BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Bart Everson as Louisiana's 2013 Cox Conserves Hero.  The announcement was made during a special presentation at Keep Louisiana Beautiful's annual volunteer conference.

As Everson's nonprofit of choice, Friends of Lafitte Corridor will receive $10,000. 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. An annual hike of the route has grown from 3 to 400 participants.

Each of the finalists received $2,500 to donate to their environmental nonprofits of choice:

Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, the public was asked to nominate volunteers in Acadiana, Baton Rouge and New Orleans who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces. The finalists were then chosen by a judging panel of local environmental leaders, and the winner was selected through online public voting.

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created in 2008 through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications, to honor environmental volunteers.  The program also runs in Arizona, Atlanta, Orange County (Calif.), San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Virginia. More than $350,000 has been donated to local nonprofits and more than 100 volunteers have been recognized 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 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 seven 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 eight times, including the last seven 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 LandFounded in 1972, The Trust for Public Land is the leading nonprofit working to conserve land for people. Operating from more than 30 offices nationwide, The Trust for Public Land has protected more than three million acres from the inner city to the wilderness and helped generate more than $34 billion in public funds for conservation. 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. 

About Cox ConservesThe parent company of Cox Communications, Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. 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.com) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 50,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

SOURCE Cox Communications

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