2026 Winners

Congratulations to the 2026 PRism Award winners!

Best of Show

Nonprofit: City of Rochester for “Rochester Fire Department Turns Up the Heat on Recruitment”

Corporate: Lumenis with McDougall Communications for “Closing the Gap: The Launch of OptiLIFT”

Rising Star Award: Lizzy Beach, University of Rochester Medicine

Educator of the Year: Dr. Frank Marra, Rochester Institute of Technology

Executive of the Year: Chris Humphrey, Community Bank, N.A.

Program Awards

Community Relations

Nonprofit PRism: The Martin Group and Greentopia for “A City Growing Together, One Green Space at a Time”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Volunteers of America for “Holiday Toy Drive”

Corporate PRism Award: The Martin Group and New Era Cap for “More Than a Partnership: Josh Allen and New Era Turned Creativity into Community Impact”

Corporate Award of Excellence: LáLew Public Relations for “Become What Thou Art: Strengthening Community Connection and Visibility for The Harley School”

Crisis Communications

Nonprofit PRism Award: University of Rochester for “One University, Many Impacts: How the University of Rochester Communicated Federal Policy Change in Real Time”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Campaigns

Nonprofit PRism Award: Rochester Institute of Technology for “What Will You Do? Campaign at Rochester Institute of Technology”

Events and Observances

Nonprofit PRism Award: Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship with McDougall Communications for “Golisano Institute Expands to Buffalo”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Goodwill’s 2025 Store Openings Invite the Community to Shop with Purpose”

Corporate PRism Award: The Martin Group, M&T Bank and Tops Friendly Markets for “Gift of Warmth: 40 Years of Community Giving”

Corporate Award of Excellence: The Martin Group and Union Chill for “Launching Union Chill: Redefining the Cannabis Retail Experience in the Southern Tier”

Global Communications

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Contact Lens Institute with McDougall Communications for “Patient POVs Drive Global Reach: The 2025 See Tomorrow Initiative”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: University of  Rochester for “University of Rochester Brand Refresh Launch”

Corporate PRism Award: CooperVision with McDougall Communications for “CooperVision MiSight 1 day Portfolio Expansion”

Integrated Communications

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Contact Lens Institute with McDougall Communications for “Unlocking Patient Insights: The 2025 See Tomorrow Initiative”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medicine for “A Milestone for Cancer Research: Translating Wilmot Cancer Institute’s NCI Designation into a High-Impact Communications Campaign”

Corporate PRism Award: Lumenis with McDougall Communications for “Closing the Gap: The Launch of OptiLIFT”

Corporate Award of Excellence: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Buffalo DeNovo Expansion: Launching Community Bank in Western New York”

Internal Communications

Nonprofit PRism Award: University of Rochester Medicine for “One Team, One Purpose: Launching a Vision for URMC to Fulfill Our Mission”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Rochester Regional Health for “RRH Drives Team Member Participation in the 2025 Heart Walk”

Marketing

Nonprofit PRism Award: City of Rochester for “Rochester Fire Department Turns Up the Heat on Recruitment”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: UR Medicine Thompson Health for “OB/GYN & Birthing Center: Caring for Women at Every Age & Stage Campaign”

Corporate PRism Award: Lumenis with McDougall Communications for “Closing the Gap: The Launch of OptiLIFT”

Corporate Award of Excellence: The Martin Group and Greenlight Networks for “Greenlight Networks Expands Connectivity and Community Engagement Across the Northeast”

Public Affairs

Nonprofit PRism Award: LáLew Public Relations for “Translating Policy Into Public Understanding: Building Advocacy Tools for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway”

Public Service

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Golisano Foundation with McDougall Communications for “National Launch of the Golisano Children's Alliance”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Rochester Regional Health for “Rochester Regional Health Join Forces with Girl Scouts to Launch Stroke Patch Program”

Corporate PRism Award: Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. for “CBS and Wegmans - Season of Giving: Check Out Hunger Campaign”

Reputation/Brand Management

Nonprofit PRism Award: Rochester Regional Health for “Managing Trust at Scale: Rochester Regional Health’s Systemwide Reputation Strategy”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: University of Rochester for “University of Rochester Image Campaign Chapter 1”

Student Programs

Student PRism Award, Integrated Communications: Rochester Institute of Technology for “CPR You Ready”

Element Awards

Advertorials

Nonprofit PRism Award: Visit Rochester for “German Advertorial Reaches a Global Audience for Wine, Water & Wonders of New York State”

Corporate PRism Award: McDougall Communications for  “CooperVision's Myopia Collective Advertorial”

Annual Reports

Nonprofit PRism Award: SUNY Brockport for “Impact Report”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: UR Medicine Thompson Health for “F.F. Thompson Foundation Report on Giving”

Corporate PRism Award: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Community Comes First: Community Bank’s 2024 Community Report”

Blogs and Blogger Campaigns

Nonprofit PRism Award: Travel Alliance Partnership for “Bed & Breakfast Crawl Showcases Authentic Hospitality in Yates County”

Creative Tactics

Nonprofit PRism Award: Tipping Point Communications for “‘Dear Canada, Love Rochester’ Mailer Boxes – Visit Rochester”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: SUNY Brockport for “Hocomania”

Corporate PRism Award: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “The Deck to My Heart—A Hallmarketing Love Story”

Corporate Award of Excellence: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Positively Charged: Simplifying EV Programs to Build Trust and Drive Measurable Engagement Across AVANGRID”

Direct Mail/Direct Response

Nonprofit PRism Award: SUNY Brockport for “Accepted Student Day Puzzle Mailer”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Volunteers of America for “Caring Gifts Brochure”

Corporate PRism: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Direct Mail That Delivered: Positively Charged Mailer Drives 3X Lift in CT EV Managed Charging Enrollments”

Editorial and Op-Ed Columns

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Centre for Ocular Research & Education with McDougall Communications for “Seeing Opportunity: Contact Lens Update Editorial”

Corporate PRism Award: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “From Complexity to Clarity: A Six-Part Thought-Leadership Series on the One Big Beautiful Bill”

Corporate Award of Excellence: CooperVision with McDougall Communications for “From Exam Room to Classroom: Collaborative Myopia Management”

Feature Stories

Nonprofit PRism Award: University of Rochester for “175 Ways URochester Makes the World Ever Better”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Rochester Institute of Technology for “Tackling the macro problem of microplastics”

Corporate PRism Award: The Martin Group and Greenlight Networks for “Greenlight Brings Community and Connectivity to the City of Binghamton’s Holiday Tree Lighting”

Magazines

Nonprofit PRism Award: Rochester Institute of Technology for “RIT University Magazine”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: University of Rochester Medicine for “Rochester Nursing Captures a Century of Nurses' Community Impacts”

Media Relations

Nonprofit PRism Award: Visit Rochester for “A Feature Article Comes Together in a New York Minute”

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Golisano Foundation with McDougall Communications for “National Launch of the Golisano Children's Alliance”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Travel Alliance Partnership for “Stories That Drive Travel: Elevating Saratoga County Through Strategic Media Relations”

Corporate PRism Award: Lumenis with McDougall Communications for “OptiLIFT Launch and Beyond”

Corporate Award of Excellence: The Martin Group and M&T Bank for “M&T Bank Rallies Community to ‘Billieve Together’”

Newsletters

Nonprofit PRism Award: Pittsford Central School District for “Superintendent's eNewsletter”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: SUNY Brockport for “The Port”

Corporate PRism Award: The Martin Group for “The Martin Group's Monthly Newsletter”

Corporate Award of Excellence: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Provoke”

Online Videos and Video Programs

Nonprofit PRism: University of Rochester for “University of Rochester Online Videos: Ever Wonder if Aliens Exist?”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: St. John Fisher University for “St. John Fisher…Obviously”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Dixon Schwabl + Company for “Video Spotlights Lesser-Known Yet Vital Component of PGA TOUR Event”

Corporate PRism Award: Paychex, Inc. for “Economy 4.0: Grounded in Purpose”

Press Conferences

Nonprofit PRism Award: Rochester Regional Health for “GenoWell Genetic Screening Press Conference”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medicine for “A National Milestone: Announcing Wilmot Cancer Institute’s NCI Designation”

Corporate PRism Award: Kodak with McDougall Communications for “Kodak's Olympic Comeback”

Publications

Nonprofit PRism Award: Travel Alliance Partnership for “Taking Flight: Inspiring New Adventures with the New York State Birding Trail Guide”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medicine for “Celebrating Wilmot Cancer Institute’s National Cancer Institute Designation through Dialogue Magazine”

Research and Evaluation

Nonprofit PRism Award: The Contact Lens Institute with McDougall Communications for “Cross-Generational Patient Research Opens Eyes”

Smart Phone/Tablet Applications

Nonprofit PRism Award: Travel Alliance Partnership for “Influencer Activity Re-Invigorates Arlington Open Rewards Program”

Social Media

Nonprofit PRism Award: Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medicine for “Wilmot Cancer Institute Generates Continual Conversation on NCI Designation”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Rochester Regional Health for “Walk Like a Penguin Winter Safety Campaign”

Corporate PRism Award: Kodak with McDougall Communications for “Bridging Heritage & Growth: Kodak's Corporate Social Transformation”

Speeches

Nonprofit PRism Award: City of Rochester for “Mayor Malik D. Evans’ Second Inaugural Address: We’re Not Finished”

Websites

Nonprofit PRism Award: Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester for “Eastman School of Music Website”

Nonprofit Award of Excellence: Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medicine for “NCI Designation Landing Page Helps Wilmot Cancer Institute Educate and Engage with Community”

Student Elements

Student PRism Award – Execution: Rochester Institute of Technology for “Deaf Women of Rochester Community Empowerment Banner”

Student Award of Excellence – Execution: Rochester Institute of Technology for “WVU Online Classes Engagement”