VanNatta Public Relations (VPR) brought three trophies back to Salem from the 2017 Oregon Public Relations Society of America’s Spotlight Awards. The yearly event recognizes public relations excellence for practitioners and their clients.
The Salem Fire Foundation’s (SFF) “Salem Fire Foundation CPR/AED Training Program for Students” took the top award for Public Service Campaigns. In 2017 the Foundation and the Salem Fire Department taught over 2,626 Salem/Keizer eighth-grade students CPR/AED. They then went home and trained 2,187 family members.
VPR accepted two Awards of Merit. One in the Public Service Announcements category for the Salem Fire Foundation video: Whose Life Will You Save Today? Produced and filmed by Allied Video Productions, this high-quality video has been the visual cornerstone of the SFF promotion. The second was for an Event or Observance, for the Salem Police Foundation’s “2017 Breakfast with the Chief.” It received the Award of Merit for its innovative way of creating positive, public interaction with Salem’s police force.
Mary Louise VanNatta, CEO of VPR was recognized at the event for passing the PRSA’s accreditation in public relation’s (APR) national exam and earning her APR designation this year.
VPR President Harvey Gail was pleased his colleagues recognized the work the firm does for nonprofits. “It is greatly satisfying to be able to assist organizations like Salem Fire and Police Foundations save lives,” he said.
The entries for the statewide awards were judged by PRSA members in Maryland. The Spotlight Awards event was held at the Willamette Valley Country Club Oct. 20.
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About VanNatta Public Relations: Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, VPR is an award-winning public relations and event planning company located in Salem, Oregon. They have been recognized in Oregon Business Magazine’s Powerbook and an OSU College of Business Austin Family Business of the Year. www.PRSalem.com, @PRSalem.
About PRSA Oregon: PRSA Oregon Chapter serves approximately 300 public relations professionals in the state. The Spotlight Awards is their annual and long-running awards competition for public relations campaigns in Oregon. About 200 people attended the awards banquet held at Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby.
