Mel Lions Named San Diego's 2014 Cox Conserves Hero

$15,000 donated to environmental nonprofits in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Mel Lions as San Diego's 2014 Cox Conserves Hero. As his nonprofit of choice, the San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project will receive $10,000. The Cox Conserves Heroes program recognizes volunteers for creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

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.

The finalists each received $2,500 for their nonprofits of choice. Eloise Battle selected Friends of Tecolote Canyon, and Everett Neuman selected Outdoor Outreach.

Following the announcement, Cox employees cleaned up riverbeds in the Mission Valley Preserve in partnership with the San Diego River Park Foundation, which received funds from Cox on behalf of last year's Cox Conserves Hero Barbara Palan.

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.

The program 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).

Since being launched in 2008, the Cox Conserves Heroes program has donated more than $400,000 to environmental nonprofits and recognized more than 130 volunteers.

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 www.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, Cox Media Group and Cox Automotive) 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, or Cox Enterprises: Elizabeth Olmstead, 678-645-0762, elizabeth.olmstead@coxinc.com, or The Trust for Public Land: Kristen Anderson, 415-495-4014, kristen.anderson@tpl.org