About The Program

Cox Conserves Heroes is an awards program created by Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) that honors volunteers who create, preserve or enhance the shared outdoor places in our communities. The program takes place in multiple Cox locations across the nation. To determine if the program is taking place in your community, please visit the area navigation on the left.

Phase One: Nominations
To select the Hero, each community is encouraged to nominate eco-friendly volunteers. A Hero should be someone who has helped to create, protect and/or care for an outdoor place available for public relaxation, reflection or recreation by the community. Learn who is eligible.

Phase Two: Finalists
The Heroes Judging Circle, a panel of civic leaders within the conservation field, selects the top finalists (the number may vary per market).

Phase Three: Voting
The finalists are profiled on the Cox Conserves Heroes website and in local media, during which, the public is asked to vote online for their favorite. Each finalist is encouraged to spread the word and ask friends, family and co-workers to vote.

Phase Four: The Hero
At the conclusion of the voting period, the finalist with the most votes will be selected as the Cox Conserves Hero for his or her area. A donation will be made on behalf of the Cox Conserves Hero and the finalists environmental nonprofits of choice.

Below is a list of organizations that have received financial support through the Cox Conserves Heroes program.

Atlanta:

• Friends of English Avenue ($10,000)
• Save Georgia’s Hemlocks ($10,000)
• South Fork Conservancy ($10,000)
• West Atlanta Watershed Alliance ($7,500)
• Mountain Stewards ($5,000)
• Park Pride ($5,000)
• Trees Atlanta ($5,000)
• Atlanta Audubon Society ($2,500)
• Go Outdoors USA ($2,500)
• Kirkwood Neighbors Organization ($2,500)
• R.E.D.E.E.M Community Outreach ($2,500)
• Elachee Nature Science Center ($1,250)
• Georgia Organics ($1,250)
• Johns Creek Community Wildlife Habitat ($1,250)
• Keeping It Wild ($1,250)
• Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy ($1,250)
• Sustainable Norcross ($1,250)

Arizona:

• McDowell Sonoran Conservancy ($12,500)
• Desert Harvesters and Green Infrastructure Planning ($10,000)
• Wild At Heart ($10,000)
• Arizona Native Plant Society ($2,500)
• Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace - Mission Garden ($2,500)
• Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center ($2,500)
• Phoenix Mountains Preservation ($2,500)
• Tigermountain Foundation ($2,500)

Louisiana:

• Friends of Lafitte Corridor ($10,000)
• The University Lakes Improvement and Preservation Association (TULIPA) ($10,000)
• New Orleans Food and Farm Network ($5,000)
• Jefferson Beautification, Inc. ($2,500)
• Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) ($2,500)
• Parkway Partners ($2,500)
• Parkway Partners NOLA ($2,500)
• The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation ($2,500)
• Lafayette Square Conservancy ($1,250)
• Operation Sudden Impact ($1,250)

Orange County (Calif.):

• Ocean Institute ($10,000)
• Environmental Nature Center ($5,000)
• Laguna Bluebelt Coalition ($5,000)
• Coastkeeper Garden ($2,500)
• Earthroots ($2,500)
• Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks ($2,500)
• South Coast Chapter of Trout Unlimited ($2,500)
• Canyonland Conservation Fund ($1,000)
• Naturalist for You ($1,000)

San Diego:

• Ocean Discovery Institute ($12,500)
• The Anza Borrego Foundation ($10,000)
• Chula Vista Nature Center (now Living Coast Discovery Center) ($10,000)
• San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project ($10,000)
• San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy ($10,000)
• Wildcoast ($10,000)
• Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation ($5,000)
• Chula Vista High School Peace Club ($5,000) 
• Endangered Habitats Conservancy ($5,000)
• Friends of Balboa Park ($5,000)
• Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy ($5,000)
• San Diego River Park Foundation ($5,000)
• A.R.C.H.E.S. ($2,500)
• Friends of Tecolote Canyon ($2,500)
• Grow Strong ($2,500)
• I Love A Clean San Diego ($2,500)
• Move San Diego ($2,500)
• Outdoor Outreach ($2,500)
• Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association ($2,500)
• Surfrider Foundation of San Diego ($2,500)
• Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve ($2,500)
• California Native Plant Society ($1,000)
• New Ocean Blue ($1,000)
• Preserve Calavera ($1,000)
• San Diego Canyonlands ($1,000)

San Francisco Bay Area:

• Berkeley Path Wanderers Association ($10,000)
• Pacifica Beach Coalition ($10,000)
• Committee for Green Foothills ($5,000)
• Pie Ranch ($5,000)
• San Francisco Bay Trail Project ($5,000)
• Bay Area Ridge Trail Council ($2,500)
• Berkeley Partners for Parks ($2,500)
• Friends of Alameda Wildlife Refuge ($2,500)
• Friends of Boeddeker Park ($2,500)
• Friends of Sausal Creek ($2,500)
• Familyhood Connection ($1,250)
• Northern Alameda County Group of the Sierra Club ($1,250)
• Oakland Landscape Committee ($1,250)
• Phat Beets Produce ($1,250)
• Quesada Gardens Initiative ($1,250)
• World Stewardship Institute ($1,250)

Santa Barbara:

• Environmental Defense Center ($10,000)
• Fairview Gardens ($5,000) 
• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ($5,000)
• Community Environmental Council ($2,500)
• Goleta Valley Beautiful ($1,000)

Virginia:

• Pathfinders for Greenways ($20,000)
• Tree Frederickburg ($10,000)
• Park Partners, Inc. ($5,000)
• Friends of Green Spring Gardens ($2,500)
• Friends of Norfolk’s Environment ($2,500)
• Herndon Environmental Network ($2,500)
• South Norfolk Neighborhood Watch ($2,500)
• Virginia Living Museum ($2,500)
• Western Virginia Land Trust ($2,500)
• Lynnhaven River Now ($1,250)
• Newport News Green Foundation ($1,250)
• Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission ($1,250)
• Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Foundation ($1,250)

Western Washington:

• Sustainable West Seattle ($10,000)
• North Olympic Land Trust ($5,000)
• Washington Wilderness Coalition ($5,000)
• WSU Island County Beach Watchers ($7,500)
• Metro Parks Tacoma ($2,500)
• Northwest Trek Foundation ($2,500)
• EarthCorps ($1,250)
• Forest Fire Lookout Association – Western Washington ($1,250)
• Greater Metro Parks Foundation ($1,250)
• Green Tacoma Partnership ($1,250)
• King Conservation District ($1,250)