Communicators Recognized for Top PR Programs at PRSA Silver Anvil Awards Event
Communicators in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. were honored with Silver Anvil awards in New York City June 9 at the Public Relations Society of America’s awards program known as the icon of best public relations practices. Three organizations in the region won the top award – the Silver Anvil – while seven received the Award of Excellence.
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, D.C., with PhairAdvantage Communications, LLC of Laurel, and Baltimore’s J. Davis Public Relations, headed by Capitol Communicator regional editor Jeffrey Davis, won a Silver Anvil for “Securing America’s Future: The Power of Liberal Arts Education.” The campaign used social media and traditional public relations to tackle stereotypes, bust myths and change the conversation about the value of a liberal arts education.
Pictured, left to right, are members of the CIC team: PhairAdvantage Communications’ Judy Phair; Lilia M. LaGesse, CIC director of print and digital publications; Laura A. Wilcox, CIC vice president for communications; Georgia Nugent, CIC senior advisor and interim president, The College of Wooster, and Davis.
Also winning a Silver Anvil was The Yu Crew of Potomac for the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis for “World Thrombosis Day 2015: Accelerating a Global Awareness Movement.”
Stratacomm, headquartered in D.C., took home the region’s third Silver Anvil for a campaign to help long-time client, the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, defeat a proposed ban on winter-time wood burning in Utah. The campaign’s success was attributed to “conducting opinion research, creating digital advocacy infrastructure, and utilizing on-the-ground support,” according to Account Supervisor Maggie Easterlin.
The region’s seven Award of Excellence winners are:
- Catholic Charities, headquartered in Baltimore, for the “Power of 40 CRS Rice Bowl 40th Anniversary Campaign.”
- Maryland Health Benefit Exchange with The Hannon Group of National Harbor and D.C.’s GMMB for “Promoting Health Insurance Enrollment to the African American Community.”
- APCO Worldwide with CSX for “Tomorrow Comes Through: CSX and the Virginia Avenue Tunnel.”
- Eastern Virginia Medical School for “#Felinethropy #GiveRightMeow Campaign.”
- Washington, D.C., Child and Family Services Agency with LINK Strategic Partners for “D.C. Families for D.C. Kids” Campaign.”
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with Widmeyer Communications, a Finn Partners Company, for “Pool Safety – Simple Steps Save Lives. A National Campaign to Prevent Drowning and Entrapment.”
- Virginia Energy Sense with Burson-Marsteller, Alliance Group and Madison+Main for “Value Your Power.”
According to PRSA, the annual event honors organizations that have successfully addressed a contemporary public relations issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. Click here to view the full list of 2016 Silver Anvil and Award of Excellence winners.
