2008 Beacon Awards Winners: Community Relations

Cable System 1

Volunteer New Orleans

Cox Communications New Orleans

Metarie, LA

The concept of Volunteer New Orleans (VNO) was created by a Cox employee who felt a more comprehensive initiative and Web site was needed

to help guide those interested in assisting New Orleans in its recovery. Cox found a web designer to create www.volunteerneworleans.com pro bono. A partnership between Cox, Volunteers of America and United Way provided VNO a staff of 6 paid, volunteer coordinators to assist with placing thousands of volunteers with needy organizations. In March 2007 VNO’s Volunteer Week recruited more than 630 volunteers to partner with Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans City Park and Volunteers of America to build homes in the Musician’s Village.

Cable System 2

Cox Connects Day Carnival

Cox Communications

RSM, CA

Annually, each of the 16 Cox Communications cable systems across the nation participates in Cox Connects Day, a day of service inviting associates to volunteer with our local Boys & Girls Clubs. In 2007 Cox partnered with all five South Orange County Boys & Girls Clubs and created a free day of fun dubbed the Cox Connects Day Carnival. More than 500 children and their families attended the event while associate volunteer participation increased by 46%. Through creative fundraising events such as an online computer auction and silent auction, Cox raised $25,597 to pay for the event and donate $2,500 to each club.

Cable System 3

Hands Helping Heroes

Time Warner Cable

Charlotte, NC

Time Warner Cable’s Charlotte Division Hands Helping Heroes program focuses its cash contributions and in-kind resources toward crime prevention through education. The goals of the program were to streamline the Division’s community relations efforts and to improve TWC’s positive exposure in the community. The Division funded two projects at $50,000 each through the program: a crime-fighting initiative with the Gastonia Police Department and a 9th Grade Academy in Kannapolis’ A.L. Brown High School. In addition to the cash contribution, TWC provided extensive in-kind resources to the projects, including volunteers, production time and airtime.

MSO

Take Charge! Smart Choices for Your Cox Digital Home

Cox Communications, Inc.

Atlanta, GA

Social networking sites like MySpace.com have raised concerns about risky online behavior that could put children at risk to online predators. As a major provider of high-speed Internet, Cox works to educate its customers to help them make safer, smarter choices online. Through its “Take Charge” program Cox seeks to empower parents, protect children, educate lawmakers and position the company as a community supporter. Through its work with national partners, Cox delivered its message directly to key audiences, including customers and Capitol Hill.

Cable Network 1

All-Star Teacher/Stay in School Challenge

Fox Sports Net/Bay Area

San Francisco, CA

FSN Bay Area developed the All-Star Teacher Award to honor middle and high school teachers, and it was the newest component of the network’s annual Stay in School Challenge, an outreach program that addresses the issue of absenteeism among middle and high school students. When the network announced the five finalists, it invited the general public to vote for their choice for the 2007 All-Star Teacher Award. On July 7, 2007, FSN Bay Area presented the award live on stage during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game FanFest at the Moscone West Convention Center and presented the winner a $10,000 check for his school.

Cable Network 2

My Lifetime Commitment: Don’t Skip a Beat

Lifetime Television

New York, NY

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women. In the 2nd year of Lifetime’s women’s heart health campaign, the Network expanded its efforts by teaming up with First Lady Laura Bush, Angela Bassett and The Heart Truth to tape original PSAs and a fun, high-energy opening video for The Heart Truth ’s 2007 Red Dress Collection Fashion Show held during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC to raise awareness of women’s risk for heart disease. The Network also launched a robust “Don’t Skip a Beat” mini-site on LifetimeTV.com trafficking nearly 500,000 visitors throughout February and distributed 20,000+ educational materials at “National Women’s Health Day” fairs nationwide.

Other

WWE WrestleMania Reading Challenge

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Stamford, CT

With technology moving as fast as sound and whiz kids making headlines, there is a group that’s quietly, but quickly, slipping between the cracks. In schools across America, teenagers are struggling to read. With a proven track record of school programs that got the attention of students many teachers couldn’t touch, WWE saw an opportunity to fight their biggest battle ever. In a tag team event, the WWE joined forces with the American Library Association’s young adult division to bring the WWE WrestleMania Reading Challenge into 498 libraries across the nation.