ATLANTA -

Communications and auto services company Cox Enterprises announced late last week that it will be making a $1 million donation to support efforts to protect and conserve Georgia’s natural resources.

The gift from the James M. Cox Foundation, an organization that provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company does business, will go to The Nature Conservancy’s “Georgia for Generations” campaign.

The contribution from Cox Enterprises, headquartered in Atlanta, will be given in the form of $250,000 annually over the next four years.

Donating to the initiative helps ensure that clean water and air and a healthy economy in Georgia are a reality for generations to come, the Nature Conservancy stressed.

"The James M. Cox Foundation and Cox Enterprises have supported The Nature Conservancy for more than 20 years, and the ‘Georgia for Generations’ campaign allows us to make a lasting impact by protecting and conserving our state’s natural resources for future generations," said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises, who also serves as an honorary co-chair of the “Georgia for Generations” $25 million campaign.

To date, more than $16 million has been raised toward the aforementioned goal.

"We all need to do our part, and my hope is that this gift will inspire others to make a difference in a way that feels right to them,” Kennedy added.

The company’s gift comes on top of a $1 million donation from Kennedy and his wife Sarah, who also actively support other environmental organizations such as the Path Foundation, a nonprofit that works to build trails throughout Georgia.

"We’re thrilled to accept this gift from the James M. Cox Foundation and to have Jim Kennedy serve as co-chair of this campaign," said Shelly Lakly, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia.

"Jim’s passion for the environment is truly inspirational, and this gift allows us to pursue conservation opportunities that will improve the health of our rivers, extend the borders of protected forest land and maintain the Georgia coast,” she continued.

According to Cox enterprises, the Kennedy’s dedication to the environment served as a catalyst for the launch of Cox Conserves in 2007, the company’s national sustainability program.

Cox Conserves seeks to reduce the business energy consumption by embracing alternative forms of energy, conserving natural resources and inspiring eco-friendly behavior, the company noted.