PHOENIX, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL),  announced Melinda Gulick as Arizona's Cox Conserves Hero. As her nonprofit of choice, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy will receive $10,000.

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Gulick was nominated for her long-standing commitment to and passion for Arizona's open space. By cultivating donors and working through complex financing models for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, she built important awareness among both corporations and citizens. She also volunteers for the Desert Foothills Land Trust, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, the City of Scottsdale Preserve Commission and the Desert Discovery Center Task Force.

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

• Jane Rau (McDowell Sonoran Conservancy)
• Maxine Lakin (Phoenix Mountains Preservation)

The finalists were nominated by the public and then selected by a judging circle, including:

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Legislative Director and Avondale City Councilman Jim Buster
• Chair of Arizona's House Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Committee Amanda Reeve
• Mesa City Councilman Dave Richins
• The Nature Conservancy's Cheryl Lombard
• The Trust for Public Land's Chris Byrne

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created through a partnership between TPL and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications, to honor everyday conservationists. Since the program launched in 2008, more than $190,000 has been donated to local environmental nonprofits. Cox Conserves Heroes also runs in Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Virginia.

Para más información, visita  CoxConservesHeroes.com or find us on Facebook.

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

Acerca de 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 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; for five years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com/espanol y 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 has completed 4,250 land conservation projects in 47 states, protecting 3 million acres. TPL has helped states and communities craft and pass more than 380 ballot measures, generating $34 billion in new conservation-related funding. In Arizona, TPL has conserved more than 250,000 acres including inholdings within the Aqua Fria National Monument. www.tpl.org

About Cox Conserves
Launched in 2007, Cox Conserves is the company's national sustainability program that seeks to reduce Cox Enterprises' energy consumption by embracing alternative forms of energy, conserving natural resources and inspiring eco-friendly behavior. The program engages each of the company's major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Manheim, AutoTrader.com and Cox Media Group) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 50,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

In Phoenix, Cox Enterprises generates alternative energy through solar installations at Cox Communications and Manheim. Cox Communications also is a past recipient of the International Citrix Innovation Award for its "green" call center program. Additionally, the company collects waste materials and sells them to recycling companies. Through the program, more than $39,000 has been given to local charities for youth-oriented education and development programs. www.coxconserves.com

SOURCE Cox Communications