ATLANTA, April 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises announced today a $50,000 gift to the Chattahoochee Nature Center  de  The James M. Cox Foundation. The gift will support the "Explore Your Watershed" exhibit, which provides hands-on learning opportunities about the components of a healthy watershed.

"The James M. Cox Foundation has been partnering with the Chattahoochee Nature Center for more than a decade, making it possible for the Center to expand our programs that provide the public with the knowledge necessary to care for our local environment," said the Center's Executive Director Ann Bergstrom. "The recent grant will allow the Center to enrich this dialogue with our visitors by developing a series of outdoor interpretative messages that will reveal how all species are connected and dependent on each other to maintain the web of life."

The Center is located on the Chattahoochee River and is comprised of 127 acres of native plants and gardens. It has a River Boardwalk, Discovery Center, wetland demonstration gardens and woodland trails that are home to more than 50 species of injured, non-releasable wildlife. Founded by local citizens in the mid-1970s, the Chattahoochee Nature Center connects with more than 100,000 children and adults each year.

"The Chattahoochee River is a vital natural resource for the Southeast region, and the Chattahoochee Nature Center helps people understand its importance," said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises. "We are excited to partner with this organization because they provide a fantastic learning environment and help connect people with the nature around them."

In addition to the gift from The James M. Cox Foundation, Cox Enterprises is a long-time supporter of the Center and annually supports the Rockin' at the River event to fund environmental education programs. Cox supports a number of environmental nonprofits and has completed conservation projects across the nation through Cox Conserves, the company's national sustainability program.

About The James M. Cox Foundation

The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

About Chattahoochee Nature Center

Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) is located at 9135 Willeo Road in Roswell, Ga., and can be reached by phone at 770-992-2055 x 228. CNC is dedicated to introducing people to the ecology of the Chattahoochee River watershed and works to provide a learning environment that allows people to better understand their impact on the natural world and make informed decisions. Please visit them online at www.chattnaturecenter.org.

SOURCE Cox Enterprises