Cox Announces Rory McCracken as Louisiana's 2016 Cox Conserves Hero

$20,000 to be donated to environmental nonprofits

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, announced Rory McCracken as Louisiana's 2016 Cox Conserves Hero. The program honors volunteers in Cox's service areas in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces. 

McCracken is passionate about Louisiana's gulf and its marine life. At only 17, he's spent nearly half his life leading the charge to conserve and protect. He's designed t-shirts and written books to raise awareness, as well as donated the proceeds to help benefit restoration and conservation efforts. One beneficiary of his support is Audubon Louisiana's Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue program. As his nonprofit of choice, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will receive $10,000.

The two finalists each will each receive $5,000 for their nonprofits of choice. Barrett Kennedy selected the Teche Project as his nonprofit of choice; Libby Nehrbass chose Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

Jenga Mwendo, Bart Everson, Matt Thomas and Patrick Armstrong are previous recipients of Louisiana's Cox Conserves Heroes award.

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 takes place in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington.

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 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 nine 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 11 times. 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' 60,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

SOURCE Cox Communications

For further information: Jeremy Theriot, Cox Communications, 225-237-5167, jeremy.theriot@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