#WorldOceansDay: Cox Conserves Heroes Raising Awareness, Protecting Oceans

Jun 7, 2016 10:00 AM ET

World Ocean’s Day is tomorrow. Across the nation, volunteers are generating awareness of coastal issues and helping protect our oceans. Here are some examples of how Cox Conserves Heroes are making a difference. View the videos to learn more about their projects.

Orange County (2014): Frank Capolupo brings educational tours to life for children, inspiring them to learn more about the ocean and how it impacts our lives. He also speaks at local clubs and organizations about the importance of environmental education and ocean awareness. View his video.

Orange County (2012): Michael Beanan leads a movement to prevent urban runoff from Aliso Creek from entering the ocean. The goal of his project is to clean the urban runoff, combine it with recycled water, decrease reliance on potable water and ultimately reduce ocean pollution. View his video.

San Diego (2011): Isabel Herrera translates awareness of coastal issues into action. Over three years, she inspired over 1,500 people to protect the ocean. She teaches families about endangered sea turtles and how they can take simple actions toward protection, such as using canvas bags instead of plastic, as well as water supply and how to limit water usage and improve its quality.  View her video.

Western Washington (2012): Laura James is an eco-friendly scuba diver and commits her time to cleaning up Earth’s oceans. She has long recognized the danger of toxins in our waters and spends time removing batteries and other pollutants from Puget Sound. In addition, Laura volunteers for search and rescue missions. View her video.

Western Washington (2010): Jan Holmes volunteer work with Beach Watchers inspired her to earn a master’s degree in Marine Biology, which led to the health of the area’s marine environment. Her leadership created extensive research and data collection on more than 30 beaches, and her thirst for knowledge is contagious. She frequently spoke with students and at public education events to motivate others to get involved. View her video.

Created in partnership between Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land, Cox Conserves Heroes recognizes environmental volunteers and makes donations to local nonprofits on their behalf. The public nominates volunteers using a brief online form. Next, a panel of local environmental leaders selects three finalists who are profiled on video. The public then watches the videos, gets inspired and votes for their favorite.

It's our way of honoring the unsung heroes in our communities and supporting the organizations that matter to them. Cox Conserves Heroes takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington.