Finalists Named for Boston's 2016 Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

Program to donate $20,000 to environmental nonprofits in Boston

News provided by

Sep 01, 2016, 09:35 ET

BOSTON, Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX25 and The Trust for Public Land are recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing Boston's outdoor spaces. Adam Crellin-Sazama, Tom McNichol and Hilary Seager have been selected as finalists for Boston's 2016 Cox Conserves Heroes program, and the public is being asked to vote now through Sept. 23 at fox25boston.com.

A total of $20,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the three finalists. Each finalist has secured a $5,000 donation for his or her environmental nonprofit of choice. The finalists are now competing for an additional $5,000 – bringing the total award to $10,000 for the winner's nonprofit of choice. The winner will be chosen through an online public vote.

Boston's 2016 Cox Conserves Heroes Finalists
Adam Crellin-Sazama is creating a better future for the planet and inspiring his fellow teenagers to make a difference. He created a movement called Youth United for Animals and the Planet and advocates on the important role zoos play in animal conservation. While volunteering at the zoo, he cares for animals and educates visitors on conservation and climate change issues. His nonprofit of choice is Zoo New England.

Tom McNichol is an avid boater who saw a polluted river and took action to clean it up. He created the Charles River Clean Up Boat, which has about 80 cleanups a year. More than 200 bags of trash are removed from the river annually. In addition to piloting the boat, he speaks to school groups, recruits volunteers and raises funds to cover the boat cleanup expenses. His nonprofit of choice is the Charles River Clean Up Boat.

Hilary Seager led the Bagnall School Open Space and Trails Project, which has introduced more than 500 youth to their community's conservation areas. This hands-on service learning project has created bridges, boardwalks, picnic tables and trail signs. Students learn to appreciate nature and how they can make a difference, while the community has gained access to outdoor spaces. Her nonprofit of choice is the Bagnall Education Foundation.

The winner will be announced in mid Oct.

The national Cox Conserves Heroes program was created in 2008 through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of FOX25. The partnership stems from Cox Enterprises' national Cox Conserves sustainability program that focuses on reducing waste and energy consumption, conserving water and inspiring eco-friendly behavior.

Cox Conserves Heroes also takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Virginia and Washington.

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or Facebook.

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

About FOX25:
FOX25 News is a part of Cox Media Group and is the leading provider of local news, weather, and traffic. Boston is ranked the No. 7 designated market area (DMA) and comprises more than 2.4 million households. Viewers in Boston and Manchester, NH can tune into WFXT-TV on Comcast Channel 25, DirecTV Channel 25 and Dish Channel 25.

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 http://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.

The company's sustainability goals are to send zero waste to landfill by 2024 and become carbon and water neutral by 2044.

SOURCE Cox Enterprises