Cox Issues Call for Virginia Conservationists

Do you know an everyday hero who is making great strides today to ensure a greener tomorrow? Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), today launched Virginia’s Cox Conserves Heroes program, a national awards program to honor and celebrate conservation in everyday life.

Sponsored in Virginia by Casey Auto Group, Cox Conserves Heroes honors individuals who are helping to create, preserve or enhance outdoor places for everyone to enjoy. Eligible work must be done on a volunteer basis and may not be part of an individual’s job. By improving our shared environment, these unsung heroes make the Hampton Roads community a better place for everyone to live. A complete list of eligible counties can be found at CoxConservesHeroes.com.

“Conservation is important to us and we do a number of activities to encourage residents to better preserve and protect the environment. So we are so very excited to launch this program. It’s the first time it has been rolled out in Virginia and we’re thrilled to bring the effort here,” says Gary McCollum, senior vice president and general manager, Cox Virginia.

Nominations are being accepted now through January 31 at CoxConservesHeroes.com. Following the nomination stage, finalists will be selected by the Cox Conserves Judging Circle, a group of local civic leaders. The Cox Conserves Hero, chosen by online consumer voting, will be awarded $5,000 to donate to the environmental nonprofit of his or her choice. Each finalist will be given $1,250 to donate to their nonprofit of choice.

Virginia’s Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• January 10 – 31: “Call for Nominations.” The public can visit CoxConservesHeroes.com to nominate an individual;
• March 7 – April 4: “Cast Your Vote.” The public can view videos of the finalists and cast their vote;
• Mid April: “Cox Conserves Hero Announcement.” Following the online voting, Virginia’s Cox Conserves Hero will be announced in mid April.

By showcasing these unsung heroes, Cox Communications and TPL hope to inspire more people to take an active role in neighborhood conservation activities.

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 everyday conservationists. The program also runs in Atlanta, New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves more than 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 seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for five years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and the company holds a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. 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 (TPL) is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. Since 1972, TPL completed close to 4,000 land conservation projects in 47 states, protecting 2.8 million acres. TPL has helped states and communities craft and pass over 380 ballot measures, generating $36 billion in new conservation-related funding. TPL began working in Virginia in 1987, and since then has completed more than 40 projects, protecting 18,000 acres of open space.

About Casey Automotive Group
Casey Auto Group was founded in 1958 as a single franchise dealership by the late Arthur M. Casey. Today the Casey organization is still a family owned and operated business headed by Arthur S. Casey, and represents 9 new car franchises: Chevrolet, Honda, BMW, Volkswagen, Subaru, Mazda, Toyota, Scion and Kia all located on the Peninsula.