2022 Keystone Awards a Success!

News

Our chapter’s annual Keystone Awards was a resounding success!

We were excited to have 23 award-winning projects, as well as an individual award winner this year.

Featuring the theme ‘rise-up’, our community of public relations and communications professionals were proud to celebrate a dozen companies for projects including media placements, internal communications strategies, multicultural communication, and special events.

Steven Martinez won the Nonprofit Communicator of the Year award, nominated by Brett Marcy of Apollo Communications. Martinez is the executive director of the York County SPCA. He has created an adoption program to remove barriers for those thinking about adopting a pet, which has dramatically improved adoption rates and built a stronger relationship among the organization’s staff, volunteers, and community. He also created a successful community cat initiative, saving the lives of more than 2,000 cats between 2018 and 2021. Martinez has led the charge in educating the community about the benefits of SPCA initiatives.

The project awards include two levels of recognition:

  • Keystone Awards recognize outstanding achievements in public relations, marked by excellent results, thorough planning, game-changing ideas and creativity. These awards score an 85 or higher.
  • Silver Keystone Awards demonstrated excellent planning and outcomes, scoring between 70 and 84.

 

2022 Keystone Award Winners are:

  • Deeter Gallaher Group on behalf of their client, McClure Company: “McClure Company Change Management Communications Project,” in the special events and observances category
  • Deeter Gallaher Group on behalf of their client, Karns Foods: “The Karns Beef Program Launch,” in the overall public relations program category
  • Domani Wealth: “Domani Wealth Website,” in the website category
  • Geisinger: “Internal Communications Center of Excellence Strategy,” in the internal communications category
  • Geisinger: “Shopper Shuttle,” in the news release/public service announcement category
  • Geisinger: “Heart Attack Center,” in the media relations/media placement category
  • Landis Communities: “Spanish Language Materials for Rental Housing in Lancaster,” in the multicultural communications category
  • LM Gnazzo Promotion Strategies and Nell McCormack Abom Communications on behalf of their client, PA Dairymen’s Association: “PA Dairymen’s Farm Show 2022,” in the media relations/media placement category
  • LM Gnazzo Promotion Strategies and Nell McCormack Abom Communications on behalf of their client, The Peyton Walker Foundation: with a project of the same name in the media relations/media placement category
  • Milton Hershey School: “Poverty Talks,” in the digital public relations category
  • PRworks on behalf of their client the Pennsylvania Library Association: “Preparing Librarians for Media Interview Success,” in the media relations/media placement category
  • The GIANT Company: “Return of the Bees/The GIANT Company Pollinator Week,” in the special events and observances category.

 

2022 Silver Keystone Award Winners are:

  • Geisinger: “My Code”, in the media relations/media placement category
  • Geisinger: “COVID Press Conference,” in the news release/public service announcement category
  • Highmark: “Free Market Health,” in the overall public relations program category
  • LM Gnazzo Promotion Strategies and Nell McCormack Abom Communications on behalf of their client, Harrisburg Academy: “Harrisburg Academy Ukrainian Relief Project,” in the special events and observances category
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association: “Bar News DEI Feature,” in the magazines and periodicals category
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association: “Bar News AI Feature,” in the written communications piece category
  • Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: “#CallUtilitiesNow Campaign,” in the overall public relations program category
  • PRworks on behalf of client IEC: “Amplifying an Electrical Trade Association’s Brand,” in the corporate branding category
  • The GIANT Company: “The GIANT Grocery Grab,” in the special events and observances category
  • The GIANT Company: “The GIANT Volunteer Challenge,” in the internal communications category
  • The GIANT Company: “The GIANT Company Impact Report,” in the Annual Report category

This year’s award ceremony and luncheon was held on November 15 at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. Una Martone, president and CEO of Leadership Harrisburg Area gave the keynote address, “Unlocking the Power of Gratitude.” Kendra Nichols of ABC27 News served as the event’s emcee.