Cox and The Trust For Public Land Launch Virginia's 2017 Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Program

CHESAPEAKE, Va., March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, today launched Virginia's 2017 Cox Conserves Heroes program to honor local environmental volunteers.

Nominations for volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces are being accepted at CoxConservesHeroes.com through 5 p.m. EST on April 10.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nominee's activity creates, protects and/or beautifies an outdoor community space;  
• Nominee's activity is done on a volunteer basis and is not part of his or her paid employment;
• Nominee's activity inspires others to engage in community conservation.

Local judging panels, comprised of civic and environmental leaders, will select one finalist from each of the following areas: Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke. The three finalists will then compete for Virginia's 2017 Cox Conserves Hero award. The winner, chosen through an online public vote, will receive $10,000 to donate to his or her selected nonprofit beneficiary. The two finalists each will receive $5,000 for their nonprofits of choice.

Nonprofit of Choice Criteria

• The organization must be a public 501(c)(3).
• The organization's efforts must focus on environmental improvement.

Virginia's Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• Nominations:  March 20 – April 10
• Voting:  May
• Winner Announcement: Mid-June

Heidi Ketler, Brian Batteiger, Bill Gordge, Anne Little, Chris Clifford and Alan Ford are previous recipients of Virginia's Cox Conserves Heroes award. 

As either a finalist or winner's nonprofit of choice, the following Virginia organizations have received financial support from the Cox Conserves Heroes program: Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, Downtown Greens Friends of Green Spring Gardens, Friends of Norfolk's Environment, Herndon Environmental Network, Lynnhaven River Now, Newport News Green Foundation, Park Partners, Pathfinders for Greenways, Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, South Norfolk Neighborhood Watch, Tree Fredericksburg,  Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, Virginia Beach Parks, VB Clean Community Volunteers and Recreation Foundation and Virginia Living Museum, Potowmack Chapter.

Cox Conserves Heroes was created through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications, to honor local conservation volunteers. 

In partnership with The Trust for Public Land, the national Cox Conserves Heroes program has donated nearly $800,000 to environmental nonprofits and nearly 200 volunteers have been honored. Cox Conserves Heroes also takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Washington and is part of the company's national Cox Conserves sustainability program that is celebrating its 10^th anniversary.

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or Facebook.

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

About Cox Communications:
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in broadband, voice and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For nine years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity 11 times. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About The Trust for Public Land:
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.  Millions of people live within a one-half mile walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year.  To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

About Cox Conserves:
Launched in 2007 by Chairman Jim Kennedy, Cox Conserves is Cox Enterprises' national sustainability program. Cox Conserves focuses on reducing waste and energy consumption, as well as conserving water. The program engages each of the company's major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Media Group) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 60,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

SOURCE Cox Communications