The Hartfords’s Playbook for Life program gains national recognition from the country’s largest public relations organization
Hartford, Conn. – The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), one of the nation’s leading providers of investment and insurance products, is a recipient of this year’s prestigious Silver Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The Silver Anvil, symbolizing the forging of public opinion, recognizes outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation. The award was presented to The Hartford during the Silver Anvil Awards evening held June 8 in New York City.
The Hartford, which worked with agencies Cubitt Jacobs & Prosek Communications and the Active Marketing Group on its Playbook for Life campaign, received the 2006 Silver Anvil Award in the Public Service-Business category.
The Hartford launched the Playbook for Life educational campaign in early 2005, as part of its corporate partnership with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The goal of the campaign has centered on helping college students and young adults develop a game plan for their financial future.
At the heart of the effort is “Team Hartford” – a select group of former student-athletes who have succeeded in life off the playing field. Team Hartford members visit college campuses across the country to share their stories and personal finance lessons learned. A 25-page Playbook for Life guidebook and Web site (www.playbook.thehartford.com) are also available to the student-athlete and non-athlete alike. At the Web site, a video Webinar simulates the on-campus event presentation, bringing the Playbook for Life experience to young people everywhere.
The program has been widely praised by coaches, administrators, teachers, students and parents, many of whom have requested the Playbook guidebook on behalf of their college-age children.
“The PRSA Silver Anvil Awards are the highest watermark of success for any public relations practitioner,” said David M. Imre, APR, 2006 PRSA Silver Anvil chair and president, Imre Communications, LLC. “We congratulate The Hartford for its public relations program that incorporated measurable and sound research, planning, execution and evaluation. This program contributes to the best practices of our industry.”
“The Hartford is honored to be recognized for our commitment to providing personal finance education for students and young adults,” said The Hartford’s Pamela Rekow, manager of the Playbook for Life program. “The positive response to the Playbook program in its inaugural year -- from thousands of students-athletes, as well as their parents and coaches -- has underscored the need for practical, easy-to-understand personal finance information that students can use in their daily lives. With this prestigious award, we hope to bring added awareness to The Hartford's efforts to help students make smart decisions as they plan for their financial future.”
The Silver Anvil Awards have grown in scope and stature since their inception in 1946. The Silver Anvils are awarded to programs in 54 categories. In the 60 years since the inception of the program, more than 1,000 organizations have received Silver Anvils for excellence in strategic public relations planning and implementation.
For more information on Playbook for Life, please visit: www.playbook.thehartford.com.
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), based in New York City, is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has more than 29,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 112 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections, along with Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 272 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
The Hartford, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2005 revenues of $27.1 billion. The Hartford is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property and casualty insurance. International operations are located in Japan, Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.
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