Announcing Ragan’s 2021 CSR & Diversity Awards finalists
Congratulations to these powerful communications professionals and teams.
The finalists on this list created campaigns, initiatives and projects that were instrumental in positively impacting their communities.
Their work helped make the world safer, healthier, more equitable and sustainable. These dedicated communications professionals and teams developed, executed and told compelling stories about their efforts.
Congratulations to this year’s list of 2021 CSR & Diversity Awards finalists. Keep an eye out for the winner announcement in mid- to late-August.
CSR & ESG BUSINESS PRACTICES
Brand Activism
- Capgemini: Social Response Unit
- Disney General Entertainment Content: 2020 Election Engagement
- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
- WWE: School of Strength
Covid-19 Program
- ESPN: #oneteam
- Intel: Pandemic Response Technology Initiative
- LaGuardia Gateway Partners: Travel Smart. Work Smart.
- Maximus: COVID-19 Response
- McGraw Hill: McGraw Hill’s COVID-19 Innovations
- MGA Entertainment: MGA Cares
- Sanofi: Trusted Messengers Project
Employee Volunteer Program
- Cresco Labs: “Make a Difference” Initiative
- HMTX Industries: Halstead/Metroflor Addiction Crisis (HMAC) Charity
- SAP Brasil: SAPotentiALL100
Green and Environmental Stewardship
- HMTX Industries: The journey from product transparency to social justice; the new CSR
CSR & ESG ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Covid-19 Communications
- Alorica: Team Alorica
- Astellas Pharma: US, Astellas Communications for COVID-19: Supporting and Inspiring our Communities
- John Hancock: John Hancock Employee Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Maximus: COVID-19 Response
- PCL Construction: PCL Construction’s Response to COVID-19
- RB: Navigating the new normal together: RB’s plan to stay safe in workspaces
- Webster Bank: COVID-19 Communications
CSR or ESG Event (Virtual or In Person)
- Northwest Center: 2021 Virtual Derby
- Walgreens Boots Alliance: At The Heart of Health
Internal Communications Campaign
- Astellas: Astellas Volunteerism
- Edward-Elmhurst Health: Edward-Elmhurst Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Humana: Interrupting Bias
- Jack Henry & Associates: Corporate Communications Team
- UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown
Media Relations or PR Campaign
- Gearbox Entertainment Company: Borderlands Science
- KWI Communications: Applause for Aflac: Using CSR to Step Up Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Report (Annual or One-time) (Print or Digital)
- Aflac: Investing Today for a Better Tomorrow
- Cambia Health Solutions: Cambia 2020 Community Response Report
- ESPN: 2020 ESPN Corporate Citizenship Report
- Jack Henry & Associates: Corporate Communications Team
- Paychex: Inc.: Paychex FY20 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
- Walgreens Boots Alliance: At The Heart of Health
- Webster Bank: 2019 ESG Report
Stakeholder/Employee Engagement
- Edward-Elmhurst Health: Edward-Elmhurst Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
- Mower: Bring Your Work to Kids
- Purdue Pharma: Moving for a Cause: Charity Miles and Purdue Pharma
- Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd.: RWS Cares during an unprecedented global pandemic year
Video or Visual Design
- Arizona School Boards Association: Become a School Board Member Video Campaign
- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
- UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown
CSR & ESG PEOPLE AND TEAMS
CSR Agency of the Year
- APCO Worldwide
- KWT Global
- Yulu Public Relations
CSR Campaign of the Year
- Aflac: How CSR Helped Aflac Weather the Storm
- Gearbox Entertainment Company: Borderlands Science
- WWE: Support Tomorrow’s Superstars
CSR Professional of the Year
- Caroline Roan: Pfizer Inc. and The Pfizer Foundation
- Fred Ferguson: Vista Outdoor
- Kevin Martinez: ESPN
CSR & ESG SOCIAL IMPACT
Cause Advocacy Campaign
- Civic Alliance: 100% in for democracy
- Committee for Children: Captain Compassion
- Kiva and Hotwire: Kiva: Helping financially excluded communities
- Land O’Lakes: Inc.: American Connection Project
- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
- Travelers Insurance and Peppercomm: TBWA\Chiat\Day New York: Zaadii: The Legend of Z-Hawk—Consumer Distracted Driving Education Campaign
- Walgreens: ‘Buy vitamins here, Change lives everywhere’
Community Affairs
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: FBI American Indian and Alaska Native Committee and Language Initiative Team
- Mower: Put the “U’ Back in Syracuse
Corporate-Community or Nonprofit Partnership
- BuzzRx: You Save, We Donate: The Prescription Discount Card That Gives Back
- Experian North America: Operation HOPE
- Horizon Therapeutics: Forever Home
- Lowe’s: Lowe’s Partners with LISC to Support Rural Small Businesses
- Sanofi: Trusted Messengers Project
- Walgreens: ‘Buy vitamins here, Change lives everywhere’
- WWE: WWE & UNICEF USA
Disaster Prevention or Pandemic Relief
- Brother International Corporation USA: COVID-19 Pandemic Relief
- Lowe’s: Lowe’s Commits $1.3B to Inspire Hope Through Pandemic Relief
- Astellas Global Health Foundation: Astellas Global Health Foundation COVID-19 response
- WWE: WWE Branded Face Masks Benefiting Americares
Education or Scholarship Program
- DonorsChoose & Google.org: #ISeeMe
Fundraising and Philanthropic Initiative
- ManTech: Charitable Matching Campaign
- McKinsey & Company: Generation, transforming lives through meaningful employment
Global CSR Initiative
- McKinsey & Company: Generation, transforming lives through meaningful employment
Public Health or Safety Initiative
- CAIPA Foundation: CAIPA Mobile Rapid Testing Center
- RB: HERE FOR HEALTHY SCHOOLS
DE&I BROAD-BASED ENTRIES
Diversity: Equity and Inclusion Commitment
- 3M: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report
- Experian
- Fifth Third Bank Corporate Communications Team: Fifth Third Bank DEI Corporate Communications
- Lambert & Co: AMERICANTBREATHE with Lambert & Co.
- New York City Football Club: New York City Football Club – DEI Commitment
- Porter Novelli: Porter Novelli Mexico #AsiSomosAqui
- Prudential Financial, Inc.: Taking Action: Prudential’s Commitment to Racial Equity
DE&I CAMPAIGNS/INITIATIVES
Allyship
- AAA Club Alliance: Allyship in Action
- ENGIE North America: Clean Energy Industry Leaders Take a Stand Against Racism
- Lambert & Co: AMERICANTBREATHE with Lambert & Co.
- Munchkin Inc.: Radiant Colors
- National Association of REALTORS: Campaign to Advance Fair Housing and Racial Equity
Brand Activism
- CARS: CARS Action
- Children’s Health: Children’s Health Introduces Employee and Community Resources Amidst Racial Injustice
- The Y: The Y’s public commitment to become an anti-racist, multicultural organization
Community Relations and Engagement
- Archie Group: Nasdaq diversity rule
- McDermott Will & Emery: McDermott Diversity & Inclusion Team
- OZ Art NWA: ARkanvas
- Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
- CARS: CARS Action
- UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown
Event (Virtual or Live)
- Entergy Corporation: Entergy Town Hall on Race & Equality
- Lowe’s: Lowe’s Diversifies Shelf Space, Supports Small Business through Making It…With Lowe’s
- Pearson: Black History Month – A Gift of Excellence
- PRSA: Transforming the Landscape Fundraising Concert
- UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown
Inclusive Language Initiative
- Pacific Lutheran University: My Language, My Choice: Words Mean Things
Intranet Resources
- VCU Health: Building a culture of inclusivity: empowerment and lasting change with VCU Health’s intranet
Town Hall
- Entergy Corporation: Entergy Town Hall on Race & Equality
DE&I PEOPLE
DE&I Professional of the Year
- Brit Heiring: Colorado State University
- Cierra Mangal: Lambert & Co.
- Nicole Dye-Anderson: Barclays
Winners of these awards and finalists get not only the pride of being champions but cumulatively millions of dollars in additional billings and compensation. It’s because to prospective employers and clients, PR firms and employment candidates may “all seem to say the same things” so there’s an inclination to hire award-winners.
A PR Daily certificate on the wall can be like money in the bank and a standout resume. Just as money begets money, honors beget honors but also something more. PR successes often bring opportunities for even bigger and better PR successes.
It’s more than a lucky break. Many of these winners got their awards through fresh ideas in setting objectives and then achieving them, creativity that has advanced the technology of PR.