HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- John Cox lives for helping people. The 52-year-old Henrico man works as a school security guard at Highland Springs High School during the wintertime and a handyman landscaper during the summer.
John has made a huge impact on people through small acts of kindness like helping children with free martial arts lessons or buying groceries for strangers.
He started a non-profit -- Impact on People -- to give children across Central Virginia an alternative to living a life of crime. The well-respected Navy veteran helps build character and encourages children to stay in school.
He said he learned from his dad at an early age respect for others and hard work really do pay off in the long run.
"I don’t discriminate against nobody," Cox said. "That is why I started Impact on People. I’m there for each individual whether it's black, white, Spanish. They call John Cox and John Cox is there."
John Cox said his desire to help people came from an early age when, as a child living with a speech impediment, another family paid for him to attend Easter Seals Camp to overcome his disability.
He has not forgotten that gesture and promised to pay it forward and always help others in need.
Greg McQuade features local heroes in a weekly “Heroes Among Us” segment. Watch Greg’s reports Thursdays on CBS News at 6 or here on WTVR.com. If you would like to nominate someone to be featured on “Heroes Among Us,” click here to email heroes@wtvr.com.
