Cox Communications Community Commitment Report

Every day, in communities from coast to coast, through company contributions and employee volunteers, Cox makes a difference. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, a Boys and Girls Club member uses a Cox-furnished computer lab with high-speed Internet connection to do homework. A group of elementary students in Las Vegas hears Cox employee Paul Voutsinas talk about the importance of a good education. In New Orleans, a 10-year-old boy in a wheelchair rolls to the front of a packed auditorium to receive the Cox Everyday Heroes award for his drive to succeed despite the odds. And in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, a 13-year-old watches a Cox-sponsored anti-drug message and decides drugs aren’t worth the consequences. In 2003, these and many other Cox-supported initiatives totaled more than $105 million in cash and in-kind contributions, including more than $85 million in advertising time to help local and national community groups and causes. Our diversity initiatives go beyond the walls of our buildings and into the communities where we operate. Nearly 15 percent of all contributions support organizations that benefit primarily people of color and women. The next several pages spotlight a few of the many community projects and initiatives that Cox employees perform daily in communities throughout the company’s operations nationwide.

Students Jeff Madge and Rick Reitz receive an award from Cox’s Phoenix system at a Cox-produced black tie event that recognizes everyday heroes in education.

Recognizing Everyday Heroes

Teachers and school administrators play vital roles in the well-being of a community. To recognize these unsung heroes, Cox’s Phoenix system produces Everyday Heroes, a black-tie event to honor top teachers, administrators and students. The event is broadcast live on Cox’s own local channel, Cox9, and features performances from talented high school students, and the presentation of nearly $40,000 in scholarships and prizes. Everyday Heroes honors individuals for demonstrating character, honor and outstanding achievement in the classroom and on the athletic fields.

A student is honored at one of several Cox Heroes banquets where unsung community champions are recognized for overcoming obstacles.

Overcoming Obstacles

In several Cox markets, through the Cox Heroes program, the company honors students who have overcome substantial obstacles. The program started 11 years ago in New Orleans and has recognized more than 2,000 students nationwide.

Paul Voutsinas speaks to students at an elementary school in Las Vegas through Cox’s Careers on Wheels program, which has reached more than 10,000 students in two years.

Volunteering in Vegas

Through Cox’s Careers on Wheels program, Cox employees speak to students about careers, safety and the importance of an education. Through this project and other speaking engagements, Cox employees have reached more than 10,000 students in the Las Vegas area over the past two years. More than 500 teachers have received certified training classes from Cox employees over the past three years. In 2003, a school was named for Steve Schorr, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Cox Las Vegas, for his many years of support to the Clark County School District in southern Nevada.

Championing Children

In New England, Cox Charities lends a hand to help children meet their fullest potential. In 2003, Cox Charities awarded nearly $100,000 to provide safe and enriching afterschool programs for kids. From mentoring programs, to internship opportunities, to literacy workshops, Cox Charities’ grants help meet community needs. Providence, Rhode Island Mayor David Cicilline says, “Cox Communications has been such a responsible corporate supporter. Your contributions are in just the right places.” Gregg Pappas, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket, Rhode Island says, “These programs provide places for kids to get help with their homework, receive a hot, nutritious meal, and participate in fun activities, including art and music classes, athletics and special projects to help others and to discover their own skills, too.”

Backing Arts Education

In Macon, Georgia, Cox’s GrandKids, an arts education video program, teaches students about music, dance and theater. Cox produced the video and other education materials for the project in partnership with a local opera house. Since the program began in 1996, GrandKids has reached more than 30,000 third- through sixth-grade students.

Supporting Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement enables caring business professionals to share their experience with students and to show them what it takes to be successful. Cox’s Cleveland system is an active supporter of Junior Achievement and supplies both employee mentors and direct cash contributions to programs in area schools.

Students in Fort Smith, Arkansas thank Cox for a new computer technology lab.

Powering Schools with Cox Technology

For nearly 10 years, Cox has provided both cash and in-kind support to create Model Technology Schools across the country. These schools are on the cutting edge of integrating technology and learning to provide students with virtual classroom experiences. Sunnymede Elementary School in Fort Smith, Arkansas is one of the Cox Model Technology Schools that uses Cox’s powerful technology to engage students in e-learning and give them access to resources beyond the classroom walls.

Leading Community Fundraisers

Employees in Cox’s Humboldt system help make Humboldt California’s largest per capita walk for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Through the years, Cox employees have donated countless hours and have raised thousands of dollars for cancer research.

Valuing Diversity

Diversity is a critical part of our culture, values and business operations. Here, diversity starts with understanding, valuing and representing the varied needs, gifts and priorities of employees, customers, communities and suppliers. Within Cox, the diversity of people, products and partners helps create an enviable company culture and enhance the growth and vitality of all Cox stakeholders. Diversity initiatives go beyond the internal workings of the company and into the communities where employees live and work. In 2003, 15 percent of cash and in-kind contributions supported groups and causes that benefit primarily women and people of color. In Cox’s Northern Virginia system, Howard University students participate in a Cox-led mentoring and media sales training program for minority students. Through Spanish-language public service announcements paid for by Cox, Hispanic families in the company’s Omaha system learn how to register their children for school and how to apply for free support services.

Providing Computers for Families

Cox Santa Barbara provides both cash and in-kind support to Computers for Families, a non-profit organization that provides refurbished computers and high-speed Internet to disadvantaged families. Since 1999, nearly 4,000 families have benefited from the program.

Cox’s Line to Learning events link students through online video conferencing to experts in business, arts and education.

Educating America’s Youth

Support of youth and education programs is the cornerstone of Cox’s community outreach. The company is a founding member of Cable in the Classroom, a national non-profit organization that provides commercial-free TV programming and online resources to students, teachers and administrators in 81,000 public and private schools. Schools in Cox systems receive free cable programming along with other in-kind services and direct cash contributions that total millions of dollars annually.

Fostering Freedom

Cox’s Gulf Coast system, which covers Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, has won state and national awards for its youth and education work. The company received the George Washington Medal from the Freedom Foundation for Cox’s Student Heroes breakfast. The Foundation recognizes people and businesses that epitomize the standards for freedom set by the founding fathers. Cox Gulf Coast also won the Florida’s Best Award, given by the Florida Governor’s Office to recognize outstanding business and education partnerships.

Encouraging Ethical Business Practices

Believing that ethical business practices translate into stronger, more stable communities, the Cox West Texas system sponsored an Ethical Leadership Conference for area community and business leaders. The company helped provide speakers such as renowned author and lecturer Dr. Stephen Covey, who addressed the group with his message Effective People are Ethical People. Former President George Bush delivered the keynote address to the more than 1,400 attendees. Cox President and CEO Jim Robbins was also a speaker.

Playing Santa

Employees in North Carolina played Santa for area needy children by purchasing over 1,000 toys and donating more than $10,000 to the Toys for Tots program.

Through the Cox Kids Foundation’s support of the “Use Your Head, Wear a Helmet” program, more than 1,000 children receive free helmets.

Improving the Well-Being of Children

The Cox San Diego system created the Cox Kids Foundation, which makes grants to children’s causes such as Make-A-Wish and the San Diego Children’s Hospital Speech and Hearing Center. The Foundation also provides scholarships for college students and awards grants to middle school teachers to fund innovative education projects. Since 2000, the organization has contributed more than $1.2 million to improve the education, health and well-being of San Diego County’s children. Today,over 900 employees contribute to the Foundation from every paycheck, and the company matches their donation 100 percent.