Voting now open for the 2025 Cox Conserves Heroes program

ATLANTA, October 6, 2025 — From nearly 700 nominations, an independent panel of judges has selected nine environmental champions as finalists for the 2025 Cox Conserves Heroes program.  

Visit CoxConservesHeroes.com/vote by Oct. 12 to watch the videos for each finalist and cast your vote in the following three categories: 

Groundbreaker finalists (volunteers 18+) 

• Eric Grace, founder of the Creek Cleanup Project, has spent the past eight years organizing volunteers to remove over 500,000 pounds of litter and 20,000 tires from ConocoCheague Creek along 93 miles in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Through this grassroots initiative, he is helping restore waterways and build environmental pride —one cleanup at a time. Watch Eric’s video. 

• Christy Thrift is a river protector in North Carolina focused on restoring the Toe and Cane Rivers. After Hurricane Helene, she rallied her neighbors and volunteers to repair thousands of feet of streambanks, remove toxic debris and safeguard habitats for rare species. By using science-based methods and the power of her community, Christy helps improve water quality, reduce erosion and capture carbon — ensuring rivers stay healthy for both people and wildlife. Watch Christy’s video.

• Yuri Williams, founder of A Future Superhero and Friends, has led more than 25 cleanups across Los Angeles, removing more than 3,500 pounds of waste and recycling. He’s mobilized 200 volunteers, combining environmental action, education and empowerment to create cleaner, more connected communities. Watch Yuri’s video.

Planet Protector finalists (volunteers under 18) 

• Rylee Brooke Kamahele, a teen from Hawaiʻi, founded The Catalyst Club to engage youth in conservation projects across the islands. She has brought youth from dozens of organizations together to remove hundreds of pounds of litter from beaches and to advocate for the protection of Hawaiʻi’s land, resources and ocean. Watch Rylee Brooke’s video.   

• Isaac Nelson is a middle school student from Florida who started Eco Scouts to encourage his classmates to protect local coastal environments. Through Eco Scouts, Isaac organizes activities like restoring coral reefs and mangroves, testing water quality and cleaning up local beaches. He also distributes oyster mats made without plastic and helps educate other students by creating films, podcasts and hands-on projects focused on caring for coastal ecosystems. Watch Isaac’s video. 

• Mahisha Shah is a high school student from Texas who combines her passion for computer science and sustainability. Inspired by her grandfather, she created AgroEtopia — an AI-powered app that predicts crop yields based on soil bacteria. Mahisha mentors other students, shares helpful resources online and encourages everyone to work together for a more sustainable future. Watch Mahisha’s video. 

Jim Kennedy Conservation finalists (nonprofits) 

• Common Ground Relief was founded after Hurricane Katrina as a grassroots group providing aid and rebuilding support in New Orleans. Today, it is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to coastal restoration, wetlands reforestation and building community resilience. CGR works closely with local communities and runs a volunteer-driven program that plants about 5,000 trees and 16,000 marsh grass plugs each year to stabilize shorelines and restore natural ecosystems. Volunteers from around the world support CGR’s mission to promote sustainability and environmental justice throughout Louisiana. Watch Common Ground Relief’s video.

• The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust works to protect land and water in urban, suburban and rural areas to support wildlife, recreation and healthy communities. The organization uses conservation easements and partnerships to save natural spaces, and it involves the community through education and volunteer opportunities. NVCT has conserved over 9,000 acres across five Northern Virginia counties. Watch the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust’s video. 

• The Plastic Ocean Project, based in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to finding science-based solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis. Through research, education and outreach, the organization empowers individuals to make informed choices that benefit both human and environmental health. Their hands-on initiatives include trash cleanups and a unique reforestation effort — planting one tree for every 25 pounds of trash collected. In 2019, they planted more than 1,500 trees, and in 2020, that number grew to 2,000+, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability and caring for the environment. Watch The Plastic Ocean Project’s video.  

First-place winners in each category will be awarded $30,000 from the James M. Cox Foundation to donate to their environmental nonprofit of choice. Second-place winners will receive $15,000 and third-place winners will receive $5,000.  

The winner of the nonprofit category will also receive the Jim Kennedy Conservation Award to honor Cox Enterprises Chairman Emeritus and James M. Cox Foundation Chairman Jim Kennedy, an environmentalist who started Cox Conserves in 2007. The James M. Cox Foundation and Cox Enterprises have contributed more than $325 million to environmental and conservation causes.   

Choose your Heroes. 

About Cox Conserves Heroes 
Cox Conserves Heroes is part of Cox Enterprises' national sustainability initiative, designed to recognize individuals and nonprofits making a positive impact on our environment. The Heroes are actively reducing or reusing carbon/energy and water, or are minimizing waste sent to landfills, in line with Cox's own sustainability goals. The program has honored more than 200 volunteers across the nation since 2008.  

About Cox Enterprises 
Cox Enterprises is dedicated to empowering people to build a better future for the next generation. Cox is a leader in the broadband, automotive and media industries, as well as a leading investment platform with strategic positions in emerging technologies driving the future of agriculture, renewable energy and public sector software. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with $23 billion in annual revenues and a proud history of over 125 years. To learn more about Cox and its commitment to its people, planet and communities, visit coxenterprises.com. 

About the James M. Cox Foundation 
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States. The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas, including biodiversity, conservation and environment, early childhood education, health and empowering families and individuals for success.