Cox Celebrates Earth Month with Launch of California's Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Program

Cox honoring environmental volunteers in Orange County, San Diego and Santa Barbara; $20,000 to be awarded to local environmental nonprofits

SAN DIEGO, April 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, is seeking nominations for environmental volunteers in Cox's service areas in Orange County, San Diego and Santa Barbara. Nominations are being accepted at CoxConservesHeroes.com through 5 p.m. on April 27 for volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

Judging panels, comprised of local civic and environmental leaders, will select one finalist from each area who will then compete to be named California's 2016 Cox Conserves Hero. The winner, chosen through an online public vote, will receive $10,000 to donate to his or her selected environmental nonprofit beneficiary. The two finalists each will receive $5,000 for their nonprofits of choice.

Nominee activities must be performed on a volunteer basis and may not be part of an individual's employment.

California's Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• Nominations: April 6 – 27 (5 p.m. PT)
• Voting: May 25 – June 10
• Winner Announcement: Late June

In California, the Cox Conserves Heroes program has honored nearly 70 environmental volunteers and donated nearly $250,000 to their local nonprofits of choice. The program is sponsored in San Diego by Subaru.

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

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 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 10 times, including the last nine 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.  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' 55,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

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