Bell Ringer 2021 Award Winners
Professional Awards
Striker Award – Industry Newcomer:
Alex Villanueva
Account Manager, Ball Consulting Group
Ringer Award – Mid-level Practitioner:
Cait Kahle
Account Supervisor, Duffy & Shanley
John J. Molloy Crystal Bell for Lifetime Achievement:
Sharon F. Merrill
Chairman Emerita and Founder, Sharon Merrill Associates
Platinum Super Bell
For the first time, a tie for the ultimate award:
- Boston Ballet for Boston Ballet’s Digital Pivot: Dance Where You Are – COVID-19 Response Campaign
- John Hancock for Creative Virtual Summer Camp Gets Employees’ Children Learning and Having Fun – Corporate Culture/Internal Communications Campaign
Single-Item Entries
EVENTS:
Media Event
- Merit: Racepoint Global on behalf of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America for Creating a Virtual Event Remotely During a Global Pandemic
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for “Ride the Ferry Day” Highlights the Need for Preserving Public Transportation on the South Shore
One-Time Special Event
- Merit: PRLab at Boston University for PRoBono: Apart But Connected
- Bronze Bell: Rhode Island Medical Imaging with Providence College for Rhode Island Medical Imaging and Providence College Basketball Stand Up to Cancer
- Silver Bell: Duffy & Shanley with Dunkin’ for Celebrating Iced Coffee Day
Special Event – Series
- Gold Bell: March Communications with Affectiva for Decoding a Book Tour When There’s No Bookstores
CONTENT MARKETING:
Paid Media
- Silver Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Pairing the “Best Colleges” with First-Class Student Loans
Podcast
- Merit: V2 Communications for Disrupting the Podcasting Space with ASG’s Digital Disrupted
- Bronze Bell: C+C for EthicalVoices
- Gold Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Introducing the Blue Economy Podcast Presented by Rhode Island: The Ocean State
Corporate/Agency Blog
- Bronze Bell: Duffy & Shanley with College Ave Student Loans for Making the First Impression Click
- Silver Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations with the Town of Brookline for Town of Brookline Streamlines Communications in Real Time During Pandemic Emergency
- Gold Bell: RDW Group for Positive Change in Action: Driving Impact Through Blog Strategy
Digital/Printed Collateral
- Merit: Hollywood Agency for Making the Best of a “Schitty” Year
- Bronze Bell: C+C with Kwik Lok for A Path Forward: Kwik Lok 2020 CSR Report
- Silver Bell: Harvard Medical School with Sametz Blackstone Associates for Pulse: Fall 2020 Donor Newsletter
Video – Single
- Merit: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Bedford, New Hampshire Police Department Shares Why They Chose to Serve
Video – Series
- Merit: John Guilfoil Public Relations for 5 Diamond Chef Moves into the Kitchen at Revolution Taproom & Grill
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for City of Gloucester Creates Multi-Lingual Video Campaign to Encourage Census Participation
Agency Citizenship or Pro Bono Work
- Merit: PRLab at Boston University for PRoBono: Apart But Connected
- Bronze Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Yes on 6: Arts + Preservation = Jobs
- Silver Bell: CK Communications Group for All in for Chelsea
MEDIA PLACEMENTS:
Television – Regional/Local
- Merit: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Rhode Island Police Chiefs Address Concerning Rise in Motor Vehicle Fatalities
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for JGPR & Burlington Police Showcase the Department’s 21st Century Training
- Silver Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Off-Duty North Reading Police Sergeant Rescues Three People During Early Morning House Fire
Television – National
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Somerset Officer Buying Holiday Dinner for Family After Shoplifting Sees Worldwide Acclaim
- Silver Bell: Solomon McCown & Cence with CIC Health for CBS Sunday Morning Reports that CIC Health is an Innovator in COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Logistics
Regional Media
- Merit: Porter Novelli and Pan-Mass Challenge for Driving Fundraising in Struggling Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Industry Through Local Media Coverage
- Bronze Bell: Boston Ballet for Boston Ballet Dances in the Streets
- Silver Bell: Racepoint Global on Behalf of eClinical Works for The Future of Medicine: Pandemic Virtual Care Spike Leads to New Vision of Healthcare in the U.S.
National Media
- Merit: Brodeur Partners forBringing FM Global’s Message of Resilience to a Business Audience
- Bronze Bell: Tier One Partners for Tier One Goes Full Throttle with Altair’s Customer Story on Rolls-Royce
- Silver Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Foster Grant and Sofia Vergara Team Up to Make Reading Glasses “Not Look Like a Granny”
- Gold Bell: Duffy & Shanley for “BJ’s, You’ve Done it Again!”
Vertical/Trade
- Bronze Bell: Solomon McCown & Cence with Perkins School for the Blind for Feature Story in NewzHook Highlights Perkins India & Global Reach of Perkins School for the Blind
Series of Media Placements
- Merit: V2 Communications for Cooper University Health Care Transforms the Patient Experience with Nuance AI
- Bronze Bell: V2 Communications for Emergency Communication and Public Safety Trust
Op-Ed
- Silver Bell: Hollywood Agency for in 2020, National Nurses Week Had a Whole New Meaning
Bylined Article
- Merit: Racepoint Global on behalf of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America for Remote Learning Technology Prepares Pepperdine University for the Unpredictable
- Bronze Bell: Matter Communications for Corindus for Corindus Media Relations and a Major Byline Placement
- Silver Bell: Porter Novelli and L.L. Bean for L.L. Bean Inspires People to Experience the Power of Being Outdoors
- Gold Bell: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry for Making a Fortune with GameStop
Response to Breaking News
- Merit: V2 Communications for How Markforged Applied 3D Printing to Solve for Supply Shortages During the Height of the Pandemic
- Silver Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Braintree Police Respond Following Shooting at South Shore Plaza Mall
Campaigns
INDUSTRY CAMPAIGNS:
Business-to-Business
- Merit: March Communications for Increasing Sophos Tier-One Coverage with Issues Response
- Bronze Bell: Racepoint Global on Behalf of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America for Bets on Android with an All-Digital Approach
- Silver Bell (Tie): Red Lorry Yellow Lorry for Turning An Industry Leader Into an Industry Titan
- Silver Bell (Tie): Racepoint Global on behalf of MediaTek for The Not-So-Secret Ingredient of Chromebooks
- Gold Bell: SHIFT Communications for Vyv Wages War on Germs: Survey Report Catapults B2B Brand in Front of Partners & New Prospects
Consumer
- Merit: Tier One Partners for Born Digital: Ally Bank Welcomes 10,000+ Newborns Into The Digital Era With A Financial Head-start
- Bronze Bell: Matter Communications for CVS Pharmacy for Live Better by CVS Health: Successfully Launching a Brand While Facing Unprecedented Obstacles
- Silver Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Duffy & Shanley with College Ave Student Loans: Making the Grade in Student Loans
- Gold Bell: Allison+Partners with King Arthur Baking Company for King Arthur Baking Company: Making Baking the National Pastime
Government or Public Affairs
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations on behalf of the ConVal School District for its use of Multimedia to Help ConVal Schools Pass its Budget by a Razor Thin Margin
- Gold Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for the “Save the Greenbush-Save the Boat” Campaign to Preserve Public Transportation on the South Shore
Healthcare
- Merit (Tie): V2 Communications for Cutting Through the COVID-19 Confusion: Amplifying CarePort’s Pandemic Data to a Nation in Need
- Merit (Tie): March Communications with Lumeon for Re-imagining Care Delivery Through Technology
High-Tech
- Silver Bell: March Communications with Neurala for Manufacturing a Name for Neurala’s AI in the Industrial Space
- Bronze Bell: Allison+Partners with AFSP – American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for AFSP #RealConvo – May Mental Health Campaign
- Silver Bell: C+C with the Washington State Department of Health for Keeping Washington Safe
Hospitality/Travel/Entertainment
- Silver Bell: Adams & Knight, Inc. on behalf of The Connecticut Office of Tourism for Connecticut Pivots to Promote Tourism Businesses During and After Pandemic Shutdown
COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER-SPECIFIC CAMPAIGNS:
Nonprofit
- Merit: CK Communications Group for Keep the Music Going
- Bronze Bell: CK Communications Group for The Boch Center Will Not Go Dark
- Silver Bell: Porter Novelli and Pan-Mass Challenge for Compelling Digital Storytelling and Interactive Content Drives Fundraising Amid Pandemic
- Gold Bell: Brodeur Partners for Changing Course: Transforming an Iconic Walk into a Virtual Event Amid a Pandemic
Cause Marketing
- Silver Bell: PRLab at Boston University with F*It Won’t Cut It for F*It Won’t Cut It: Boston University’s Student-Run Campaign that is Provocative With a Purpose
Corporate Social Responsibility
- Merit: Real Chemistry on behalf of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals for Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
- Bronze Bell: Seven Letter With A Day for Democracy for A Day for Democracy
Fundraising
- Merit: Dana Farber Cancer Institute for Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk
- Bronze Bell: Porter Novelli and Pan-Mass Challenge for Compelling Digital Storytelling and Interactive Content Drives Engagement Amid Pandemic
COVID-19 RELATED CAMPAIGNS:
COVID-19 Product or Service
- Merit: Three Rings with Navisite for IT Services Firm Goes Goo Goo to Raise Funds for Boston-based COVID Charity
- Bronze Bell: SHIFT Communications for The Pandemic’s Frontline Workers You’ve Never Heard Of
- Silver Bell: Solomon McCown & Cence with Cic Health For Introducing Cic Health as an Innovator in Covid-19 Testing and Mass Vaccination Logistics
- Gold Bell and Super Bell Finalist: C+C with the Washington State Department of Health for COVID-19 WA Notify Service
COVID-19 Response
- Merit: John Hancock for You Are Essential. We are Grateful.
- Bronze Bell: Adams & Knight, Inc. on behalf of The Connecticut Office of Tourism for Connecticut Pivots to Promote Tourism Businesses During and After Pandemic Shutdown
- Silver Bell: Brodeur Partners for Changing Course: Transforming an Iconic Walk into a Virtual Event Amid a Pandemic
- Gold Bell and Super Bell Finalist: Boston Ballet for Boston Ballet’s Digital Pivot: Dance Where You Are
INFLUENCER CAMPAIGNS:
Mega Influencer Campaign:
- Gold Bell: Rinck Advertising for Dove Everyday Hero Lexy Burke Campaign
Unpaid Influencer Campaign:
- Merit: RDW Group for #CrushCovidRI Grassroots Influencer Campaign To Educate And Promote Community Mitigation Behaviors
- Bronze Bell: Hollywood Agency for The Purr-fect Unpaid Influencer Campaign
- Silver Bell: Next Step Communications On Behalf Of Fertility Focus for Understanding Ovulation And Empowering Women With Data On Their Fertility Journey
- Gold Bell: C+C with the Washington State Department of Health for COVID-19 WA Notify Service – Unpaid Influencer Campaign
MARKETING CAMPAIGNS:
Integrated Marketing Communications
- Merit: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with Merge Media for I Am Jimmy
- Bronze Bell: Adams & Knight, Inc. on behalf of The Connecticut Office of Tourism for Connecticut Pivots to Promote Tourism Businesses During and After Pandemic Shutdown
- Silver Bell: March Communications for Helping Build a Secure Modern Workplace with Zix
- Gold Bell: RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging for Rhode Island Medical Imaging – October Breast Cancer Awareness
Content Marketing
- Bronze Bell: BackBay Communications on behalf of Fiduciary Trust Company for Fiduciary Trust Company: Guiding Clients Through the Pandemic
- Gold Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Duffy & Shanley with College Ave Student Loans: Making the First Impression Click
Business-to-Consumer Social Media
- Silver Bell: RDW Group with Rhode Island Medical Imaging for Rhode Island Medical Imaging Grows with Social Media
- Gold Bell and Super Bell Finalist: RDW Group with Ageless Innovation for Supporting Caregivers and Older Adults Through Social Media
“On a Shoestring”
- Merit: Image Professors for Community Impact Movement Lasagna Love Delivers Kindness When Needed Most
- Bronze Bell: Duffy & Shanley for Vote Yes on 3 and 5. It’s Overdue.
Agency Marketing
- Merit: March Communications for rAIsing Awareness in AI
VISIBILITY CAMPAIGNS:
Brand Building or Re-Branding
- Merit: Mintz+Hoke on behalf of WellSpark for WellSpark Branding
- Bronze Bell: V2 Communications for Building a Backup Brand from the Bottom Up: GRAX
Executive Thought Leadership/Visibility
- Bronze Bell: Adam Ritchie Brand Direction for Invention in PR: Executive Thought Leadership Impacts a Generation of Pros
- Gold Bell and Super Bell Finalist: March Communications with Affectiva for Spoiler Alert: Leading Conversations on the Future of Tech and Leadership
SPECIALTY COMMUNICATIONS:
Superior Achievement in Research and Planning
- Bronze Bell: SHIFT Communications for Inmar Declares ‘Tis the Season for Stockpiling
Crisis Communications
- Merit: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Fairfield Police Department Apologizes After Euthanizing Dog Mistaken as a Coyote
- Bronze Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for Town of Norwood Successfully Manages Early Covid-19 Crises
- Silver Bell: Solomon McCown & Cence for Leading the City of Cambridge through the COVID-19 Crisis Communications Response
- Gold Bell: John Guilfoil Public Relations for RIPCA Twenty for 2020 Campaign Addresses Statewide Policing Standards and Practices
Investor/Financial Relations
- Bronze Bell: InkHouse for Datto for A Lesson in Resilience: Going Public During A Pandemic
- Silver Bell: LaVoieHealthScience for Building Investor Visibility and Credibility, Post-IPO
Corporate Culture/Internal Communications
- Bronze Bell: March Communications with Retail Business Services for RBS Cares: Communicating Amid Crisis
- Silver Bell: Brodeur Partners for Creating a Culture of Wellness Amid a Pandemic
- Gold Bell and Super Bell Finalist: John Hancock for Creative Virtual Summer Camp Gets Employees’ Children Learning and Having Fun