2024 was another award-winning year for Kcomm! Here’s more about the accolades we earned on behalf of our amazing clients.
Carolinas Healthcare PR and Marketing Society – 2024 Awards
Golden Tusk Award for Service Line Marketing Campaign
Monarch NC
“Crisis Support for Robeson County’s Most Vulnerable”
The citizens of Robeson County, NC, have been hit hard by the opioid crisis. When North Carolina received a large opioid settlement, Robeson County benefited from $9M that funded the creation of several addiction treatment programs. While this thankfully increased treatment options for those with substance use disorders, it impacted the census of established programs that provide Robeson County residents a broad continuum of behavioral health services. Monarch partnered with Kcomm for an awareness campaign to reintroduce the community and local referral sources to the services they provide for crisis stabilization and treatment of substance use disorders.
Golden Tusk Award for Special Event Promotion
Tryon Women’s Center
“Menopause & Misinformation: Gynecologists Strike Back” by Kelso Communications
Thanks to gynecology and sexual health experts, menopause is having its moment! Historically, conversations about menopause were left to quiet chatter between female friends, or in the confines of a gynecologist’s office where women had been routinely prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) since the 1960s. Then in 2002, one research study revealed potentially catastrophic health complications from HRT, leaving women afraid and confused. In 2023, medical science changed course on HRT, but most women (and their doctors) still don’t know that it’s safe. The physicians of Tryon Women Center are changing that, with the help of the “Menopause Whisperer.”
Wally Award for Video: Short-format series
Tryon Medical Partners
“‘Ask Me Anything’ Video Series with Dr. Alyse Kelly-Jones”
Part of Tryon’s value is offering patients the collective expertise of a variety of subspecialities; Gynecology and Sexual Health is a prime example. For too many women, brief routine appointments are not enough to cover the many questions and concerns about issues often shrouded in secrecy and plagued by misinformation: menopause, fertility, hormone replacement therapy, sexually transmitted diseases, painful intercourse, low libido and much more. The Tryon gynecologists wanted to provide a communication channel that could reach far more patients beyond one-to-one office visits. And the perfect guide was at the ready.
Public Relations Society of America Charlotte Chapter – 2024 Queen City PR Awards
Crown Award: Multicultural/Diversity and Inclusion
CLT Alliance Foundation
Charlotte Small Business Growth Fund for minority and women-owned businesses
The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute report on Minority-Owned Small Businesses of Charlotte-Mecklenburg states: “Businesses and financial assets make up only 15% and 8% of wealth for Latinx and Black households, respectively, while these assets make up a third of overall assets for Whites and Asians.” Historically, people of color have had less access to capital to start and grow a business, but the CLT Alliance Foundation is leveling the playing field. They established the Charlotte Small Business Growth Fund to provide $40 million in loans to 2,000+ underserved small businesses, and partnered with Kcomm to spread the word.
Crown Award: Issues Management
Tryon Medical Partners
Forged from fire: Creating Tryon’s crisis plan
In May 2023, a five-alarm fire swept through Charlotte’s SouthPark area, and threatened, but thankfully spared, Tryon Medical Partners’ SouthPark location, administrative offices and call center. The emergency response from team partners and Tryon administration was exemplary, leading to an orderly and safe evacuation. But would they have been prepared if the circumstances were different? Tryon looked to Kelso Communications, their agency of record and longtime communications partner, to help them create a crisis communication plan. One year later, Tryon stands ready to respond to any crisis with amazing people and a solid process that has already been tested.