The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has two big reasons to celebrate! We’ve taken home two international honors at the 2026 Anthem Awards, recognizing the creativity, leadership, and global collaboration behind our work to protect coral reefs.
CORAL’s Kate Beebe, Associate Director of Brand & Communications, received the Anthem Community Voice Award (determined by public voting) and a Bronze Anthem Award (selected by a panel of judges) for Building a Global Movement in the Sustainability, Environment & Climate category.
Selected from a competitive field of more than 2,500 entries representing over 40 countries, these awards recognize more than an individual achievement. They celebrate the power of bringing people together to protect coral reefs.
What Are the Anthem Awards?
Presented by the organizers of the Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards recognize outstanding social and environmental impact worldwide. CORAL’s Bronze Award reflects recognition from an international panel of judges, while the Community Voice Award celebrates public support for the work.
Building a Global Movement for Coral Reefs
At the heart of this recognition is Coral Bleaching Awareness Month, an initiative Beebe created to make coral bleaching science more accessible and bring the global reef community together.
Over the last 4 years, Beebe’s idea has grown into a global campaign that mobilizes scientists, conservation organizations, ocean influencers, dive operators, and communities worldwide.
More than 300 organizations have participated since its launch, helping bring coral reef conservation into conversations and communities far beyond CORAL’s own network.
With participating organizations collectively reaching audiences around the world, the campaign demonstrates the power of bringing different voices together around a shared cause. Each year, that collaboration creates new opportunities to share credible science, engage communities, and inspire action for coral reefs.
For participating organizations and corporate partners, it’s an opportunity to contribute to something bigger, connecting their audiences with conservation efforts while helping amplify a global message.
And that’s what makes this recognition especially meaningful. It’s not just about an award-winning campaign. It shows what happens when organizations share their knowledge, creativity, and influence to give coral reefs a stronger voice.
The Role of Influence in Conservation
Protecting coral reefs starts with local action, but creating lasting change means taking those successes further. That’s a major focus of CORAL’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, which identifies expanding global influence as a key strategy for protecting coral reefs at scale.
By sharing what we’ve learned and bridging gaps between new conservation partners, we reach more ocean advocates around the world. This connection also helps put coral reefs higher on the global agenda, encouraging greater investment in their future.
Winning these awards is one more sign that CORAL’s work is reaching beyond the reefs where we operate, helping bring coral conservation into conversations, communities, and decisions around the world.
A Win for the Entire Reef Community
While these awards recognize Beebe’s leadership and creativity, they also celebrate the many people who have helped turn an idea into a global initiative.
From CORAL’s team and conservation partners to the scientists, organizations, and supporters who participate each year, this recognition demonstrates what’s possible when people work toward a shared goal.
And to everyone who voted for the Community Voice Award, thank you! Your support helped bring international recognition to coral reef conservation.
