Cox Enterprises Honors Environmental Leaders Driving Change in Communities

2026 Cox Conserves Heroes recognized for advancing conservation, reducing waste and inspiring environmental action 

ATLANTA, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises recognized David Schick, Nithya Tammana and Detroit Hives as the 2026 Cox Conserves Heroes, celebrating their efforts to drive positive environmental changes in their communities.

Since 2008, Cox Conserves Heroes has recognized more than 200 individuals and nonprofits whose environmental efforts have made a significant impact on their communities. The award criteria align with Cox Enterprises' corporate goals to save energy and water, reduce waste, and protect and restore natural habitats and species.

The winners were announced at a ceremony on Oct. 14, and each received a $30,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation to support an environmental nonprofit of their choice. The nonprofit winner received the Jim Kennedy Conservation Award, named in honor of Cox's Chairman Emeritus Jim Kennedy, a noted environmentalist and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation.

"This year's Cox Conserves Heroes demonstrate the powerful role individuals and organizations play in advancing environmental sustainability in their communities," said Amit Vyas, vice president of Environmental Sustainability at Cox Enterprises. "Their efforts reflect the same principle that guides Cox's environmental strategy: meaningful progress starts with action. By recognizing these changemakers, we're celebrating solutions that strengthen communities today while helping create a more sustainable future."

Meet the Heroes
David Schick received the Groundbreaker Award in the adult category. Through his work with Precious Plastics Monterey Bay 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.

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.

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.

The second- and third-place winners in each category received $15,000 and $5,000, respectively, for the environmental nonprofit of their choice. 

 Adult Category

• Second Place: Benjamin Miller, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Third Place: Russell Pilegaard, Ruthton, Minnesota

Youth Category (Under 18)

• Second Place: Brandon Lin, Hillsborough, California
• Third Place: Sammie Vance, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Nonprofit Category

• Second Place: Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, Golden Isles, Georgia
• Third Place: Ocean Defenders Alliance, California and Hawaii

Building on a legacy of environmental action
Cox has long believed business success and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Cox Enterprises has invested $3 billion in cleantech businesses and, together with the James M. Cox Foundation, contributed more than $800 million to philanthropic causes.

In 2026, the company announced plans to go further. In addition to long-established goals around water, waste and carbon, Cox expanded its environmental focus to include habitat and species, recognizing the critical role healthy ecosystems play in supporting communities, protecting natural resources and strengthening climate resilience. This broadens Cox's focus beyond impact reduction and positions the company to pursue more initiatives that actively restore and protect nature.

By 2034, the company aims to:

• Protect and restore land and ecosystems at a scale that reflects its footprint.
• Reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million metric tons and source 80% of electricity from renewable energy.
• Replenish and reduce hundreds of millions of gallons of water.
• Divert and return 1 billion pounds of post-use plastic from the environment back into the circular economy.

Learn more about our collective impact and the 2026 Cox Conserves Heroes at CoxEnterprises.com/our-impact.

About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is a global privately-held company that owns, operates and invests in businesses across multiple industries, including automotive, greenhouse agriculture, cleantech, software, outdoor recreation and journalism. Guided by its purpose to build a better future for this generation and the next, Cox's diverse family of businesses deliver solutions to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since its founding in 1898, Cox Enterprises has been fueled by a relentless focus on innovation and a deep commitment to people, the planet and progress. To learn more about Cox's history and how it's shaping what's next, 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. 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. 

SOURCE Cox Enterprises