, David shares sustainable practices with collaborators across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, helping communities turn waste into opportunity.
STATE: New Jersey
Area of impact: Water
Nithya Tammana
Nithya Tammana is this year’s Planet Protector Award recipient and winner of the youth category. At age 9, Nithya founded Save Drop in Monroe Township, New Jersey, to address the global water crisis through innovative, nature-inspired solutions that reduce water waste and improve water quality. Her invention, BioLayer, is an affordable water filter that reduces lead to non-detectable levels during testing and earned recognition in the 2026 Mott Million-Dollar Challenge and the 2026 3M Young Scientist Challenge. Through Save Drop, Nithya has reached more than 1 million people, launched more than 100 student clubs and partnered with 22 restaurants across 11 states. She also advocates for clean water policies, including writing to all 50 governors to encourage action on water conservation and safety.
STATE: Michigan
Area of impact: habitats & species
Detroit Hives
Detroit Hives received the Jim Kennedy Conservation Award, named in honor of Cox Enterprises Chairman Emeritus and James M. Cox Foundation Chairman Jim Kennedy, an environmentalist who started Cox Conserves in 2007. Based in Detroit, the nonprofit transforms vacant lots into thriving green spaces that support both pollinators and local communities. The organization manages urban beehives that are home to more than 2.5 million honeybees while educating thousands of children each year about beekeeping and pollinator health. To date, Detroit Hives has revitalized more than 38 vacant lots and harvests more than 1,000 pounds of honey annually, creating spaces where environmental stewardship, education and community connection can flourish.
