Girl Scout Leader/WiLDCOAST volunteer named finalist

    Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL), today announced their finalists for San Diego’s third annual Cox Conserves Heroes program. Sponsored locally by Think Blue San Diego, the program invites the San Diego community to nominate adults and youth who volunteer their time for environmental and community causes.

    Cox Communications and TPL launched the Cox Conserves Heroes program to inspire more people to take an active role in neighborhood conservation, while also providing financial support to local environmental nonprofits. Until August 5, the public may learn more about the finalists at www.4sd.com and then cast their vote at www.coxconservesheroes.com.  On August 19, the winners will be recognized during an on-field ceremony at the San Diego Padres game at PETCO Park. The Cox Conserves Heroes program will then award a total of $35,000 to the environmental nonprofits of their choice.

    Irene Barajas of San Ysidro, a WiLDCOAST volunteer who leads a troop of 60 Girl Scouts, was selected as one of six finalists. This honor makes her eligible to receive up to $10,000 in prize money for the environmental organization of her choice.

    “Irene has been dedicated to working with her Troop 5912 and WiLDCOAST to clean up and restore wildlife habitat in the Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP). We’re so excited that Irene was chosen as a Cox Conserves Heroes finalist and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her hard work and her commitment to her Girl Scouts and the environment,” said A.J. Schneller, WiLD COAST’s OVRP Conservation Program Manager.

    Cox selected Irene for her outstanding efforts in fostering pro-environmental consciousness. Irene, her Girl Scout troop, and their parents have coordinated and facilitated over 65 conservation-oriented volunteer projects to restore and rehabilitate OVRP. The troop has weeded, planted, watered and cultivated a love for the park and the ecological restoration projects there. Irene sees these projects as key to nurturing an environmental consciousness in girls who otherwise lead very urban lives.