PRSA NJ recognized more than 30 award-winning campaigns during the Public Relations Society of America New Jersey’s 32nd Annual Pyramid Awards, honoring the most impactful communications campaigns of the last year. Winners were announced throughout the day across several PRSA NJ social media channels, primarily with the @PRSANJ Twitter account.
AKCG Public Relations Counselors, based in Glassboro, was awarded Best in Show (Community Relations) for its efforts to promote Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic in a campaign entitled, “Combatting Regional Food Insecurity in Quest to Feed Community.”
“During one of the most challenging years, our industry’s creative storytellers found hope, inspiration and acts of kindness that underscored our collective humanity,” said PRSA NJ President Jemia Kinsey Singleton, who is also president of Kinsey Communications. “As PR professionals, it is our mission to tell the stories that cut through the clutter, answer critical questions and find the emotion behind every ‘why’ so we all can do more together. Our annual Pyramid Awards celebrate this feat.”
Singleton said PRSA NJ’s award ceremony would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors, which include MDL Strategic Communications, Coyne PR, Deirdre Lopian Public Relations LLC, BML PR, Johnson & Johnson, Monmouth University, Goodman Media International, O’Brien Media Group, R&J Strategic Communications, Audacy and Town Square Media.
2021 PRSA NJ Pyramid Winners
Winner: Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic – Combatting Regional Food Insecurity in Quest to Feed Community by AKCG – Public Relations Counselors
Honorable Mention: Newark Symphony Hall – Employing the Arts as an Economic Development Tool by Violet PR
Winner: VTech and LeapFrog – Content Marketing to Parents: Play Nice on Pinterest by Coyne PR
Honorable Mentions: Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic – The Philadelphia Inquirer Feature Series: Thought-leadership Positioning in a Crowded Healthcare Market by AKCG – Public Relations Counselors
Penelope Bourbon – Penelope Bourbon Lands Feature Spread in summer 2020 issue of Hamptons Magazine by Gillian Small PR
Winner: Courvoisier Cognac – Courvoisier Cognac Partners With National Urban League To Support Black Small Business Owners And Entrepreneurs by Coyne PR
Honorable Mention: Healthy Roots Dolls – Healthy Roots Dolls Delivers Diversity and Curl Power to the Toy Industry by Litzky PR
Honorable Mentions: Phoebe Ministries – Illness, Uncertainty and Risk: Overcoming the Historic Challenges of COVID-19 on Senior Living by AKCG – Public Relations Counselors
Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center – Leading the U.S. in COVID-19 Deaths: Navigating the Crisis and Rebuilding Canterbury’s Reputation by Caryl Communications
Winner: Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic – Combatting Regional Food Insecurity in Quest to Feed Community by AKCG – Public Relations Counselors
Honorable Mention: Newark Symphony Hall – Employing the Arts as an Economic Development Tool by Violet PR
Honorable Mentions: Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) – ESPA Social Media Campaign by Creative Marketing Alliance
IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) – IMA Social Media Campaign – CMAs: Making a Difference in Times of Uncertainty by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
Winners: Shell Rotella – Where There’s a Wheel, there’s a Way: The 38th Annual Shell Rotella SuperRigs Goes Virtual by Coyne PR
Etch A Skethc – Etch A Sketch Shakes Up a Celebration of 60 Years by Coyne PR
The Salvation Army Greater New York Division – The Salvation Army Greater New York Division’s Giant Red Kettle by Rosica Comms
Honorable Mention: DXV – BML Public Relations Launches DXV’s Belshire Collection with a Nod to the Roaring 20’s in True 2020 Style by BML PR
Winner: First Bank NJ – First Bank Executive Communications Campaign by Creative Marketing Alliance
Winner: CeraVe – CeraVe Fosters Skinfluencer Relationship to Gain Virality and Media Attention in a Cluttered Category by Coyne PR
Winner: American Standard – BML Public Relations, Empower and American Standard #Flush2020 by BML PR
Honorable Mention: T&M Associates – Integrated PR & Thought Leadership Program by MWW
Winners: Robitussin – Robitussin Enlists Famed Coach to Cheer America on to Good Health by Coyne PR
B&G Foods – Cinnadust Seasoning Sweetens 2020 with Viral News of Official Cinnamon Toast Crunch Seasoning Launch by Gillian Small PR
Greater Topeka Partnership – Choose Topeka Relocation Campaign by Violet PR
Honorable Mention: IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) – IMA Media Relations Campaign – CMAs: Making a Difference in Times of Uncertainty by IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)
Winners: Crook & Marker – Crook & Marker Brews Up Buzz with TasteMask™ by Coyne PR
B&G Foods – Cinnadust Seasoning Sweetens 2020 with Viral News of Official Cinnamon Toast Crunch Seasoning Launch by Gillian Small PR
Honorable Mentions: Del Monte Fresh Produce – BML Public Relations & Del Monte Fresh Produce: Pinkglow Pineapple Launch by BML PR
Art Pride N.J. – Art Pride N.J. “Keep Jersey Arts Alive” by Violet PR
Winners: International Code Council – Campaign for Codes by Coyne PR
New Jersey State Nurses Associations (NJSNA) – NJSNA Public Affairs Campaign by Creative Marketing Alliance
The New Jersey Business Action Center – The New Jersey Business Action Center: Providing Relief During Uncertain Times by Violet PR
Honorable Mentions: Ageless Innovation – Delivering Companionship to Combat Social Isolation During COVID-19 by Litzky PR
ReThink Energy NJ – PennEast Pipeline: A Disaster Waiting to Happen by Taft Communications
Honorable Mention: Kendal Corp. – COVID-19: Establishing a Unified Response to Protect a National Brand by AKCH – Public Relations Counselors
Madison Vance, a senior at Seton Hall University, was named the 2021 PRSA NJ Future PR Pro of the Year. As part of her application, the South Orange resident developed an integrated PR campaign to introduce a new cola brand to the 18-to-30 U.S. market. Vance recently devised and executed a PR campaign that helped build the profile of Seton Hall University by successfully promoting its test-optional admissions process and its upcoming virtual open house. The strategy, which leveraged niche markets, yielded 51 media placements in top news outlets and an online reach of more than 1.3 million. The virtual open house yielded 1,211 registrants (+9%) and 580 attendees (+33%). Kathryn Lancioni, professor of communication at Seton Hall University, and Laurie A. Pine, director of media relations at Seton Hall University, nominated Vance for the award.
View the winners of the 2022 Pyramid Awards.
