Press Release: 2020 Pegasus Awards Winners
PRSA DALLAS HONORS TOP COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNS AND PROFESSIONALS WITH THE CELEBRATES 2020 PEGASUS AWARDS
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Dallas Chapter recently honored outstanding public relations and strategic communication efforts with its 2020 Pegasus Awards.
In total, more than 35 awards were given in a range of categories representing Programs, Projects and Special Awards. One Pegasus Award and up to three Awards of Honor were awarded in each category.
Top “Best of Show” honors were awarded in the Programs division to Three Box Strategic Communications for its campaign, “Capturing Thought Leadership in a Time of Financial Uncertainty.” Buckner Retirement Services took the top honor in the Projects division for the entry, “Support Senior Living.”
Special Awards were given to Morgan Gunnels, Young PR Pro of the Year, Hill+Knowlton for Large Agency of the Year, Idea Grove for Small Agency of the Year, Children’s Health for Small In-House or Corporate Team of the Year. Additionally, Brooke Traister, APR received the Norm Teich Award and Amanda Tower was presented the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Chapter.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND SPECIAL AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS
Programs - Multifaceted campaigns that use several strategies and tactics to reach an objective.
Community Relations
Award of Honor
Choctaw Nation, Choctaw Nation 2020 Census Campaign
Pegasus Award
Buckner Retirement Services, Buckner Parkway Place “Life, Experienced”
Events and Observances
Awards of Honor
World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, H. Neil Mallon Awards 2019
Children’s Health, Children’s Health 2019 Beyond ABC Symposium Spurs Critical Dialogue about Mental Health
Buckner International, Buckner Tornado Candlelight Vigil for Bachman Lake
Pegasus Award
True REST Float Spa, True REST Float Spa’s 2019 Veterans Day Campaign
Internal Communications
Pegasus Award
MORSCO, Communicating COVID: MORSCO's Internal Communications Response to the Pandemic
Marketing Communications
Awards of Honor
SPM Communications for Madison Reed, Turning Heads for Madison Reed
Buckner International, Special Needs Children – Foster Care and Adoption
A. Larry Ross Communications on behalf of Gordon College, Gordon College: Faith Rising
Pegasus Award
Three Box Strategic Communications, Capturing Though Leadership in a Time of Financial Uncertainty
Most Effective Campaign
Awards of Honor
A. Larry Ross Communications on behalf of LifeWay Films, Creating Viral Support for “Free Burma Rangers”
Texas Baptist Men, TBM Feeding Texans
Pegasus Award
TrizCom on behalf of Heroes for Children, The Heart of a Hero
Crisis Communications
Awards of Honor
Richards Partners on Behalf of Discount Tire, Discount Tire 2020 Crisis Communication
SMP Communications for Gold’s Gym, Crisis During a Crisis: Turning Two Negatives into a Positive
A. Larry Ross Communications on behalf of Empowered21, Going Digital in the Age of Corona: Empowered21 Global Congress 2020
Pegasus Award
Buckner Retirement Services, Senior Living Response to COVID-19
Public Service
Award of Honor
Dallas Regional Chamber and Hill+Knowlton Strategies, DRC Emmitt Smith PSA Campaign
Pegasus Award
Buckner International, Texas Boy Adopted After Half His Life in Foster Care
Public Affairs
Pegasus Award
Hill+Knowlton Strategies, ABOTA Public Safety Campaign
Best of Show, Programs
Three Box Strategic Communications, Capturing Thought Leadership in a Time of Financial Uncertainty
Projects - A single tactic developed as an individual component of a comprehensive campaign.
Media Relations
Awards of Honor
Children’s Health, Children’s Health Sparks Change, Awareness with Mental Health PR
A. Larry Ross Communications on behalf of The Source, The Source Launches with a Splash on the Front Page of the Washington Post
TruePoint Communications, Launching Telemedicine in the Midst of a Global Pandemic
Pegasus Award
Buckner Retirement Services, Support Senior Living
Digital Communications
Award of Honor
TruePoint Communications, Thought Leadership in a Crisis
Pegasus Award
Buckner International, Buckner International Website Homepage Redesign
Most Effective Influencer Promotion
Pegasus Award
Three Box Strategies Communications, Tapping Influences Relations to Build Holiday Buzz
Best of Show Projects
Buckner Retirement Services, Support Senior Living
Special Awards
Young PR Pro of the Year was awarded to Morgan Gunnels, Senior Account Executive at TruePoint Communications. Her first entry into PR was as a Marketing Intern for Children’s Medical Center Dallas in 2015. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri with a B.A. in Journalism and minor in Business, she moved back to her hometown of Dallas and started with TruePoint as a Public Relations Intern. Over the course of her time with TruePoint, Morgan has climbed the ranks to Senior Account Executive at breakneck speed -- just under two years. In 2020 alone, she secured 1.3 billion media impressions thus far.
Large Agency of the Year was bestowed on Hill+Knowlton. Despite the pandemic of 2020, a unified spirit marked the work of Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) over the past year. Its Dallas office, deeply familiar with corporate affairs, media relations and crisis response, took on a stream of ambitious projects that achieved measurable, significant changes here and nationwide.
Small Agency of the Year was bestowed on Idea Grove. In the past year, the Idea Grove team has adopted an accelerated and strategic growth plan, starting with an emphasis on strengthening operations and increasing revenue. Not only was Idea Grove able to avoid any layoffs, furloughs or pay cuts, but, by late June 2020, Idea Grove had more new client contracts in review than the entire previous half of the year.
Small In-House or Corporate Team of the Year was bestowed on Children’s Health. Make life better for children. That’s the mission at Children’s Health, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas. The external communications team accomplishes this mission one news story, social media post and innovative campaign at a time. All while laddering up to the non-profit health system’s business objectives of enhancing care and consumer experience, growing volume and market share, and reducing the cost of care while improving the health of the community. And their work this past year –amidst the COVID-19 pandemic –has been a true testament to their mission.
Norm Teich Award was awarded to Brooke Traister, APR. The honor is given each year to a PRSA Dallas member who demonstrates Norm's drive and involvement in volunteerism and community service.
President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Chapter was given to Amanda Tower. The award is given annually to a member who has gone above and beyond to serve the Chapter.
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About PRSA Dallas
Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals. PRSA Dallas, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, is one of the largest and most active chapters of PRSA, serving more than 450 public relations practitioners in the North Texas area. The chapter strives to help members become more successful by providing opportunities to connect with other professionals who practice public relations for corporations, public relations firms, government agencies, health and medical entities, nonprofits and other organizations. By promoting the highest standards of professional competence and ethics, PRSA Dallas has created a close-knit network of professionals who come together to learn, grow and become leaders in the industry. www.prsadallas.org.