ATLANTA, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Channel 2 WSB-TV, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), today announced finalists for Atlanta‘s 2011 Cox Conserves Heroes program. The winning Hero, to be chosen by an online public vote, will be awarded $5,000 to donate to the environmental nonprofit of his or her choice. The four finalists each will receive $1,250 to donate to their nonprofits of choice.

The public is being asked to vote now through November 7. To vote, visit wsbtv.com/CoxConservesHeroes.

Atlanta‘s 2011 Cox Conserves Heroes finalists (environmental nonprofit of choice):

• Connie Weathers (Sustainable Norcross)
• Greg Burson (Park Pride)
• Lane Hurst (Elachee Nature Science Center)
• Malcolm Barnard (Johns Creek Community Wildlife Habitat)
• Na’Taki Osborne-Jelks (West Atlanta Watershed Alliance)

Atlanta‘s 2011 Cox Conserves Hero will be announced November 18.

The finalists were selected by a judging circle comprised of environmental leaders, including:

• 2009 Cox Conserves Hero Don Wells
• 2010 Cox Conserves Hero Angel Poventud
• New House LLC President Lewis Perkins
• Southface’s Chief Operating Officer Michael Halicki
• Chattahoochee Hills’ Director of Parks and Recreation Diane Harnell Cohen
• State of Georgia‘s Director of Land Resources Division Curt Soper

This is the third year for Atlanta‘s Cox Conserves Heroes program. Wells was named Atlanta‘s 2009 Cox Conserves Hero. As Wells’ environmental nonprofit of choice, Mountain Stewards received $5,000. In 2010, Poventud was named Atlanta‘s Cox Conserves Hero and selected Trees Atlanta to receive $5,000. Georgia Organics, the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy, Keeping It Wild and Park Pride have also received donations through the Cox Conserves Heroes program.

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or find us on Facebook.

Social Media: #CoxConservesHeroes and #CoxConservesHero

About Cox Conserves Heroes (CoxConservesHeroes.com)

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created through a partnership between TPL and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Channel 2 WSB-TV, to honor everyday conservationists. Since the program launched in 2008, nearly $150,000 has been donated to local environmental nonprofits. Cox Conserves Heroes also runs in Hampton Roads, Va.; Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.

About Channel 2 WSB-TV (wsbtv.com)

Part of Cox Media Group, Channel 2 WSB-TV is an ABC affiliate and ranks as Atlanta‘s number one local television station. Cox Media Group, Inc. is an integrated broadcasting, publishing, direct marketing and digital media company that includes the national advertising rep firms of Cox Reps. With $1.8 billion in revenue, the company operations include 15 broadcast television stations and one local cable channel, 85 radio stations, eight daily newspapers and more than a dozen non-daily publications, and more than 100 digital services. Additionally, CMG owns and operates Valpak, one of the leading direct marketing companies in North America.

About The Trust for Public Land (tpl.org)

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 nearly 5,000 land conservation projects in 46 states, protecting 3 million acres. TPL has helped states and communities craft and pass over 382 ballot measures, generating $34 billion in local conservation funds. In Georgia, TPL has conserved more than 20,000 acres and has three primary programmatic areas: Parks for People (including the Atlanta BeltLine), Chattahoochee River Protection Campaign and Georgia Green (G2).

SOURCE The Trust for Public Land