Conservation work led by Ducks Unlimited will protect critical habitat and support coastal resilience for millions

Vital wetland conservation work, led by Ducks Unlimited (DU) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, received a major boost today, thanks to a $2.5 million grant from DU’s longstanding partner, the James M. Cox Foundation.

The grant will be used to advance critical habitat restoration projects to support waterfowl and wildlife and provide essential ecosystem services—such as clean water, coastal resilience and flood protection—for the more than 18 million people who live in the watershed in Virginia and across the Northeast.

"Thanks to the generous support of the James M. Cox Foundation and Jim Kennedy, we are achieving conservation outcomes that benefit both wildlife and communities," said Emily Purcell, DU Director of Conservation Programs. "These projects demonstrate that wetland restoration and land protection are investments in clean water, healthy ecosystems, and economic vitality for Virginians in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

The grant to Ducks Unlimited marks the continuation of the Foundation’s long-term commitment to restoring America’s wetlands. Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman, James M. Cox Foundation, is DU’s single-largest donor. In honor of Kennedy’s philanthropic legacy, Cox Enterprises recently announced a $100 million gift for DU’s land trust, Wetlands America Trust, to help conserve North America’s prairie region. That announcement was then followed with an additional $2.5 million grant to DU to support wetland conservation efforts in Louisiana earlier this year. In total, DU has received more than $200 million in combined support from the Foundation, Cox Enterprises and Kennedy.

“Cox is deeply committed to improving lives in the communities we serve, and that includes safeguarding our natural environments," said Jeff Merritt, Hampton Roads market vice president for Cox Communications – and a regional executive sponsor of the Cox Conserves Council, the company’s national sustainability program launched by Kennedy in 2007. "The Bay is a cornerstone of Virginia’s environmental health and economic vitality, and thanks to the James M. Cox Foundation, Ducks Unlimited can continue to champion and help protect this irreplaceable resource.”

The Chesapeake Bay, one of America’s most important estuaries, drives a robust outdoor recreation economy valued at over $63 billion, with the commercial seafood industry in Virginia and Maryland fueling $2.8 billion in annual sales and 20,000 jobs alone.

About Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.

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 biodiversity, conservation and environment; early childhood education; health; and empowering families and individuals for success.

About Cox Communications:

Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. As the largest private broadband company in America, we own network infrastructure that reaches more than 30 states. Our fiber-powered wireline and wireless connections are available to more than 12 million homes and businesses and support advanced cloud and managed IT services nationwide. We’re the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox that is dedicated to empowering others to build a better future for the next generation.

Through Cox Business, Hospitality Network, RapidScale and Segra, Cox Communications provides a broad commercial services portfolio including advanced cloud, managed IT and fiber-based network solutions that create connected environments, unique hospitality experiences and support operational applications for nearly 370,000 businesses.