Cox and The Trust for Public Land Announce Louisiana's 2014 Cox Conserves Heroes Program

Program honors volunteers, donates $15,000 to environmental nonprofits

BATON ROUGE, La., June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, today launched Louisiana's 2014 Cox Conserves Heroes awards program. Nominations are being accepted at CoxConservesHeroes.com for volunteers in Cox's service areas in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

A total of $15,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the winner and finalists.

A judging panel of civic and environmental leaders will select three finalists who will then compete to be named Louisiana's 2014 Cox Conserves Hero. The winner will be chosen through an online public vote.

Louisiana's Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• Nominations:  June 3 – July 1
• Voting:  August 22 – September 15
• Winner Announcement: Late September

Bart Everson and Jenga Mwendo are Louisiana's previous Cox Conserves Heroes. Everson's volunteer service has been critical in creating a rail-to-trail opportunity in the heart of New Orleans. The 3.1 mile trail links the French Quarter, Treme, Mid City and Lakeview to create a safe, non-motorized transportation route. Mwendo transformed an overgrown lot from a dumping ground into a beautiful centerpiece for the community.

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, to honor local conservation volunteers.  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); Virginia (Fairfax County/Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Roanoke) and Washington (Seattle). 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 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: Sharon Bethea, Cox Communications, 225-237-5141, sharon.bethea@cox.com; Elizabeth Olmstead, Cox Enterprises, 678-645-0762, elizabeth.olmstead@coxinc.com; Kristen Anderson, The Trust for Public Land, 415-800-5178, kristen.anderson@tpl.org