About Heroes

Cox Conserves Heroes is an awards program created by Cox Enterprises and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) that honors Heroes among us who work to create, preserve, improve 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 market navigation on the left.

Phase One: Nominations
To select the Hero, each community is encouraged to nominate eco-friendly individuals. 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
TPL screens the initial applicants to a pool of twenty. The Heroes Judging Circle, a panel of civic leaders within the conservation field, then 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 market. A donation will be made to the Hero’s environmental charity of choice.

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

Atlanta:

• Mountain Stewards ($5,000)
• Trees Atlanta ($5,000)
• West Atlanta Watershed Alliance ($5,000)
• Park Pride ($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)

Hampton Roads, Virginia:

• Park Partners, Inc. ($5,000)
• 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)

New Orleans:

• New Orleans Food and Farm Network ($5,000)
• Parkway Partners NOLA ($2,500)
• Lafayette Square Conservancy ($1,250)
• Operation Sudden Impact ($1,250)

San Diego:

• Ocean Discovery Institute ($12,500)
• The Anza Borrego Foundation ($10,000)
• Chula Vista Nature Center ($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)
• A.R.C.H.E.S. ($2,500)
• Move San Diego ($2,500)
• Surfrider Foundation of San Diego ($2,500)
• Grow Strong ($2,500)
• Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve ($2,500)
• San Diego Canyonlands ($1,000)
• Preserve Calavera ($1,000)

San Francisco:

• Committee for Green Foothills ($5,000)
• Pie Ranch ($5,000)
• San Francisco Bay Trail Project ($5,000)
• Berkeley Partners for Parks ($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)

Western Washington:

• North Olympic Land Trust ($5,000)
• Washington Wilderness Coalition ($5,000)
• WSU Island County Beach Watchers ($5,000)
• 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)