Brian Batteiger Named Virginia's 2014 Cox Conserves Hero

$15,000 donated to environmental nonprofits on behalf of winner and finalists

CHESAPEAKE, Va., June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Brian Batteiger as Virginia's 2014 Cox Conserves Hero. As Batteiger's nonprofit of choice, Pathfinders for Greenways received $10,000.

Batteiger builds new trails and prevents erosion on older trails. His work enables outdoor exercise and connects hikers and mountain bikers with areas such as Carvins Cove. His volunteer work with Pathfinders for Greenways extends beyond trail building to include website development, equipment maintenance and volunteer recruitment.

Each of the finalists received $2,500 to donate to their environmental nonprofits of choice:

• Fairfax County/Fredericksburg: Clint Fields (Friends of Green Spring Gardens)
• Hampton Roads: John Stewart (Friends of Norfolk's Environment)

Bill Gordge, Anne Little and Chris Clifford are previous recipients of Virginia's Cox Conserves Heroes award.

As either a finalist or winner's nonprofit of choice, these Virginia organizations have also received financial support from the Cox Conserves Heroes program: Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, Herndon Environmental Network, Lynnhaven River Now, Newport News Green Foundation, Park Partners, South Norfolk Neighborhood Watch, Tree Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation and Virginia Living Museum.

Cox Conserves Heroes was created in partnership through The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications, to honor environmental volunteers who are creating or preserving outdoor spaces. Funds are donated on behalf of the finalists and winners to their local environmental nonprofits of choice. Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, nearly $400,000 has been donated to environmental nonprofits and more than 130 volunteers have been recognized.

The program also takes place in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson), California (Orange County, San Diego and Santa Barbara), Georgia (Atlanta), Louisiana (Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans) and Washington (Seattle).

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 and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV 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 new media advertising.

Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For eight 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 nine times, including the last eight years. 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. Nearly ten million people live within a ten-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. Learn more at 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, Manheim, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader Group) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 50,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

The company's sustainability goals are to send zero waste to landfill in the next 7-10 years and become carbon and water neutral in the next 25-30 years.

SOURCE Cox Communications

For further information: Emma Inman, Cox Communications, 757-222-8432, emma.inman@cox.com, Elizabeth Olmstead, Cox Enterprises, 678-645-0762, elizabeth.olmstead@coxinc.com, Kristen Anderson, The Trust for Public Land, 415-800-5178, kristen.anderson@tpl.org