06/26/20

Padilla Earns Minnesota PRSA Classics Best in Show Award

MINNEAPOLIS (June 26, 2020) – The Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (Minnesota PRSA) recognized Padilla with five awards, including Best in Show, at the 42nd annual Classics Awards. For the first time, the Classics Awards ceremony was held virtually on June 25, 2020.

Padilla earned Best in Show for “Students’ Stories Shed Light on Health Inequalities” with The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBS). The campaign also won the International/Multicultural Public Relations category.

The Center works to reduce preventable diseases among all Minnesotans — including marginalized or under served populations, whose disease rate is disproportionately high. To help improve health outcomes for all, BCBS first partnered with ThreeSixty Journalism in 2017 to create an annual TV broadcast camp. In its first two years, the camp successfully empowered diverse Minnesota youth to share their voices and views by teaching them how to apply reporting principles to the video format.

In 2019, the challenge was to extend the camp’s influence by engaging more media partners. The 2019 camp exceeded expectations by bringing together 10 media entities, including the Twin Cities’ two daily newspapers, the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press; The Circle (a newspaper serving American Indian audience); community newspapers; and broadcast outlets, including KARE-TV, KMSP-TV, Twin Cities Live, KSTP-TV, Twin Cities Public Television and WCCO-TV. Additionally, KMOJ-FM ran a feature story about the camp. All media outlets shared students’ final video packages, contributing to a total reach of more than 51 million.

Padilla also was recognized for the following client work:

Special Events/Observances – Less Than Seven Days – Budget Greater Than $20,000
Timing is Everything: Making Meda’s Million Dollar Challenge More Eventful
Meda

Integrated Programs – Government/Non-Profit
A Recipe for Success: Fruits and Veggies Are Key Ingredients for Healthier, Happier Lives
Produce for Better Health

Integrated Programs – Health Care
The 16 Vaccine Educational Initiative
National Meningitis Foundation

The Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards ceremony celebrates the best and brightest PR and communications efforts executed within the chapter’s territory, which includes Minnesota, the Dakotas and western Wisconsin. View the complete list of 2020 Classics Awards winners at MinnesotaPRSA.org.