Channel 2 WSB-TV and The Trust for Public Land are accepting nominations for Atlanta's 2015 Cox Conserves Heroes program at wsbtv.com/coxconservesheroes through August 17. The program honors Metro Atlanta volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

A total of $20,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the winner and finalists. Nominee activities must be performed on a volunteer basis and may not be part of an individual's paid job.

A judging panel of civic and environmental leaders will select three finalists who will then compete to be named Atlanta's 2015 Cox Conserves Hero. The winner will be chosen through an online public vote.

This is the seventh year the Cox Conserves Heroes program has taken place in Atlanta. The previous recipients of Atlanta's Cox Conserves Heroes award are Bob Scott, John Gordon, Donna Shearer, Na'Taki Osborne-Jelks, Angel Poventud and Don Wells.

Financial support from Cox Conserves Heroes has helped create community gardens, build trails, plant trees, provide environmental education, maintain parks, as well as create outdoor classrooms and certified wildlife habitats at area schools throughout Metro Atlanta.

The following Metro Atlanta organizations have received financial support from the Cox Conserves Heroes program: Atlanta Audubon Society, Elachee Nature Science Center, Friends of English Avenue, Georgia Organics, Go Outdoors USA, Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy, Johns Creek Community Wildlife Habitat, Keeping It Wild, Kirkwood Neighbors Organization, Mountain Stewards, Park Pride, R.E.D.E.E.M Community Outreach, Save Georgia's Hemlocks, South Fork Conservancy, Sustainable Norcross, Trees Atlanta, and the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.

The Cox Conserves Heroes program was created through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Channel 2 WSB-TV, to honor everyday volunteers. Cox Conserves Heroes also takes place in Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Virginia. Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, more than $525,000 has been donated to environmental nonprofits and nearly 150 volunteers have been recognized.

For more information, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com or Facebook.