Fairfax, VA — Cox Communications employees awarded a total of $35,000 in grants to local nonprofits, through Cox Charities Community Investment Grants, during today’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting. The Cox Charities program provides employee funded grants of up to $5,000 to support a special program benefiting residents in the area. Earlier this year, organizations were invited to submit applications for funding.
During today’s meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution extending their gratitude to Cox employees for philanthropy and charitable initiatives to residents in Northern Virginia.
This year’s recipients of the Cox Charities Community Investment Grants are:
- Cornerstones, Inc. – Funds will support Cornerstones’ Food Hub, a 10,000-square-foot facility that rescues surplus food and redistributes it to local organizations serving families in need. Funding will help expand food recovery operations, maintain climate-controlled storage, and improve inventory tracking—reducing food waste while increasing access to healthy meals across the Dulles corridor.
- Falls Church Education Foundation – Funds will expand Meridian High School’s student-led plastic recycling program by purchasing an indoor injection mini machine, modular molds, a portable manual shredder, and a PET filament maker. These tools will improve accessibility, increase efficiency, and allow students to recycle a wider range of plastics, including water bottles, into usable materials.
- Main Street Child Development Center – Funds will support Main Street Child Development Center’s year-round preschool program for at-risk children ages 2–5, providing STEAM-based education, inclusion services, nutritious meals, outdoor play, and early intervention screenings. This investment ensures school readiness and long-term success for children from low-income families.
- Reading is Fundamental – Funds will support bulk book purchases and distribution events at local schools, providing age-appropriate books to children. The program fosters literacy and community engagement, with opportunities for volunteers — including Cox employees — to help hand out books and inspire young readers.
- Smart Community Stem Camp, Inc. — Funds will support SCSC’s K–12 STEM programs in Stafford County, including high school summer camps, middle school drone clubs, and elementary STEM Nights. This investment will expand access to emerging technology education, hands-on learning, and mentorship opportunities that prepare students for future careers.
- Year Up, Inc. — Funds will support Year Up United’s workforce training programs in Northern Virginia and D.C., providing technical and professional skills development, internships with corporate partners, and career coaching for young adults. Funding will also expand Career Connect at Northern Virginia Community College, offering essential skills training and job readiness support for graduating students.
- Western Fairfax Christian Ministries — Funds will support Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ emergency food and housing assistance programs, helping families at risk of hunger and homelessness. Funding will sustain food distribution through Free Food Markets, satellite fridges, and refrigerated vans, as well as provide rent and utility support and access to diapers and financial self-sufficiency services.
“In 2025, Cox Charities played a crucial role in advancing Year Up’s mission to close the Opportunity Divide for young adults pursuing STEM careers in the D.C. region,” said Madeline Hatcher, Institutional Giving Manager for Year Up. “Cox’s generous support has provided our young adults with essential resources and opportunities that significantly contribute to their career readiness and personal development in the Information Technology and Software fields. We are deeply grateful to Cox as a partner in this work and appreciate the tangible difference Cox has made in helping us create pathways to success for the young people we serve.”
Cox Charities is a charitable giving initiative of Cox Communications fully funded by Cox employees and business partners. The funds raised are then invested annually as Cox Charities Community Investment Grants to organizations that align with our focus areas of youth innovation programs focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM); conservation and sustainability initiatives; and social justice. A total of $315,000 is being awarded to 63 grant recipients throughout Cox’s East Region.
“Supporting our community is just who we are at Cox. We are proud to give where we live. Whether it’s our employees giving money from their own pockets to fund these local nonprofit grants, or rolling up our sleeves to volunteer, our team shows up with heart and purpose,” said Kathryn Falk, Cox Northern Virginia market vice president. “This community means a lot to us, and I’m incredibly proud of how our employees continue to make a real difference every day.”
For more information about Cox Charities, visit www.CoxCharitiesNE.org.