MEMPHIS, Tenn. – April 7, 2021 – Thanks to the generosity of Cox Enterprises Chairman and former Wetlands America Trust President Jim Kennedy, Ducks Unlimited (DU) will have an additional $1.1 million to support wetlands conservation efforts along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana.
The James M. Cox Foundation, the company-affiliated foundation chaired by Kennedy, announced the donation. As the most generous individual donor in DU history, Kennedy is well- versed in the work Ducks Unlimited accomplishes across North America and is committed to helping DU achieve its conservation goals.
“I was always taught that you leave the world better than you found it, and that’s why I have chosen to help Ducks Unlimited any way I can,” Kennedy said. “Ducks Unlimited’s conservation work on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast not only benefits the waterfowl and wildlife that thrive in the landscape, but also helps support the communities surrounding this critical habitat.”
DU and the James M. Cox Foundation have a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and focus on giving back to the communities in which their team members work and
live. Cox has more than 45,000 employees in the U.S. including 1,200 who work in
Louisiana. Cox Communications provides broadband and cable services to residential and business customers, and Cox Automotive provides wholesale marketplaces and technology services to auto dealers.
For the foundation, the opportunity to help facilitate wetlands restoration efforts in Louisiana will not only benefit wildlife, but also those who depend on this area for their livelihoods.
“Jim Kennedy is one of DU’s most ardent supporters, and this contribution truly shows his passion for conservation,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Wild places like Louisiana’s Gulf Coast are disappearing at alarming rates, but thanks to generous contributions like this one we can help combat that loss and leave a legacy our children will be proud of.”
The coastal prairies, marshes and bays of the Gulf of Mexico are among North America’s most productive wetland systems. Tragically, they are also among the most threatened, with more than
90% of coastal wetland loss in the lower 48 states occurring here. Kennedy’s gift to Ducks Unlimited’s Gulf Coast Initiative will enable DU to conduct crucial conservation work along the coast, in addition to promoting science, public policy and outreach efforts. Conservation work under the Gulf Coast Initiative primarily focuses on the restoration and enhancement of high- quality coastal marsh and rice prairie wetland complexes. To date, more than 130,000 acres have been improved through the initiative.
For more information visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to follow DU’s news Twitter feed – @DUNews1937 – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.
About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is dedicated to building a better future through our leading communications, automotive and media companies. Our major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Automotive, and we are strategically investing in new industries and emerging technologies, with sizeable interests in clean technology and health care. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Cox is a global company with nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and brands that include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Cox Homelife. Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, the company is a family-owned business committed to its people, communities and planet. To learn more about Cox, visit coxenterprises.com, view our Sustainability Report at coxcsrreport.com, or follow us on Twitter via @CoxEnterprises or @AlexTaylor_Cox.
About the James M. Cox Foundation
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States. The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas including: conservation and environment; early childhood education; empowering families and individuals for success; and health.
Media Contact:
Matt Coffey (901) 758-3764 mcoffey@ducks.org