Nominations are now open for the 2023 Cox Conserves Heroes program. Community members can visit CoxConservesHeroes.com, Aug.17-31, to nominate a sustainability superstar and give them a chance to win up to $30,000 for the environmental nonprofit of their choice, courtesy of The James M. Cox Foundation.

Cox Conserves Heroes is part of Cox Enterprises’ national sustainability initiative, designed to recognize individuals and nonprofits making a positive impact on the environment.

The heroes are actively reducing or reusing carbon/energy and water, or are minimizing waste sent to landfills, in line with Cox’s sustainability goals.

An internal council will select three finalists from among the nominees for each category: Groundbreaker (adult 18 and older), Planet Protector (youth under 18), and Jim Kennedy Conservation Award (nonprofit).

The Cox Conserves Heroes website will then feature videos sharing a story about each finalist. The public can view the videos and vote for the nominee they think is most deserving of the grand prize. Voting takes place Oct. 1-10.

Winners will be announced in October. The winner of the nonprofit category will receive The Jim Kennedy Conservation Award to honor 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.  

Finalists and winners will receive cash awards to be donated to an environmental nonprofit of their choice.

Since 2008, Cox Conserves Heroes has honored more than 200 volunteers nationwide who have had a significant impact on sustainability and environmental protection in local communities. The James M. Cox Foundation has awarded more than $95 million to environmental and conservation causes.