The board of directors of the Gold Coast PR Council recently announced the winners of the 17th annual Bernays Awards. GCPRC is South Florida’s largest independent association of public relations, communications and marketing professionals, and bestows its Bernays Awards to honor excellence in these fields.
More than 70 communications and media professionals attended the awards ceremony held July 21. T.A. Walker, reporter for WPTV’s Today on 5, served as emcee. Honors were presented in 10 competitive categories, with additional special awards selected by the nonprofit organization’s board.
“This year’s honorees represent the high level of professionalism demonstrated by public relations, marketing and media professionals across South Florida,” said Melissa Perlman, president of GCPRC and founder of BlueIvy Communications. “I’m so proud to see the evolution of our industry locally, and excited about our continued growth as we make our mark not only in South Florida, but across the country and around the world.”
The ceremony also marked the debut of the Tim Byrd Award, named for the late, legendary radio personality. This year’s award, which was presented to T.A. Walker, embodies the generous spirit of the award’s namesake, and honors a media professional who goes above-and-beyond in their work.
The 10 competitive Bernays Award winners are: Best PR Campaign by a Large Company or Firm, Palm Tran/Paradise Pass; Best PR Campaign by a Small Company or Firm, Karen Galanaugh, Galanaugh & Company Marketing Public Relations/Brandywine’s Zoo’s Madagascar Habitat Unveiling; Best Project by or on behalf of a Nonprofit Organization Large, the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum/History Alive; Best Project by or on behalf of a Nonprofit Organization Small, the Buzz Agency/Symphonia at Home; Best Crisis Management, Food for the Poor Responds to Crisis in Haiti; Best Social Media Campaign For Profit, Boardroom Communications/Merrick Manor: Live, Love, Local; Best Social Media Campaign Nonprofit, Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon/2021 MV-Express Vehicle Registration Kiosk Social Media Marketing Campaign; Best Special Event, Kaye Communications/Moms & Pups Bark & Brunch; Best Marketing Material Print, Palm Tran/2021 Annual Report; and Best Marketing Material Video or Digital, City of Boynton Beach E-Newsletters.
In addition to the Tim Byrd Award, other special award winners included: the President’s Award to Rick Christie, executive editor of The Palm Beach Post; PR Star Award to Claudia Shea, director of communications for the School District of Palm Beach County; and the Founders Award to Anne Dichele, executive director of the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization.
For more information, visit www.goldcoastprcouncil.com.
