Each year, PRSA|GA presents its Phoenix Awards to the best public relations programs and projects of the year. In 2008, more than 200 entries were received, but three rose to the top as public relations at its best. Please join us for our December luncheon when we will hear case study presentations from this year's Best of Phoenix winner and finalists.

Panelists:

2008 Best of Phoenix Winner:

Creaxion for World Wildlife Fund: "Earth Hour 2008: A Global Statement on Climate Change" Category: Events & Observances (seven or fewer days) - Associations/Nonprofit Organizations

Those who see the light… turn it off! This was the simple, yet powerful idea behind Earth Hour 2008- an international event in which an estimated 50 million people in more than 400 cities made a highly visible statement of concern about the need for the world to take action on climate change. Under the leadership of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization, the simple act of having cities, businesses and individuals switch off their lights for one hour turned into a bold, symbolic message with global impact on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 8:00 PM local time. To help launch this monumental, multi-faceted initiative in the U.S., WWF turned to Creaxion®, a leading Atlanta-based PR and marketing agency, to develop and implement an innovative, non-traditional strategic communications campaign to support the objectives of the program in one of its flagship cities, Atlanta, and to lead the program on a national basis with targeted outreach to U.S consumer media outlets.

Best of Phoenix Finalists:

Porter Novelli & the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Take Charge. Take the Test." Category: Public Service - Government

Today, the HIV and AIDS epidemic poses a severe and persistent health threat to African Americans, who accounted for about half of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the United States in 2005. African American women represent 64 percent of all women living with HIV/AIDS, and in 2002, HIV was the leading cause of death among black women 25-34. Increased HIV testing and early diagnosis is critical in order for people with HIV to receive life-extending therapy and take steps to protect their partners from infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with Porter Novelli, developed a targeted social marketing campaign to help decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS by focusing on increasing testing among African American women who have engaged in unprotected sex. This is an empowering community-supported campaign that encourages African American women to take charge of their lives by getting tested for HIV if they have had unprotected sex.

Shira Miller Communications: "Presenting the Truth about Synthetic Turf"
Category: Reputation/Brand Management - Associations

Representing a multi-billion dollar industry, the Synthetic Turf Council (STC) was founded to promote synthetic turf in sports field, golf and landscape applications. Although demand for synthetic turf had escalated to 800 new athletic field installations annually, the association faced a critical juncture in September 2007. Misinformation about the safety of synthetic turf became pervasive, and the general public had no place to turn to receive honest, unbiased answers. Product concerns perpetuated by competitors and watchdog groups caused legislators to propose moratoriums on synthetic turf fields across the country. Negative media coverage began to appear, despite a significant library of independent, current, and credible research that proved otherwise. Realizing its reputation and the overall growth of the industry was at risk, the STC turned to Shira Miller Communications to develop an extensive communications campaign that involved brand management, national media relations, crisis communications, community outreach and public education work.

Date	Thursday, December 04, 2008
Event Title	The Best of the Best
Time	11:30 am Registration Noon Lunch & Program
Speaker/Panel	Creaxion for World Wildlife Fund Porter Novelli & the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Shira Miller Communications
Location	Maggiano's Buckhead 3368 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326 404.816.9650 http://www.maggianos.com
Registration Deadline	Regular Deadline: Monday, December 01, 2008 5:00 PM Late Deadline: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 5:00 PM
Cost (member/non-member)	Regular Cost: $37.00 / $49.00 Late Cost: $47.00 / $59.00
	$15 Additional Walk-in Fee
Contact	Denise Grant 770.449.6369 denise.grant@prsageorgia.org

See luncheon details here.

Contact:

Denise Grant
denise.grant@prsageorgia.org
www.prsageorgia.org