Cox Conserves Heroes Voting Begins

The 2023 Cox Conserves Heroes nominations are in, with more than 700 volunteers and organizations submitted for this year’s program.  

Between Oct. 1-10, the public can vote to select the 2023 Cox Conserves Heroes in the following categories: Groundbreaker (adult), Planet Protector (youth) and the Jim Kennedy Conservation Award (nonprofit). 

Vote for your Cox Conserves Heroes today. 

The winner of the nonprofit category will receive the Jim Kennedy Conservation Award in honor of Mr. Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises, chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation, and an environmentalist who started the Cox Conserves sustainability program in 2007.    

In addition to individual recognition, finalists and winners will receive grants totaling $150,000 to be donated to an environmental nonprofit of their choice, courtesy of the James M. Cox Foundation.   

Since 2008, Cox Conserves Heroes has honored more than 200 volunteers across the nation who have helped Cox make a significant impact on sustainability and environmental protection in our communities. And, the James M. Cox Foundation has awarded more than $95 million to environmental and conservation causes.   

Get to know the finalists and cast your vote before Oct. 10 at CoxConservesHeroes.com/vote 

Groundbreaker Award Finalists (volunteers 18+)  

• John Wood (Chesapeake Bay, Virginia) 

• Michael Bechtel (Waverly, Iowa) 

• Shikha Bhattacharyya (Terre Haute, Indiana) 

Planet Protector Award Finalists (volunteers under 18)   

• Adrianna Maria McLeod (Ormond Beach, Florida)  

• Cash Daniels (Chattanooga, Tennessee) 

• Keala Minna-Choe (San Diego, California) 

Jim Kennedy Conservation Award Finalists (nonprofit organization)  

• Henry's Fork Foundation (Ashton, Idaho) 

• Lifecycle Building Center (Atlanta, Georgia) 

• The Texas Trees Foundation (Dallas, Texas)