Cox Charities Virginia Awards $145,000 to 15 Non-Profits Supporting Youth and Education Initiatives

CHESAPEAKE, Va., Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cox Communications awarded $145,000 total in grants to 15 non-profit organizations in Virginia through the Cox Charities grants program.  Cox Charities provides funding to non-profit groups that support youth, education and technology within Cox Virginia communities.  The grants presented today are part of the more than $8.5 million Cox contributes annually through cash and in-kind support to the communities where they do business. The organizations selected to receive Cox Charities grants are:

Hampton Roads

• Phoebus High School was awarded a $10,000 grant for the Mission STEM-POSSIBLE Program, which seeks to increase the number of girls and minorities in middle and high school STEM courses and career development programs.  Funds will specifically support the Phoebus FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2028.  This program provides high school students as mentors to middle school minority girls in context of robotics, applied STEM and competition preparation for FIRST Lego League robotics.  
• The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the Transition to Work program, which helps high school students with disabilities successfully transition from special education programs to employment.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the Youth of the Year program, which provides recognition, leadership and character development and educational and career opportunities.
• The Up Center received a $10,000 grant to fund activities and programs in support of fulling their mission.  The Up Center strives to improve the lives of children living in primarily single-parent families and youth in foster care by matching them with an adult mentor who can provide a stable and positive influence.
• YWCA South Hampton Roads received a $10,000 grant for the YWCA KIDS Before and After School Program in the City of Norfolk.  This program, serving primarily children ages 4-12, integrates academic enrichment programming to help improve grades in English and math and promotion to the next grade level.
• Chesapeake Health Investment Program was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the Parents as Teachers program, which provides information, support and encouragement to parents to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
• Young Audiences of Virginia has received a $10,000 grant to fund their Curriculum Plus program.  Curriculum Plus exposes students, regardless of their economic resources, to the disciplines of music, dance, theater, story-telling, visual and literary arts through a variety of innovative Core Curriculum, Literacy and STEM-based programming.

Northern Virginia

• FACETS Cares enriches the lives of children affected by poverty, with high-quality after-school enrichment and education programs.  This organization was awarded $10,000 to support programming focused on tutoring, mentoring and building positive social peer groups, which lead to success in school, encourage healthy attitudes and behaviors and ultimately break the cycle of poverty.
• Literacy Council of Northern Virginia was awarded a $10,000 grant in support of the Family Learning Program.  This program is specifically designed for the unique needs of immigrant families, focused on breaking the inter-generational cycle of illiteracy and improving livelihood through reading and comprehension.
• Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts harnesses the power of the performing arts to teach STEM fundamentals to pre-K students and Kindergartners.  The $5,000 grant awarded to Wolf Trap will allow 60 teachers to foster excitement of STEM subjects to over 1,000 children in Northern Virginia.
• Northern Virginia Family Services received a $10,000 grant in support of the 1-2-1 mentoring program designed to enhance the self-esteem and resilience of middle school aged youth.  Through the 1-2-1 program, NVFS is able to reach at-risk students to improve their social and academic skills.
• Stafford Junction was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund Brain Builders – an after school program that fosters academic achievement and positive character development and healthy lifestyles.  At Brain Builders, students receive help with homework, math and reading skills, and assistance with school projects.

Roanoke

• Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund programs focused on improving the quality of care and early childhood education to ensure every child in the Roanoke Valley enters Kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed.  
• West End Center was awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the West End Center Technology Access Project.  This project is designed to enhance the learning experience for students through computer use and Smart Board technology, focusing on areas of literacy, mathematics and technology.
• Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley was awarded a $10,000 Cox Charities grant to fund CHIP FIT, a program addressing the growing epidemic of childhood obsesity in the Greater Roanoke Valley's low-income population.  This program includes a unique, home visiting intervention focusing on education and case management and seeks to address causative factors and increase protective factors among families.

"Connecting with the communities we serve is an important part of our operations and is at the core of our company values," said Gary McCollum, senior vice president and general manager for Cox Virginia.  "We're proud to give back to these 15 outstanding organizations today that are doing their part to enhance the lives of others and improve the places our employees and customers live and work."

Philanthropy through Cox Charities:
Cox Charities awards grants on an annual basis and is open to qualifying organizations. Qualifying organizations must provide education programs that further the academic achievement and development of young people through science and technology, mentoring, literacy and other areas promoting youth education.

Criteria used in selecting the winning submissions, included (but was not limited to): how well the applicant demonstrated a pressing need; how well the applicant demonstrated use of innovation or creative techniques in service delivery; and how well the applicant demonstrated the sustainability of the program as well as the ability for their program to be replicated.

Cox Communications is grateful to the Advisory Committee of distinguished representatives who selected the winning organizations. The Advisory Committee is comprised of community and business leaders. Cox Charities Virginia Advisory Committee members are:

Hampton Roads

• Beatriz Amberman, Chair, Virginia Latino Advisory Board
• Golden H. Bethune-Hill, Hampton Roads community leader
• The Honorable John A. Cosgrove, Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates
• Gary McCollum, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cox Virginia
• Glenn Oder, Executive Director, Fort Monroe Authority
• Scott Sale, Vice President of Business Operations, Cox Virginia
• Jagdish A. Singh, President of Citizens First and Member of Virginia Council on Human Rights
• The Honorable Ronald A. Villanueva, Delegate, Virginia General Assembly
• The Honorable William E. Ward, Former Mayor, City of Chesapeake
• Edith G. White, President/CEO, Urban League of Hampton Roads
• Ex-Officio:  William R. Reid, EVP, Charitable Pledge Processing

Northern Virginia

• Jim Corcoran, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools
• Eileen Ellsworth, President of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
• Kathryn Falk, Vice President, Public Affairs and Government Affairs, Cox Virginia
• Glenn Kinard, Regional President of PNC Bank, Fredericksburg
• Forrest Parker, Regional Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Fredericksburg Regional Branch
• Allen Roberts, Vice President, Cox Business, Cox Virginia
• Jeanne Sanders, Executive Director of Volunteer Fairfax
• Patricia Stevens, Executive Director of the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships (OP3)

Roanoke

• Beth Doughty, Executive Director, Roanoke Regional Partnership
• Frank Rogan, President and CEO, United Way of Roanoke Valley
• Dr. Robert Sandel, President, Virginia Western Community College
• Kim Stanley, Market Vice President, Roanoke Operations, Cox Virginia

For more information on the 2013 grant awards program and how to apply for a grant, visit www.coxcharities.org.

About Cox Communications:

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising.

Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for seven years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

SOURCE Cox Communications