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

Program to donate $20,000 to environmental nonprofits in Virginia

CHESAPEAKE, Va., June 1, 2015 /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 5^th annual Cox Conserves Heroes program are being announced today, and the public is being asked to vote now through June 19. To vote, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com and select the Virginia area.

A total of $20,000 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 $5,000 donation for his or her environmental nonprofit of choice. The finalists are now competing for an additional $5,000 – 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 2015 Cox Conserves Heroes Finalists

Fairfax County/Fredericksburg: Jason Gallant has volunteered at Downtown Greens for more than two decades. His work has helped reduce pollutant runoff into the Rappahannock River, reduce storm water runoff by 67 percent and create a rain garden. Gallant's work is preserving an urban oasis for the community and future generations. His environmental nonprofit of choice is Downtown Greens.

Hampton Roads: Nancy Degges has volunteered more than 2,000 hours with the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission by managing events and the organization's budget. She has been a driving force behind the City of Virginia Beach's Clean the Bay Day by organizing volunteers, recruiting local sponsors and leading the event's picnic lunch and entertainment. Her environmental nonprofit of choice is the VB Clean Community Volunteers, Inc.

Roanoke: Heidi 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. Her environmental nonprofit of choice is the Roanoke Valley Chapter of FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Virginia's Cox Conserves Hero will be announced on June 25.

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 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 also takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts. Nearly $500,000 has been donated to local nonprofits and more than 140 volunteers have been honored through the Cox Conserves Heroes program.

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.

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