Features

Real People, Real Stories Series by AARP 

Gold 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Awareness & Media 

AARP’s social media series recognizes the actions of ordinary individuals from all walks of life, to celebrate how their choices have positively impacted their communities. Real People, Real Stories zeroes in mostly on elders and their caregivers, who go above and beyond to improve the quality of life for older, underserved individuals. 

Before the Highway by AARP 

Gold 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Awareness & Media – Book, Story or Feature 

In Before the Highway, older populations recall memories of their neighborhoods before highways destroyed them. Following the introduction of the interstate highway system in 1956, its designated routes uprooted predominantly Black and poor communities across the U.S. Thousands of homes and businesses were bulldozed, leading to lasting socioeconomic inequities that impacted generations to come. AARP’s newsletter series allows elders from St. Petersburg, Chattanooga, Rochester, Houston and more to share their testimonies, shedding light on the human cost of American infrastructure. 

Change the Narrative, Change the World by Define American 

Gold 

Education, Art & Culture – Awareness & Media – Research Projects & Publications 

The team at Define American knows that television and media shape the lenses through which we view the world. Diverse representation of experiences, whether in theaters or on digital screens, can teach viewers to have empathy for those with differing worldviews than their own. Change the Narrative, Change the World aimed to understand how immigrant characters are currently represented in television, reveal its impact on US viewers, and call the industry to do better.

Food Rescue Hero

Gold 

Product, Innovation or Service – Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Best Use of Technology 

The US suffers from food insecurity, and yet, nearly 40% of food produced goes to waste. Moreover, about 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to energy spent on wasted food. To mitigate this, the Food Rescue Hero app coordinates food recovery action with its group of volunteers to allocate food to vulnerable communities. Since launching in 2016, it has facilitated 500,000 rescues, deliver 160 million pounds of food to those in need.

Love Me Not by Neon, An IPG Health Company 

Gold 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Awareness & Media – Nonprofit Campaign

Domestic violence is a large issue in the United States; on average, a number of 24 people per minute experience domestic violence and yet, less than 40% of people have access to resources. To bring awareness to the complexities of domestic violence, Neon launched the Love Me Not campaign, complete with out of home advertising, and a microsite to show what abuse looks like and provide access to digital resources.

Code Red by Neon, An IPG Health Company

Gold

Health – Awareness & Media – Stunt or Guerilla Marketing

In another project focusing on domestic violence, Neon zeroed in on the insight that domestic violence disproportionately affects women – over 30% of women in the US have experienced it. Moreover, women are often under coercive control, watched closely by partners and isolated from communities that can help them exit abusive situations. Code Red created products with life-saving messages, safe from the gaze of most abusers, on period products. Learn more about the campaign.

Getting Gen Z to Bleed for Limited Edition Merch by MONO 

Gold

Health – Awareness & Media – Stunt or Guerilla Marketing 

In 2022, the world faced an extreme blood shortage. Over 37,000 blood drives were canceled, due, in part, to college campuses operating remotely. To make up for lost time, and lost blood, MONO partnered with The American Red Cross to target the prime donor population: Gen Z. Together they launched “Drop For Drop,” a campaign aimed at getting young people to donate blood by offering them the opportunity to receive limited edition merch by streetwear designers.

Dinner With Goop by Edelman

Gold

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Awareness & Media – Best Influencer Collaboration

GOOP founder Gwenyth Paltrow has become a popular advocate for clean eating. So when she falsely labeled monosodium glutamate (MSG) as harmful, it scared many people in the US away from a signature ingredient in Asian cuisines. Moreover, it negatively impacted Ajinomoto, the food company behind MSG. To combat this, Edelman and Ajinomoto launched #DinnerWithGoop. They made Gwenyth Paltrow the influencer of a campaign about MSG safety without actually hiring her. Even more, they invited her to a dinner to discuss MSG over an umami-filled menu.

Pure Leaf “No” Grants by PepsiCo. 

Silver 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Community Engagement Categories – Branded Campaign 

PepsiCo-owned brand Pure Leaf launched the “No” Grants in support of women saying no to unrealistic expectations of them. This campaign, which included journalist and television host Elaine Welteroth, was launched in conjunction with a $1 million commitment to fund initiatives that dismantle systemic barriers women face in their lives. Their campaign drove viewers to apply for a grant; last year, Pure Leaf’s committed a total of $400K in support of women’s goals.

Journey to Zero Hunger Podcast by PepsiCo Foundation, Food for Good

Bronze 

Humanitarian Action & Services – Awareness & Media – Podcast or Audio

The global hunger crisis is reaching its zenith, with an estimated 333 million people facing acute hunger around the world. In season 2 of the Journey to Zero Hunger Podcast, PepsiCo Foundation President C.D. Glin invites listeners to explore the global hunger crisis. Explore the podcast, and hear stories from individuals who are combatting the crisis with tangible solutions. 

World Surf League

Gold

Sustainability, Environment & Climate – Awareness & Media – Nonprofit Campaign 

World Surf League, a governing body for professional surfers, has a long history of organizing environmental actions. Through their WSL One Ocean initiative, they have mobilized a coalition of more than 100 organizations to take part in these actions. Moreover, the #SpeakUpForTheOcean campaign highlights their impact across 10 global events; to date, WSL has funded 16 local projects, removed 2 tons of plastic from rivers in El Salvador and Brazil, engaged 1,635 volunteers and planted more than 360,000 trees.

Recreating a Palestinian village 75 years after the Nakba by Al Jazeera Digital

Gold

Human & Civil Rights – Awareness & Media – Best Use of AI

In 1948, more than 750,000 Palestinians were displaced and thousands lost their lives during the creation of Israel. Left in the wake of the Nakba were the ruins of 530 villages, and memories of all that was lost. Seventy-five years later, in May 2023, Al Jazeera recreated one of those villages, Bayt Nabala, and stories from both survivors and descendants. Using AI-generated representations of what Bayt Nabala looked like, with documented history of events, Al Jazeera’s project brings to life the stories, the past and present that continue to shape Palestinian identity.

LinkedIn for Nonprofits | Impact Summit 2023 by LinkedIn 

Gold

Humanitarian Action & Services – Awareness & Media – Event

Hosted for the second year, the LinkedIn for Nonprofits Impact Summit was a hybrid event bringing together global nonprofit professionals. Featuring sessions with change makers like Malala Yousafzai and leaders from LinkedIn, the event showed leaders how they can use LinkedIn to build more diverse teams, find and connect with donors and use emerging technologies to grow.