Cox Announces Finalists for San Diego's Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

Program to donate $15,000 to environmental nonprofits in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Eloise Battle, Everett Neuman and Mel Lions as the 2014 finalists for San Diego's Cox Conserves Heroes program, which recognizes volunteers for creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

The public is being asked to vote through August 6 to determine the winner. To vote, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com and select the San Diego area.

A total of $15,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the three finalists. As a finalist, each individual has secured a $2,500 donation for his or her environmental nonprofit of choice. The finalists are now competing for an additional $7,500 – bringing the total award to $10,000 for the winner's nonprofit of choice.

San Diego's 2014 Cox Conserves Heroes Finalists
Eloise Battle has been saving open space areas and creating outdoor nature opportunities for 50 years. She was a driving force behind Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Tecolote Nature Center. Today, she engages children and sparks community interest by leading nature education programs. Her environmental nonprofit of choice is Friends of Tecolote Canyon.

Everett Neuman's volunteer work increases awareness among San Diego County's underserved youth about ecosystems, parks and open space areas. By leading more than 200 mountain bike outings, he has introduced youth to the value of the outdoors and to their responsibility to be environmental stewards. His environmental nonprofit of choice is Outdoor Outreach.

Mel Lions cultivates, empowers and educates sustainable food communities within San Diego.  He mentors students and other volunteers in farm tasks and interactive tours at Wild Willow Farm. By teaching sustainable food practices, he is affecting the way food is grown and reducing negative impacts to the local ecosystems. His environmental nonprofit of choice is San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project.

San Diego's Cox Conserves Hero will be announced in mid-August. Barbara Palan, Sally Nelson, Denise Stillinger, Isabel Herrera, Mark Jorgensen, Dakatoh Flowers, John Willett and Sonya Vargas are previous recipients of San Diego's Cox Conserves Heroes award.

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications. San Diego's Cox Conserves Heroes program is sponsored locally by the University of San Diego, Pure Flo and radio partners KyXy 96.5 and Energy 103.7 FM.

Cox Conserves Heroes takes place in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson); California (Orange County, San Diego and Santa Barbara); Georgia (Atlanta); Louisiana (Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans); Virginia (Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Roanoke);  and Washington (Seattle).

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

About Cox Communications
Serving California communities in San Diego, Orange County, Palos Verdes, and Santa Barbara, Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. Cox also offers home security and automation services to residential customers. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses nationwide. 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 seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for seven years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. 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 James C. 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: Cox Communications: Ceanne Guerra, 858-836-7306, ceanne.guerra@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