That’s all, folks! Our first-ever digital award ceremony is officially in the books. While the club has spent over 50 years mastering the in-person ceremony, which is seen as a symbol of outstanding achievement for New England public relations and marketing professionals, we’re lucky to have so many creative, resourceful and hardworking members of our board that banned together to pull off a seamless digital event in just three short months. 

The two-day digital event showcased the work of public relations and communications professionals from dozens of agencies, companies, and nonprofits from across New England.

There’s an incredible amount of work that goes into each and every initiative, campaign and media placement, and we’re honored to recognize the agencies and organizations that made them happen.

But, before we get to our winners, we’d also like to extend our sincerest thanks to our distinguished judges, presenters and supporters – without whom an award ceremony (of any kind) would not be possible.

For our winners, we have a package of promotional elements you can use to share the good news. In addition, we’ll be in touch soon with a plan for distributing trophies and certificates. Finally, we’d love your thoughts on the digital awards ceremony, so please consider taking this brief survey.

Now, without further ado, congratulations to the 52nd Annual Bell Ringer Awards winners!

SINGLE ITEM ENTRY WINNERS 

Content Marketing

• Digital Video (single video)
  • Bronze Bell – Mintz and Hoke on behalf of Connecticut Wealth Management, LLC: Connecticut Wealth Management Experience Genuine
  • Merit Award – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: The Impact of Your Giving

• Digital Video (series)
  • Silver Bell – 360PR+ with SunnyD: SunnyD Gets Sweet on Digital and Makes Its Year
  • Bronze Bell – Brodeur Partners: Hankook Tire – Man vs. Machine
  • Merit Award – RDW Group in partnership with Rhode Island Medical Imaging: Seeing the Unseen 

• Digital/Printed Collateral 
  • Silver Bell – Perkins School for the Blind: 2019 Annual Report
  • Bronze Bell – Porter Novelli and Eastern Bank: Eastern Bank Annual Review
  • Merit Award – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Planning Matters

• Owned Media
  • Silver Bell – InkHouse with Pixels 360: ERA Coalition Website

• Paid 
  • Bronze Bell – Duffy & Shanley: Foster Grant Celebrates 90 Years with InStyle
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Alex Brands: Helping Alex Brands Stand Out with Moms During the Holiday Season

• Podcast
  • Gold Bell – Cercone Brown: Press Play: Spreading Optimism with “Life is Good”
  • Merit Award – Racepoint Global on behalf of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America: So you want to start a podcast?

• PR Agency Citizenship or Pro Bono Work
  • Merit Award – PRLab at Boston University: PRoBono 2019

Media Placements

• Bylined Article
  • Gold Bell – Solomon McCown & Cence with Perkins School for the Blind: Digital Accessibility: The New Frontier of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Silver Bell – RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging: Addressing the Vaping Crisis
  • Bronze Bell – Solomon McCown & Cence with Nellie Mae Education Foundation: “Lessons Learned From Leading a Failing School”
  • Merit Award – Solomon McCown & Cence with Southcoast Health Systems: “Traffic congestion is a health hazard.” Shining a Light on Regional Inequity and the Importance of Investment in Community Health

• Digital/Print National
  • Silver Bell – Duffy & Shanley: BJ’s Wholesale Club Media Placement
  • Bronze Bell – March Communications and Affectiva: WSJ Really Is “The Future of Everything” When It Comes to AI and Ethics
  • Bronze Bell – March Communications: Establishing the World’s First Learning Steel Mill with The Wall Street Journal 
  • Merit Award – InkHouse: Checkmarx Samsung/Google Android Vulnerability Research Campaign

• Digital/Print Regional 
  • Gold Bell – Tier One Partners: Bucking the Trend: Tier One Partners Spotlights Prophix Software as a Force to be Reckoned With
  • Silver Bell – Porter Novelli with Pan-Mass Challenge: Dana-Farber Receives Record $63 million Donation from Pan-Mass Challenge
  • Bronze Bell – SHIFT Communications: CT Mag Highlights How Foxwoods Doubled Down on Differentiators 
  • Merit Award – CK Communications Group: From Boston, To New York, and Back Again

• Digital/Print Series
• • Gold Bell – 360PR+: Trek Introduces WaveCel, a New Standard in Helmet Safety
  • Silver Bell – LaVoieHealthScience: Launch of $210 Million Early-Stage Venture Capital Fund by Biotech Accelerator and the Preeminent Life Science Hedge Fund
  • Silver Bell – Solomon McCown & Cense with The Vilna Shul: “Introducing the ‘New’ Vilna Shul—a 100-Year-Old Building on Beacon Hill You’ve Never Heard Of”
  • Silver Bell – Racepoint Global on behalf of Normatec: Reigniting the Recovering Technology Conversation
  • Bronze Bell – Three Rings Inc. with LabCentral: LabCentral Takes Bold Step to Scale and Innovate Biomanufacturing in Massachusetts with LabCentral 238
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: Breaking World Records with Stonyfield Organic Snack Packs

• Digital/Print Vertical/Trade
  • Bronze Bell – Red Lorry Yellow Lorry: From Times Square to a Top Campaign of the Year
  • Merit Award – Racepoint Global on behalf of Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute: Bringing a National Biotechnology Presence to World-Class, Local Boston Biomedical Research & Top Biotechnology Workforce Training

• Op-Ed
  • Silver Bell – Three Rings Inc. with LabCentral and Octagon Therapeutics: A Voice of Warning: The “Paul Revere” of the Antibiotics Development Crisis
  • Bronze Bell – Racepoint Global on behalf of Huawei: America Needs Huawei 
  • Merit Award – RDW Group with Bristol County Water Authority: It’s Time to Move on from Old Water Supplies – BCWA Addresses its East Bay Pipeline Leak

• Response to Breaking News
  • Bronze Bell – SHIFT Communications: The Convenience Store Catastrophe; Rapid Response to Elevate Brand Awareness
  • Merit Award – RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging: Addresses the Vaping Crisis

• Television Local/Regional
  • Gold Bell – John Guilfoil Public Relations: TikTok Trouble: Dangerous Viral Teen Video Challenge Creates Public Safety Concerns
  • Silver Bell – John Guilfoil Public Relations: Bridgewater Police Officers Reunite with Family After Delivering Baby in Home Depot Parking Lot
  • Bronze Bell – John Guilfoil Public Relations: Rockland Soldier Surprises Sons After Returning Home From Tour of Duty

• Television National
  • Silver Bell – Rinck Advertising with VetriScience Laboratories: A Disabled Puppy is Training for a Special Task Thanks to a Veteran Paying it Forward
  • Bronze Bell – Duffy & Shanley: E! News’ Daily Pop Turns a Pitch into a Dedicated Segment
  • Merit Award – SHIFT Communications: Bold Broadcast Segment Brings Nationwide Awareness to Organic Dog Treat Brand

Events

• Media Event
  • Silver Bell – InkHouse with PUMA: Launching PUMA’s 5th Ave. Flagship Store
  • Bronze Bell – Matter Communications: Miami Music Week Sets the Stage for JBL’s LIVE Series Headphone Launch
  • Merit Award – Duffy and Shanley: iXblue Defense Systems moves U.S. headquarters to Rhode Island

• One-Time Special Event
  • Bronze Bell – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: Breaking World Records with Stonyfield Organic Snack Packs
  • Merit Award – March Communications and Affectiva: Sum It Up: Emotion AI Summit Stirs Attention

• Special Event (series)
  • Bronze Bell – Duffy and Shanley: Foster Grant Celebrates 90 Years with InStyle
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: Stonyfield Organic Takes its Mission to New Pastures

Striker Award – Joe Chambers: Account Executive at CK Communications Group

CAMPAIGN WINNERS

Launch Campaigns

• Business to Business
  • Silver Bell – SHIFT Communications: The Web Changed Privacy, So Brave Changed the Web
  • Bronze Bell – John Hancock: John Hancock Aspire

• Consumer  
  • Gold Bell – Porter Novelli with Timex: Timex Revolutionizes Time Telling with 25th Hour
  • Silver Bell – LEWIS on behalf of Jabra: Jabra Makes Noise at CES…Without Product
  • Bronze Bell – SHIFT Communications: The Web Changed Privacy, So Brave Changed the Web
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: Breaking World Records with Stonyfield Organic Snack Packs

• Healthcare 
  • Gold Bell – Matter Communications: Creating Widespread Awareness for a New Healthcare Category
  • Bronze Bell – LaVoieHealthScience: LaVoieHealthScience with​ TriSalus Life Sciences: Launch and Education for Innovative Drug Delivery Device with Unique Reimbursement Status

• High Tech  
  • Merit Award – V2 Communications: The World is Your Backyard: Launching a First-of-its-Kind Pet Product

• Hospitality, Travel and Entertainment 
  • Silver Bell – Boston Ballet: Best Dance Party Ever: Boston Ballet’s Record-Breaking Moves
  • Bronze Bell – CK Communications Group: Building the Beach

Publicity Campaigns 

• Business to Business 
  • Gold Bell – LEWIS on behalf of LogMeIn: LogMeIn’s Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak
  • Silver Bell – SHIFT Communications: Stericycle Cares Public Safety Campaign​
  • Bronze Bell – Hollywood Agency: Scooting Toward PR Victory

• Consumer 
  • Gold Bell – 360PR+: Trek Introduces WaveCel, a New Standard in Helmet Safety
  • Silver Bell – Duffy & Shanley with College Ave Student Loans: “Flipping the Script on Student Loans” Entry Narrative
  • Bronze Bell – Matter Communications: 360 Degree PR Program to Promote La Brea Bakery’s 30th Anniversary
  • Merit Award – Tier One Partners with Ally Home: Ally Home Raises Awareness by Shedding Light on America’s Most Relatable Home Ownership Issues

• Healthcare 
  • Silver Bell – Matter Communications: Increasing the Visibility of Corindus in the Competitive Healthcare Media Landscape
  • Bronze Bell – March Communications with AbleTo: “Are We Meeting The Need – Grading the State of Behavioral Health With AbleTo” 
  • Merit Award – RDW Group on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Health: Flu Vaccination

• High Tech 
  • Bronze Bell – V2 Communications: Answering the Call: Tech Solutions for a Nation in Need of More Effective Emergency-Response Services
  • Merit Award – Highwire Public Relations with BitSight: More Than a Number: Spotlighting the Breadth of BitSight’s Security Ratings Platform with Threat Research

Communication Campaigns

• Agency Marketing
  • Merit Award – March Communications: Marketing Innovators: Boston Heavyweights Get in the Ring

• B2B Social Media 
  • Bronze Bell – Three Rings Inc.: SES Networks O3b Launch, Social Media
  • Merit Award – SHIFT Communications: Citrix Synergy 2019: “Social”-izing the Future of Work

• B2C Social Media 
  • Gold Bell – RDW Group with Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles: RI DMV Social Media Campaign Helps Real ID Awareness and Adoption
  • Silver Bell – RDW Group with Ageless Innovation: Sharing the Power of Play – Ageless Innovation’s Joy for All Companion Pets’ Social Media Campaign
  • Bronze Bell – RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging: A Patient-Focused Approach to Social Media – RDW Group and Rhode Island Medical Imaging Strategy Multiplies Growth and Engagement
  • Merit Award – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) Retrospective Report

• Brand Building or Re-Branding Business to Business
  • Silver Bell – SHIFT Communications: Limelight Networks Sparks Battle Royale
  • Bronze Bell – Lionbridge: Lionbridge Global Re-Branding
  • Merit Award – March Communications with Sophos: Establishing the Sophos Labs Brand Using Threat Research

• Brand Building or Re-Branding Consumer 
  • Gold Bell – InkHouse for Organic Valley: Call Us Crazy, But It’s Working – Organic Valley Consumer PR Campaign
  • Bronze Bell – Porter Novelli with Timex: How the Power of PR Led to a Sold Out Product Again and Again

• Cause Marketing  
  • Bronze Bell – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: 360PR+ Helps Stonyfield Organic Take its Mission to New Pastures

• Content Marketing
  • Gold Bell – March Communications: Turning the March Comms Editorial Platform Inside Out

• Crisis Communications 
  • Gold Bell – Red Lorry Yellow Lorry: Turning a Hollywood Disaster into a PR Win
  • Silver Bell – RDW Group with Bristol County Water Authority: BCWA Addresses the East Bay Pipeline Leak with Consistent, Transparent Communications
  • Bronze Bell – Racepoint Global on behalf of Huawei: Huawei vs. the World
  • Merit Award – ML Strategies, LLC: Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions: A Different Type of Survivor

• Executive Thought Leadership 
  • Gold Bell – Matter Communications: Databricks’ Executive Visibility Strategy
  • Silver Bell – March Communications and Affectiva: Speaking Out: Using Thought Leadership to Ensure AI is a Force for Good
  • Silver Bell – John Hancock: John Hancock Signature Series

• External Spokesperson
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Stonyfield Organic: Breaking World Records with Stonyfield Organic Snack Packs

• Influencer 
  • Gold Bell – 360PR+ with Sagamore Spirit: Winning in Whiskey by Giving Influencers a Platform for Their Own Life Stories
  • Silver Bell – 360PR+ with Tommee Tippee: 360PR+ Helps Tommee Tippee #StopTheSpill and Save The Day
  • Bronze Bell – BJ’s Wholesale Club with Duffy & Shanley and Social Fulcrum, a Target Data Company: BJ’s Wholesale Club: Unlocking the Potential of Social Influencers

• Integrated Marketing Communications
  • Gold Bell – Dunkin’ with RF|Binder and CTP, with Duffy & Shanley: Breaking Up with the Double Cup
  • Silver Bell – BackBay Communications and Adams Funds: Adams Funds is #Celebrating90Years
  • Silver Bell – SHIFT Communications: Sparking a Nationwide Conversation Around Friendship – Evite and SHIFT Communications
  • Bronze Bell – InkHouse: PatientKeeper: How EHR Optimization Can Impact Physician Burnout Crisis
  • Merit Award – Racepoint Global on behalf of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents: We’ve Got Your Back
  • Merit Award – 360PR+ with Tommee Tippee: 360PR+ Helps Tommee Tippee #StopTheSpill and Save The Day

• Investor/Financial Relations 
  • Bronze Bell – Mintz and Hoke on behalf of Antares Capital: The Antares-Compass Report

• Micro Influencer 
  • Gold Bell – SHIFT Communications: Motivating a New Crowd for Scotties

• Nonprofit Communications 
  • Gold Bell – WGBH Educational Foundation with CK Communications Group: The Wow Child
  • Silver Bell – Brodeur Partners: Together Against Cancer: Managing a Strategic Media Blitz to Promote the 2019 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk
  • Merit Award – Mintz and Hoke on behalf of Fidelco: Fidelco –  End-of-the-Year Appeal

• Public Affairs 
  • Silver Bell – WGBH Educational Foundation: The Color of Public Money

• Superior Achievement in Research & Planning
  • Gold Bell – 360PR+ with Drizly: Establishing Drizly as a Preeminent Data & Insights Resource for the Alcohol Industry
  • Bronze Bell – Mintz and Hoke on behalf of Connecticut Department of Transportation: Connecticut DOT’s See Something? Say Something. 
  • Merit Award – Mintz and Hoke on behalf of Access Health CT: Access Health CT Research and Data-Informed Media Relations

John J. Molloy Crystal Bell Lifetime Achievement Award – Ashley McCown: Co-President of Solomon McCown & Cence

Super Bell Finalists

• Dunkin’ with RF|Binder and CTP, with Duffy & Shanley: Breaking Up with the Double Cup
• 360PR+ with Drizly: Establishing Drizly as a Preeminent Data & Insights Resource for the Alcohol Industry
• SHIFT Communications: Motivating a New Crowd for Scotties
• WGBH Educational Foundation with CK Communications Group: The Wow Child
• 360PR+: Trek Introduces WaveCel, a New Standard in Helmet Safety
• Porter Novelli with Timex: Timex Revolutionizes Time Telling with 25th Hour

Super Bell Winner – 360PR+ with Drizly: Establishing Drizly as a Preeminent Data & Insights Resource for the Alcohol Industry