Cox and The Trust for Public Land Name Heidi Ketler as Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero

Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway receives $10,000 on her behalf

CHESAPEAKE, Va., June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land today named Heidi Ketler as Virginia's 2015 Cox Conserves Hero. Ketler's nonprofit of choice, the Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, will receive $10,000 on her behalf. Representing Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Roanoke, the three finalists were chosen by judging panels from Cox's Virginia service areas. The finalists then competed in an online public vote to be named Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero.

Ketler has volunteered more than 2,000 hours with the Blue Ridge Parkway by clearing trails, cleaning overlooks and building community connections. She has engaged more than 200 volunteers and helped remove more than 2,500 pounds of trash and 1,800 pounds of recyclables from the Parkway.

The two runners-up each receive $5,000 for their nonprofits of choice. Jason Gallant, representing Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, selected Downtown Greens as his nonprofit of choice; Hampton Roads finalist Nancy Degges chose VB Clean Community Volunteers, Inc.

Brian Batteiger, Bill Gordge, Anne Little, Chris Clifford 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 also received financial support from the Cox Conserves Heroes program: Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, 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, South Norfolk Neighborhood Watch, Tree Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation and Virginia Living Museum.  

Cox Conserves Heroes recognizes volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces. Ketler is the national program's 42nd winner. 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. 

Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, more than $500,000 has been donated to environmental nonprofits and nearly 150 volunteers have been honored. Cox Conserves Heroes also takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts.

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 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, Cox Automotive and Cox Media 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 by 2024 and become carbon and water neutral by 2044. The company also presents the Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey, a nationwide survey that examines sustainability opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized businesses.

http://www.coxconserves.com/heroes

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150625/225802

SOURCE Cox Communications

For further information: Cox Communications: Emma Inman, 757-222-8432, emma.inman@cox.com; Cox Enterprises: Elizabeth Olmstead, 678-645-0762, elizabeth.olmstead@coxinc.com; The Trust for Public Land: Kristen Anderson, 415-495-4014, kristen.anderson@tpl.org