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

Program to donate $15,000 to environmental nonprofits in Virginia

CHESAPEAKE, Va., May 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land are recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing shared outdoor spaces. Finalists for Virginia's Cox Conserves Heroes program are being announced today, and the public is being asked to vote now through June 18. To vote, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com and select the Virginia area.

A total of $15,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the three finalists, who were selected to represent the Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Roanoke areas and compete for the overall recognition of Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero.

As a finalist, each individual has secured a $2,500 donation for his or her nonprofit of choice to be designated toward outdoor projects benefitting the public. The finalists are now competing for an additional $7,500 – bringing the total award to $10,000 for the winner's nonprofit of choice. The winner will be chosen through an online public vote.

Virginia's 2014 Cox Conserves Heroes Finalists

Fairfax County/Fredericksburg: Clint Fields has been an active board member of Friends of Green Spring Gardens (FROGS) for nearly a decade. He has been a key player in creating community connections and strengthening the organization's long-term financial sustainability.  He volunteers weekly to teach students visiting FROGS on school trips and also trains other volunteers to expand the program's reach. His environmental nonprofit of choice is Friends of Green Spring Gardens.

Hampton Roads: John Stewart is the catalyst behind seven wetlands restoration projects along the Lafayette River. He inspired community involvement for the wetlands restorations, which have improved water quality, reduced erosion and provided habitat for eco-system development. Educational signage illustrates and explains the process and benefits of the wetlands restorations. His environmental nonprofit of choice is the Friends of Norfolk's Environment.

Roanoke: Brian Batteiger prevents erosion on older trails and builds new trails. His work enables outdoor exercise and connects hikers and mountain bikers with areas like Carvins Cove. His volunteer work with Pathfinders for Greenways extends beyond trail building to include website development, equipment maintenance and volunteer recruitment. His environmental nonprofit of choice is Pathfinders for Greenways.

Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero will be announced on June 25. 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, the following Virginia organizations have 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, 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 also takes place in Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson), California (Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Barbara), Georgia (Atlanta), Louisiana (Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans) and Washington (Seattle).

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or find us on 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, or Elizabeth Olmstead, Cox Enterprises, 678-645-0762, elizabeth.olmstead@coxinc.com, or Kristen Anderson, The Trust for Public Land, 415-800-5178, kristen.anderson@tpl.org