NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - May 26, 2009) - Public relations and communications professionals gathered last night to celebrate the 22nd Annual Big Apple Awards. Special guest hosts Michelle Charlesworth and Phil Lipof of WABC-TV assisted in awarding 37 Big Apple Awards and 18 Honorable Mentions. Held annually, the awards ceremony presented by the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-NY) recognizes excellence in public relations. The dinner was held at the Rainbow Room.

"In a particularly difficult time for our industry we received a record 186 award entries, a thirty-seven percent increase over last year. This year the spirit of community was strong as practitioners gathered to celebrate one another and recognize exceptional work during an unpredictable period. The winning agencies demonstrated a gold standard in public relations, a clear understanding of client objectives and flawless execution," said PRSA-NY President elect, Irene Maslowski.

PainePR, in conjunction with Iams and Helen Woodward Animal Center, accepted the prestigious "Best of the Best" award for the "Iams Home 4 the Holidays Sets Out on a Mission to Save the Lives of 1 Million Homeless Pets" campaign. The award for Best Use of Research, Measurement, and Evaluation was presented to Manning, Selvage, and Lee in the Cause-Related Marketing category for Procter & Gamble's campaign titled "Protecting Futures."

At the event, three individuals were honored with special awards for their contributions, leadership and accomplishments:

--  The John W. Hill award was presented to Valerie Di Maria, Willis Group
    Holdings, for her demonstration of leadership in the practice of public
    relations and demonstration of the highest standards of ethical conduct.
--  The Philip Dorf Award was presented to William F. Doescher, The
    Doescher Group, for outstanding accomplishments in mentoring PR
    practitioners and students.
--  The President's Award was presented to Sandra Fathi, Affect
    Strategies, for outstanding service and contributions to PRSA-NY.
    

The 2009 Big Apple Awards competition was open to all public relations professionals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut for programs created in 2008 and implemented anywhere in the United States. To qualify, professionals in the Tri-State Area had to perform most or all of the actual work on the programs. The panel of judges was comprised of experienced, senior level public relations practitioners, representing a broad range of disciplines. A complete list of winners follows.

2009 Big Apple Winners

CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING
Protecting Futures
MS&L Worldwide

COMMUNITY RELATIONS:  BUSINESS PRODUCTS & SERVICES
We've Got a New Look, How About You? -- Going Back to its Century-Old
Roots, Bank of America Gets a Fresh Start in the Bay Area
Emanate

COMMUNITY RELATIONS: GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
We Can't Let This Bank Fail
Coyne Public Relations

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:  BUSINESS
The MAC AIDS Fund: Taking Back the Spotlight
Weber Shandwick

FINANCIAL/INVESTOR RELATIONS
Not All Ethanol Is Created Equal: Driving Investment in Verenium Corp. In
An Emerging Industry
Brandtectonics, a Chandler Chicco Company

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS:  CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Vaseline Skin is Amazing Campaign
M Booth & Associates

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS:  BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
GlobeOp Emerges as Guiding Light for Hedge Funds
Metia

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS:  GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS
Just Look for UL
MS&L Worldwide

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS:  LESS THAN 10,000 EMPLOYEES
Communicating With an Organization of Achievement Addicts
Carmichael Lynch Spong

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Promise of Meningitis Prevention Brings Vaccines Industry Out of the
Shadows
Ruder Finn, Inc.

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  HEALTHCARE
The Science of Beauty: Keeping Restylane® and Perlane® on Top as the
Gold Standards in Cosmetic Dermal Fillers
Lippe Taylor

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  TECHNOLOGY
The Casio EX-F1 -- Showcasing the Need for Speed
Coyne Public Relations

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  FOOD & BEVERAGE
Ready, Set, Play! Mott's Shows Moms the Way to Fun and Healthy Play Dates
Ketchum

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  PACKAGED GOODS
The First-Ever Global Monopoly Game Board Created by Fans
Hunter Public Relations

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  NON-PACKAGED GOODS
Research Makes the Case for Trane and Clean "Green" Indoor Air
Carmichael Lynch Spong

MARKETING CONSUMER SERVICES:  TRAVEL AND TOURISM/HOSPITALITY
Park-Savvy Parents Become Walt Disney World's First Online Moms Panel
Coyne Public Relations

MARKETING CONSUMER SERVICES:  HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Share and Share-a-Bike: Humana Brings Bike-Sharing to the Masses
Coyne Public Relations

MARKETING CONSUMER SERVICES:  FINANCIAL SERVICES
Say Hello to Morris, the Wise Upperclassman!
Emanate

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS:  BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:  PROFESSIONAL AND/OR
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Employee Benefits: Get in the Game
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS:  BUSINESS TO BUSINESS:  PRODUCTS
Launch of Roche Antiviral Protection Program (RAPP) Drives Media Coverage,
Sales
Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.

MARKETING TO SPECIAL OR MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES:  BUSINESS
TAG Experiences the 'Clean Smell' of Success with the Launch of TAG Records
MS&L Worldwide

MARKETING TO SPECIAL OR MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES:  GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS
& NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Flu-Free and A Mom-to-Be: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby - Get a Flu
Shot!
Weber Shandwick

NEW MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Travelzoo Tweets Top 20
M Booth & Associates

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:  BUSINESS
Iams Home 4 the Holidays Sets Out on a Mission to Save the Lives of 1
Million Homeless Pets
PainePR

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:  GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Protecting Your Pet from Theft
American Kennel Club

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT:  BUSINESS - COMPANIES WITH SALES OF MORE THAN $500
MILLION
Man Lives In IKEA: Citizen Marketer Becomes IKEA Brand Evangelist
Ketchum

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT:  GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Campaign to Find a Dog for Obama
American Kennel Club

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  ONE TO SEVEN DAYS:  BUSINESS PRODUCTS &
SERVICES
50th Birthday of the Crayola 64 Box/"Kids' Choice Color" Campaign
Coyne Public Relations

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  ONE TO SEVEN DAYS:  GOVERNMENT,
ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Kicking Off the Flu Season: Immunizing the Media with a Healthy Dose of Flu
Facts
Alembic Health Communications

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS:  BUSINESS PRODUCTS &
SERVICES
Home is Where the HDTV is; Panasonic Teaches American Families About Living
in HD
Cohn & Wolfe

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS:  GOVERNMENT,
ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Celebrating the Spirit
Ruder Finn, Inc.

BROCHURE
The CND Look Book: Positioning Nails as Fashion Accessory
Red PR

NEWSLETTER/MAGAZINE
Perspectives: The Magazine for Employees of U.S. Commercial Operations
MS&L Worldwide

USE OF BROADCAST:  INCLUDING USE OF VIDEO NEWS RELEASE, B-ROLL AND/OR
SATELLITE MEDIA TOUR
Goodyear 'Get There' Awards
Coyne Public Relations

USE OF INTERNAL VIDEO
Just Look for UL
MS&L Worldwide

PSA PRINT & VIDEO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Making Meningitis Matter: Real People, Real Struggle, Real Change.
Alembic Health Communications

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Team Mom™ Wins Kudos for K'NEX
Child's Play Communications

2009 Honorable Mentions

CAUSE-RELATED MARKETING
American Diabetes Association's Men's Health Educational Campaign: Diabetes
and the Modern Man
HealthStar Public Relations

FINANCIAL/INVESTOR RELATIONS
Alcon Acquisition:  Ruder Finn's Vision Delivers Novartis' Farsighted
Strategy to Key Audiences
Ruder Finn, Inc.

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS:  CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Sylvania Micro-Mini: All Green Hands On Deck!
Weber Shandwick

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS:  GOVERNMENT, ASSOCIATIONS & NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS
Taking Fair Trade Further
Carmichael Lynch Spong

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Beyond Beijing: How Lenovo Built Its Brand at the Olympic Games
Ketchum

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  HEALTHCARE
Kiss It Forward with Abreva
GolinHarris

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  HEALTHCARE
One A Day and Ellen DeGeneres Encourage Women to Wake Up and Take an Active
Approach to Breast Health
HealthStar Public Relations

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  TECHNOLOGY
Lutron Electronics: Saving Energy Beautifully With Lighting Controls
Carmichael Lynch Spong

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  TECHNOLOGY
Look Good in Pictures: Nikon's "How to" Series with Carson Kressley
MWW Group

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  FOOD & BEVERAGE
A Peanut Butter Sandwich Can Pay for College in a Jif
Cohn & Wolfe

MARKETING CONSUMER PRODUCTS:  PACKAGED GOODS
Launching Clairol Perfect 10 by Nice 'n Easy
Marina Maher Communications

MARKETING CONSUMER SERVICES:  TRAVEL AND TOURISM/HOSPITALITY
Celebrity Solstice Sets Sail:  Celebrity Cruises Navigates Rolling Reveal
Strategy to Launch New Ship!
Emanate

MARKETING TO SPECIAL OR MULTICULTURAL AUDIENCES:  BUSINESS
"HIRE":  Honeywell Initiative for Returning Engineers
Weber Shandwick

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT:  BUSINESS - COMPANIES WITH SALES OF MORE THAN $500
MILLION
Safe Teen Drive Long Island
Allstate Insurance Company, New York Regional Office

REPUTATION MANAGEMENT:  BUSINESS - COMPANIES WITH SALES OF MORE THAN $500
MILLION
Getting the Facts About Tuberculosis in Africa to Those Most Affected
Ruder Finn, Inc.

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  ONE TO SEVEN DAYS:  BUSINESS PRODUCTS &
SERVICES
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Makes a Splash on the NYSE
Ketchum

SPECIAL EVENTS OR OBSERVANCES:  ONE TO SEVEN DAYS:  BUSINESS PRODUCTS &
SERVICES
PointRollin' in the Demo Limo
Weber Shandwick

PSA PRINT & VIDEO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
2008 AKC Marley & Me Public Service Campaign
American Kennel Club

About PRSA-NY's Big Apple Awards

The New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America established the Big Apple Awards program in 1988 to encourage excellence in public relations. Superior communications programs solve problems, change opinions and create opportunities. The Big Apple Awards program seeks to recognize communications professionals who have achieved the standards of excellence.

About PRSA-NY

The Public Relations Society of America, New York City Chapter, is one of the founding chapters of the PRSA, the world's largest professional organization for public relations practitioners. Founded in 1948, PRSA-NY is the third largest PRSA local chapter in the United States. The chapter serves the interests of public relations professionals working in business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. Chapter board and committee members are volunteer public relations professionals who work in the New York metropolitan area.