The best and brightest in public relations were recognized by the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) tonight at its annual Thoth Awards Ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. 

From 118 entries in 35 categories this year, 30 Thoth Awards and 16 Certificates of Excellence were presented to representatives of public relations agencies, corporations, government agencies, and trade and professional associations.  The Thoth Awards (pronounced "Tot") are named after the Egyptian god of information and communication.

Among the top honors awarded were:

The “Best of Show” award for public relations excellence and three Thoth Awards were presented to Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Ogilvy PR) on behalf of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for The Heart Truth campaign.  The goal of this national campaign is to make women aware of the dangers and risks of heart disease.  The judges cited this program as an example of “textbook” excellence, “embodying thorough research and planning, outstanding creativity, extensive publicity, and attaining highly effective and beneficial results.”   The Heart Truth campaign “represents what public relations brings to the table of public dialogue—smart thinking, innovative approaches, and a special spark that reaches and touches peoples’ lives,” judges reported.  The Thoth Awards were presented to Ogilvy PR in the competition's public service, direct mail, and press kits categories.

The National Capital Chapter’s inaugural Diversity Champion award was presented to Ofield Dukes, APR, Fellow PRSA, in recognition of his contributions and dedication to promoting and preserving ethnic and cultural diversity within PRSA and the practice of public relations.

The Diamond Award for Chapter Service was presented to J. Scott Punk, APR, Senior Director, MDB Communications, for his excellent service to the National Capital Chapter during the past year.

“The caliber of work demonstrated by this year’s Thoth winners is an absolute compliment to the public relations profession and to the Washington area,” said Pam Miles, PRSA-NCC president. “We’re also thrilled to present the Chapter’s inaugural Diversity Champion award, which recognizes those whose contributions to the practice have centered on fostering and preserving diversity within the public relations profession.”

Events and Observances (more than seven days) Category

- Thoth Award - U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission and Carter Ryley Thomas PR and Marketing for "Celebrating the Centennial of Powered Flight"

Public Service Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for "The Heart Truth"

- Certificate of Excellence - CTFA Foundation and Ketchum for “Look Good...Feel Better”

- Certificate of Excellence – AAAS and The Element Agency for "The Partnership for Science Literacy"

Public Affairs/Issues Management Category

- Thoth Award - Bombardier Transportation for "Winning Support for a Flying Train"

Marketing Consumer Products Category

- Thoth Award - Ketchum for "Allergy Action Plan"

- Thoth Award - APCO Worldwide for "APCO Worldwide Helps Promote the Pfizer Share Card"

Marketing Business-to-Business Category

- Thoth Award - Nextel Public Relations for "Nextel's Direct Connect Goes Nationwide"

Crisis Communications/Issues Management Category

- Thoth Award - Magellan Health Services for "Magellan Health Services: Debt Restructuring, Chapter 11 Filing and Emergence"

Internal Communications Category

- Thoth Award - Raytheon Technical Services Company, LLC, for "RTSC STRATEGY 2003 ROADSHOW"

Financial/Investor Relations Category

- Thoth Award - Euro RSCG Magnet and U.S. Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Public Debt for "TreasuryDirect"

Multicultural Public Relations Category

- Thoth Award - Office of Public Affairs and National Capital Planning Commission for "Capitals Alliance" 

Integrated Communications Category

- Thoth Award - Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Burson-Marsteller for "Introducing The New Color of Money"

- Thoth Award - Integrated Communications and SAIC Team for "Integrated Communications Campaign for Troops to Teachers"

Brand/Reputation Management Category

- Thoth Award - DAR Public Relations Department for "The New DAR"

Media Relations Category

- Thoth Award - Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Burson-Marsteller for "Introducing The New Color of Money"

- Certificate of Excellence - U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission and Carter Ryley Thomas PR and Marketing for "Media Relations Propels Centennial of Flight"

Newsletters Category

- Thoth Award - Annamarie G. DeCarlo for "Washington Hospital Center Physician"

- Certificate of Excellence - Maryland State Highway Administration for "Maryland Roads"

- Certificate of Excellence - National Sleep Foundation for "Sleepmatters"

Annual Reports Category

- Thoth Award - Elodie Sampere, African Wildlife Foundation, for "Conserving Wildlife, Protecting Land, Empowering People"

- Certificate of Excellence - Lisa Brusio Coster and JREF Annual Report for "JREF ANNUAL REPORT"

Brochures Category

- Thoth Award - ICF Consulting for "ICF Consulting Corporate Brochure"

Publications Category

- Thoth Award - Erich Parker, APR, and Jeffrey Lofton, APR, Erich Parker & Associates, LLC, for "Zachary Oxman and the Art of Judaica"

- Certificate of Excellence - Porter Novelli and The Almond Board of California for "Portfolio Eating Plan Binder"

Press Kits/Media Kits Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for "The Heart Truth"

- Certificate of Excellence - Mary Jo Tarallo for "Winter Feels Good" 

Direct Mail/Direct Response Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for "The Heart Truth"

Audio Programs Category

- Thoth Award - Public Affairs Television and News Generation, Inc., for "Public Affairs Television's ‘Now with Bill Moyers’”

Internal Video Programs Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Snap-On for "Fast-Track Techs: Episode One"

- Certificate of Excellence - EFX Media for "AOL: Good To Grow"

External Video Programs Category

- Thoth Award - Erich Parker, APR, and Jeffrey Lofton, APR, Erich Parker & Associates, LLC, for "Safety: The Good Fight"

- Certificate of Excellence - EFX Media and BRTRC for "DoD Biometrics Program Overview"

- Certificate of Excellence - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for "An Enduring Vision"

Television PSAs Category

- Thoth Award - Crosby Marketing Communications for "Poverty in America"

Speeches Category

- Thoth Award - Marie L. Lerch for "No Excuses, No Regrets: Reflections on Success Across Generations"

- Certificate of Excellence - U.S. Postal Service, Marketing Department, for "Six Keys to Unlocking the Power of the Mail"

- Certificate of Excellence - Harry Phillips for "They Said It Couldn't Be Done"

Research/Evaluation Category

- Thoth Award - Fauquier Hospital with Carter Ryley Thomas PR and Marketing for "A New Brand For Fauquier Hospital"

- Certificate of Excellence - Widmeyer Communications for "National Bullying Prevention Campaign Formative Research"

Creative Tactics Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for "Content Integration: Bringing CDC Content To The User"

- Thoth Award - Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Mary Yerrick for "Brake the Cycle Bike Tour Across America to Raise Awareness of U.S. Poverty"

Web Sites Category

- Thoth Award - Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for DHL, USA, INC., for "DHL Merger Intranet"

- Certificate of Excellence - Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Burson-Marsteller for "Introducing The New Color of Money"

Multi-Media Communications Category

- Thoth Award - U.S. Postal Service, Marketing Department, for "Mailtown, USA"

- Certificate of Excellence - National Sleep Foundation for "Community Sleep Awareness Toolkit"

The National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is the largest PRSA chapter in the country, with more than 1,000 members.  The NCC represents public relations professionals from the major business sectors in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, including associations, agencies, corporations, universities, non-profits, government, and independent practitioners.  Visit us on the Web at www.prsa-ncc.org.