North America's Top Cause Marketing Campaigns Earn Halos

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Chicago, IL - June 2, 2011 - Fighting childhood hunger, counseling elderly drivers and preserving rainforests, all while building business, were among the accomplishments showcased at the Ninth Annual Cause Marketing Halo Awards.   Eighteen category-specific awards were presented during the Cause Marketing Forum conference on June 2 to campaigns that mixed cause and commerce in 2010. DonorsChoose.org and eBay were singled out for Cause Marketing Golden Halo Awards for their leadership in the field of doing well by doing good.   Two campaigns received multiple Halos:  

• National Conversation Drive (two awards): This Liberty Mutual program addressed the sensitive topic of senior driving, creatively encouraged family members to pledge to broach this conversation and supported the Independent Transportation Network.

• RBC Blue Water Project (two awards): A $50 million, multi-year commitment to protecting fresh water, this Royal Bank of Canada campaign included impressive videos highlighting the work of three grant recipients, Free the Children, Tides Canada and The National Geographic Society.

  Canadian companies took home 4 out of the 18 campaign category awards in the first year the competition was opened to Canadian programs.   "Cause marketing, the creation of programs that pay financial and social dividends, has grown tremendously over the past ten years." commented Cause Marketing Forum President David Hessekiel. "In fact, cause was the fastest growing area of sponsorship in 2010 and is predicted to hit $1.7 billion in 2011."   In keeping with that trend, a record number of programs were entered in the Cause Marketing Halo Award competition. "The winners of this year's Cause Marketing Halo Awards demonstrated creativity, innovation and excellence in campaign execution and results for companies and causes," said Hessekiel.   This year’s Cause Marketing Halo Award winners include:   Best Social Service or Education Campaign GOLD: National Suit Drive Men’s Wearhouse and nonprofits focused on job readiness for disadvantaged men   SILVER: Kohl’s Cares $10 Million Contest Kohl’s Department Stores and K-12 schools across the country   Best Health-Related Campaign GOLD: The Recovery Project A&E Network and Faces & Voices of Recovery, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America   SILVER: Hyundai Gives Hope on Wheels September Childhood Cancer Awareness initiative Hyundai Motor America   Best Transactional Campaign GOLD: Community TELUS TV Campaign TELUS and various local charities   SILVER - Huddle to Fight Hunger Kraft Foods and Feeding America   Best Message-Focused Campaign GOLD – National Conversation Drive Liberty Mutual and ITNAmerica   SILVER – Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Toys “R” Us and US Fund for UNICEF   Best Video Creative GOLD – American Express Members Project American Express   SILVER – Blue Water Project Royal Bank of Canada and nonprofits that protect watersheds and provide clean drinking water.   Best Environmental or Animal Campaign GOLD – Blue Water Project Royal Bank of Canada and Free The Children, Tides Canada and The National Geographic Society   SILVER – Hello Green Tomorrow Avon and The Nature Conservancy
Best Print Creative GOLD – Child Hunger Ends Here ConAgra Foods and Feeding America   SILVER – Bulgari for Children’s Education Bulgari and Save the Children   Best Event Marketing Campaign GOLD – National Believe Day Macy’s and Make-a-Wish Foundation   SILVER – National Conversation Drive Liberty Mutual and ITNAmerica   Best Digital Marketing Campaign GOLD: Our School Needs Microsoft-Bing and DonorsChoose.org   SILVER: The Aviva Community Fund Aviva Canada   Now in their ninth year, the Cause Marketing Halo Awards are North America's highest honor in the field of cause marketing, awarded by the Cause Marketing Forum, a company dedicated to providing business and nonprofit executives with the practical information and connections they need to succeed.    Background on the Halo-winning campaigns can be found at www.CauseMarketingForum.com/Awards