PHOENIX, April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), is seeking nominations for Arizona's second annual Cox Conserves Heroes awards program. Nominations are being accepted at www.cox7.com/cox-conserves for volunteers in Metro Phoenix and Southern Arizona who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

A total of $15,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the winner and two finalists.

A judging panel comprised of civic and environmental leaders will select three finalists who will then compete to be named Arizona's 2013 Cox Conserves Hero. The winner will be chosen through an online public vote.

A nominee's activity must be performed on a volunteer basis and may not be part of the individual's paid job.

Nominations are accepted through 5 p.m. MST on May 20 at www.cox7.com/cox-conserves.

Arizona's Cox Conserves Heroes Timeline:

• Nominations:  April 15 – May 20
• Voting:  Late June
• Winner Announcement: August

Melinda Gulick was named Arizona's 2012 Cox Conserves Hero 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.

The program takes place in multiple Cox markets across the nation and has donated more than $280,000 to local environmental nonprofits. Since launching in 2008, the program has recognized 25 Cox Conserves Heroes and 72 finalists. Para más información, visita  www.CoxConservesHeroes.com o Facebook.

Acerca de Cox Communications
Cox Communications is the third largest cable provider and a multi-service broadband communications company serving nearly 3 million residential and business product subscribers in Arizona (a product subscriber represents an individual service purchased by a customer). In metro Phoenix, Cox serves approximately 2.5 million product subscribers. In Southern Arizona, Cox serves approximately 400,000 product subscribers. Cox's 18,500-mile hybrid fiber coaxial cable network throughout Phoenix and Southern Arizona provides homes and businesses with digital television, high speed Internet, home networking, high-definition television and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network.

During the past nine years, Cox has topped numerous J.D. Power and Associates' studies of customer satisfaction, most recently receiving top honors for residential telephone & high speed Internet, and business data services and has received PC Magazine's "people's choice" award for the sixth time. Cox Media is responsible for the sale of cable advertising throughout Arizona. Cox Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises and serves approximately 6 million customers nationwide. Additional information about Cox in Arizona is available at www.cox.com/arizona.

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. Más información en tpl.org

About Cox Conserves
Launched in 2007 by Chairman Jim Kennedy, 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, Cox Media Group and AutoTrader.com) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 50,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

In Phoenix, Cox Enterprises generates alternative energy through its 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. The proceeds are given to local charities and help fund grants for youth-oriented education and development programs run by area nonprofits. www.coxconserves.com

SOURCE Cox Communications