Supporting the communities it serves is important to Cox Enterprises, parent company of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A big, recent example can be found in downtown Atlanta at the former headquarters of the AJC. Cox donated the six-acre parcel and its buildings to the city of Atlanta. The gift is valued at approximately $50 million.

The donation made sense for Cox, which is committed to the growth of the city. Said Jim Kennedy, chairman of Cox Enterprises, “Through our local media properties, the history of metro Atlanta and Cox Enterprises are inextricably linked. For almost 150 years, our companies have covered the events that helped shape our city, from Reconstruction through the civil rights era and beyond, and we will continue to do so.”

The site is also near the proposed multimodal transportation terminal. That makes it a key piece of the city and state’s long-term transportation plan. That provided another good fit with Cox, which encourages use of alternative transportation and eco-friendly behavior through its Cox Conserves national sustainability program. Access to multiple transportation options was, for example, a key factor in determining the location of the AJC’s new headquarters, which is adjacent to a MARTA rail station.

The philanthropy of Cox and its family members has long enhanced civic life in the Atlanta region and beyond. The company’s corporate giving is designed around three broad focus areas: preserving the environment; empowering individuals, families and communities; and promoting diversity and inclusion.

The company has long provided significant support for many not-for-profit organizations of varying sizes. The list includes the Woodruff Arts Center, the Grady Memorial Hospital campaign, the Beltline Partnership, the Carter Center, the Center for Working Families and North Fulton Community Charities.

Cox and its executives have also endowed university chairs in various disciplines. The company and its workers have also been ardent supporters of United Way and Earth Share of Georgia campaigns.

-- The AJC Editorial Board