CHESAPEAKE, Va., June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Bill Gordge as Virginia's 2013 Cox Conserves Hero. As Gordge's nonprofit of choice, Pathfinders for Greenways received $10,000.

Gordge was nominated for helping maintain Roanoke's section of the Appalachian Trail for three decades. He helped design, build and expand the local trail network, while also teaching crews and students about sustainable trail construction. His goal is to get people of all ages outdoors to appreciate the beauty of nature.

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

• Fairfax County/Fredericksburg: Carlin Anderson (Herndon Environmental Network)
• Hampton Roads: Jamie Walski (South Norfolk Civic League)

Anne Little was selected as Virginia's 2012 Cox Conserves Hero for her work with Tree Fredericksburg, an organization she launched with the goal of planting and sustaining an urban forest in the city. Chris Clifford was named Virginia's 2011 Cox Conserves Hero. He helped construct fifteen athletic fields at local schools and parks, as well as a park entrance road and a wildlife habitat pond.

Lynnhaven River Now, Newport News Green Foundation, Tree Fredericksburg,  Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission, Virginia Living Museum, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation and Western Virginia Land Trust have also received donations through the Cox Conserves Heroes program in Virginia.  

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 volunteers.  The program also runs in Arizona, Atlanta, Louisiana, Orange County (Calif.), San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Nearly $300,000 has been donated to local nonprofits through the Cox Conserves Heroes program.

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or find us on 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 Land
Founded 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 Conserves
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