Imagine nearly 450 people in matching t-shirts, trash bags and grabbers in hand, circling the sands of Bonita Cove. That’s precisely what took place during Cox Communications’ fourth annual beach cleanup on June 6, 2025 in partnership with I Love a Clean San Diego and Tree San Diego. Cox volunteers removed nearly 1,000 pounds of litter from San Diego’s coastline that day and set a record for the largest single-day corporate cleanup in the history of San Diego County.
This wasn’t a mandated community service project. It was Cox team members choosing to spend a Friday morning caring for and protecting the place they call home. This single event is one of many that are emblematic of what makes the company’s six-decade relationship with San Diego different.
“Volunteerism is engrained in the culture at Cox, and that all started with our founder, James M. Cox,” said West Region Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Cassandra Weinlein. “The authentic connection between our team and the community is what drives everything we do, from how we serve our customers to how we invest in our network and our neighborhoods.”
Since arriving in San Diego County in 1962, Cox has become part of the fabric of the communities it serves, going far beyond providing TV services and internet connection. What began as a regional expansion of the family-owned company founded in 1898, has evolved into a comprehensive approach to corporate citizenship—one that’s created meaningful partnerships, worked tirelessly to bridge the digital divide, and proved that the most sustainable community impact comes from authentic, long-term relationships.
The Cox mission is aligned with that of San Diego Foundation, home to Cox’s employee-funded foundation, Cox Charities, since 1999, focusing on pillars that reflect both organizations’ shared values.
The Digital Divide Challenge
Cox recognized early that access to high-speed internet wasn’t just a convenience, but was essential for education, employment, and a growing number of everyday activities. Cox committed to finding solutions to issues of access long before the pandemic exposed the scope of the challenge.
Years before COVID-19 forced kids into remote learning, Cox introduced programs like the groundbreaking Connect2Compete, established in San Diego in 2012, which offers $9.95/month internet access to qualifying families with K-12 students. And when distance learning suddenly became the norm, Cox was positioned to rapidly scale these efforts, working with longtime partners like Computers 2 Kids and local school districts to distribute devices and connect families, ensuring San Diego students could continue their education from home.
In addition to Connect2Compete, Cox’s ConnectAssist program provides high-speed internet for $30 a month to qualifying households, while the innovative Partner Portal launched in 2024 bridges the digital divide through strategic community partnerships. Local organizations can serve as digital navigators, providing personalized assistance to help individuals enroll in affordable internet services—turning connectivity from a corporate program into a community-driven solution.
Relationships that Matter
Cox’s approach to community investment reflects the company’s belief that sustainable change happens through collaboration, not isolation. With a strong focus on supporting youth and education, partnerships with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the San Diego County Office of Education and Junior Achievement are the cornerstone of impactful, decades-long programs.
For 35 years, Cox and SDCOE have honored and celebrated the outstanding educators helping to shape the minds of our region’s future leaders through Salute to Teachers. Over the past two decades, Cox has funded 13 Cox Innovation Labs in Boys & Girls Clubs in San Diego County, giving kids access to the technology they need not only to do their classwork, but also to explore podcasting, 3D printing and other STEM opportunities. And Cox was an early supporter of both JA Biztown and the JA Fellows program, which brings financial literacy and paid internship opportunities to local high school students.
Throughout their 25-year relationship, Cox and San Diego Foundation have aligned on the belief that our region is a place of endless possibilities. Cox’s community commitment reflects an understanding that technology cannot, by itself, solve social problems. A different kind of connection—the human kind—is mandatory. But technology guided by community wisdom can be transformative. Whether it’s providing robust, enterprise-grade services to help local nonprofits operate more efficiently; supporting conservation efforts that protect San Diego’s natural beauty; ensuring military families have the connectivity they need to stay in touch with deployed loved ones; or making sure older adults aren’t left behind as technology evolves, Cox’s approach consistently emphasizes human connection over technical specs.
Making a Difference Together
Over more than 60 years in San Diego, Cox has demonstrated the meaningful progress that can be made when public and private partnerships are forged; and when technological innovation is paired with human connection. That’s how we take care of each other.
Cox team members know this. The employees who showed up at Bonita Cove that June morning weren’t just cleaning up trash; they were embodying a culture where community care is a personal mission, not just a company one.
