Porter Novelli Honored For Best Agency Community Initiative At Fourth Annual Diversity Distinction in PR Awards
NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global public relations leader Porter Novelli was awarded the Best Agency Community Initiative Award at the fourth-annual Diversity Distinction in PR Awards. The award, supported by the Council of PR Firms in association with PRWeek, was announced last night at the Council of PR Firms' 2014 Annual Dinner in New York City.
The Best Agency Community Initiative Award recognizes a PR firm's leadership or support of a community service project or organization that works to promote diversity in a manner that can have a direct impact on the talent pipeline entering the PR industry, including at their own agency. Porter Novelli was honored for its work with the TORCH Program. TORCH, which stands for Together Our Resources Can Help, provides underserved New York City public high school students with intensive exposure to career training and opportunities in communications and the arts, while also facilitating a meaningful way to increase the diversity of the workforce.
"Porter Novelli's partnership with TORCH is an important part of our overall diversity initiative," said Porter Novelli CEO Karen van Bergen. "We're proud of the work we're doing to benefit the community and future professionals, while at the same time encouraging a diverse cross-section of tomorrow's workforce to consider a career in public relations."
In 2014, Porter Novelli mentored TORCH students during annual "Shadow Days" at the agency, and hosted a series of collaborative, hands-on workshops about the PR industry, which ultimately helped students as they planned and managed TORCH's annual L.I.G.H.T. fundraising gala. Porter Novelli also supports several TORCH fundraising events each year.
"Porter Novelli's support for TORCH and their employees' investment in our students has made a real impact on our work to expose NYC high school students to the communications industry, while increasing diversity in the field," said Francis Carrero, director of programming at The TORCH Program. "Through workshops, mentoring and most importantly, providing our students the opportunity to collaborate and work in an agency environment, Porter Novelli has given our TORCH students a glimpse into their future and courage to continue working hard no matter what adversities they may face."
The Diversity Distinction in PR Awards were developed to honor excellence in promoting ethnic diversity within the public relations industry and to strengthen diversity inclusion practices across PR. The awards also aim to support and inspire professionals of diverse backgrounds.
About TORCH
Founded in September 1999, TORCH was the vision of advertising and marketing executive Peter Drakoulias. TORCH participants meet weekly throughout the school year to work on a variety of projects in communications and the arts, gaining hands-on experience and training. While the participants benefit immensely from the guidance of professional mentors and volunteers on each project, they are also expected to take ownership and assume leadership roles. Working with their peers they gain valuable team building skills, which are essential to success in today's work environment. The success achieved through completion of TORCH projects builds participants' self-esteem and assists them as they navigate the other challenges in their lives. More information is available at http://www.thetorchprogram.org/.
About Porter Novelli
Porter Novelli is one of the world's leading public relations agencies. With 90 offices in nearly 60 countries, Porter Novelli delivers best-in-class service to clients around the globe. As the agency that pioneered social marketing, Porter Novelli's heritage is grounded in influence – motivating people to change deeply ingrained behaviors that are rooted in cultural and social norms. This is achieved by identifying and activating against key insights that drive transformational change – going beyond just "solving a problem". The result is greater than just influencing people – Porter Novelli makes them believe.
For additional information, please visit www.porternovelli.com. Porter Novelli is a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc.
About The DAS Group of Companies
The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.
Contact:
Tricia Whittemore
Porter Novelli
[email protected]
212-601-8449
SOURCE Porter Novelli
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