🌟 June Youth Hero Award: Honoring Service, Advocacy, and Impact

By The Drop Project Team

We are thrilled to share that Cypress Cohen, founder of The Drop Project, has been named the June Youth Hero by Parks and Recreation! This award celebrates young individuals who go above and beyond in service, leadership, and community engagement; and Cypress embodies every part of that mission.

From local beaches to global villages, Cypress’s heart for service is unwavering. As the President of the Interact Club at Babcock High School, she has organized countless volunteer projects that uplift both her local and international communities. One of her proudest accomplishments was leading her school’s fundraising efforts for Water4Life Mozambique, hosting school-wide campaigns, donation drives, and awareness events that raised vital funds for clean water access in underserved areas abroad.

But Cypress didn’t stop there.

She went on to found The Drop Project, Inc., a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to educating students about global water insecurity and empowering them to become advocates for change. Under her leadership, the organization has developed a full suite of educational resources, including:

• Classroom kits designed for K-5 students

• “Water Week” curriculum being implemented in local elementary schools next year

• An upcoming children’s book focused on the water crisis in Mozambique, set to be published by the end of the summer

Her passion for clean water advocacy is matched by her commitment to mentorship and community involvement. Whether she’s leading beach cleanups, coaching youth cheerleaders, or performing as the lead in her school’s theater production of Into the Woods, Cypress brings energy, empathy, and excellence to every role she takes on.

Academically, she continues to shine—ranked #1 in her class, a full-time dual enrollment student at Florida SouthWestern State College, and the recipient of her Cambridge AICE diploma.

At The Drop Project, we believe that youth are powerful change agents, and Cypress proves that every day. We are proud to celebrate her as not only a Youth Hero, but a role model for students everywhere who want to turn their passion into purpose.

Congratulations, Cypress! Thank you for leading with heart, and for inspiring a generation to care, serve, and act.