The Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) honored statewide organizations and companies for excellence in public relations at the 2015 Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony last night at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
“The Virginia PR Awards have been around for a long time, but in the last few years, we’ve seen record increases in both the number of entries we receive and in the number of entries that come in from other parts of the state,” said Rachel Beanland, president of PRSA Richmond and assistant dean at Washington and Lee University. “The Virginia PR Awards may be hosted by PRSA Richmond but they’ve very much become a statewide celebration of the profession.”
The Virginia Public Relations Awards are separated into two divisions: the Commonwealth Awards honor the best public relations programs and campaigns of the year and the Capital Awards honor the best public relations tactics of the year. Best in Show awards were given to the top overall entries in the campaigns and tactics divisions.
The Commonwealth Best in Show was awarded to Virginia21 for their “Save Our Slice” campaign, submitted in the public affairs category. The grassroots campaign mobilized 1,800 people to take action and influenced the Governor’s decision to invest in financial aid and avoid cuts to higher education.
The Capital Best in Show were awarded to a pair of winners, the result of a tie. Free Agents Marketing and Bon Secours Virginia Health System were honored for their social media campaign “Fandemonium,” which used an integrated approach to help the Bon Secours Redskin’s Training Center retain momentum after its initial launch. PadillaCRT and The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers were recognized for the social media campaign, “Pure Canada Maple Versatility Contest,” which sought to educate Americans about the versatility of maple syrup – at risk due to a decline in pancake consumption – by implementing a Pinterest campaign that increased their fan base and generated website traffic.
During the ceremony, PRSA Richmond presented Suzanne Hall with this year’s Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Public Relations. Hall is the chief communications officer for the Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA), where she has worked for 30 years. Active in the community, she is a board member of the Historic Monument Avenue and Fan District Foundation and has volunteered in Haiti, Southern Sudan and areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.
Hall plans to retire from VMFA effective June 1, and has accepted a post-retirement position as the director of stewardship and development for St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, her church of 35 years.
The Thomas Jefferson Award, which recognizes a public relations professional at the height of his or her career, is open to PR practitioners in the Greater Richmond metropolitan area. PRSA Richmond donates $1,000 to the charity of the recipient’s choice. A longtime domestic and international missioner, Hall has served on Missions Committee for more than 15 years and will donate her award to the mission fund at St. James’s Episcopal Church.
The Rising Star Award recognizes a Richmond professional who has five or fewer years of experience in the public relations profession. This year’s Rising Star Award was presented to Jay Ell Alexander, a public information officer for the City of Petersburg.
About PRSA Richmond
PRSA Richmond is a professional association serving Central Virginia public relations practitioners. The chapter and the national organization, PRSA, share the vision of bringing professionals together to enhance the practice, to provide an exchange of experiences and ideals, and to promote professional development. For more information visit: www.prsarichmond.org.
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