Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Earns Top Georgia PRSA Honor for Bud McCall Grant Campaign

The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency's (GVRA) Public Affairs/Communications Department was awarded one of the Georgia Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA) top honors for its communications and marketing efforts promoting the Bud McCall Vocational Rehabilitation Post-Secondary Grant.

GVRA received the prestigious Award of Excellencefor the Most Effective Campaign on a Shoestring Budget(under $5,000) at the PRSA Phoenix Awards Ceremony held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on November 13. GVRA was recognized alongside some of Georgia's leading marketing and public relations firms, as well as major employers such as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, Norfolk Southern Corp., and Gwinnett County Schools.

Launched in January 2023, GVRA's award-winning statewide campaign aimed to increase awareness of the Bud McCall Post-Secondary Vocational Rehabilitation Grant, following a policy change that eliminated financial need assessments and other barriers for students with disabilities seeking post-secondary opportunities.

The campaign, supported by GVRA's Vocational Rehabilitation staff, included a dedicated webpage, posters, rack cards, social media outreach, newsletter articles, direct emails to school-based staff and educational leaders, and targeted outreach efforts. The award recognizes the agency's thorough research, planning, execution, and evaluation of the comprehensive campaign.

The campaign's impact was documented in the numbers: over a 6-month period, client cases for post-secondary (4-year) students increased from 50 in Fiscal Year 2023 to 144 in Fiscal Year 2024. Similarly, the number of client cases for graduate-level post-secondary students grew from 12 to 21 in the same timeframe.

"At the heart of our agency is a deep commitment to collaboration and teamwork," says GVRA Executive Director Chris Wells. "We believe that when we work together - across departments, with our partners, and in support of the individuals we serve - we can achieve far greater outcomes. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team of professionals, and the ongoing progress GVRA continues to make in serving Georgians with disabilities."

The Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA GA) is the second-largest chapter of public relations professionals in the U.S., with approximately 850 members representing Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, public relations firms, and nonprofit organizations. PRSA GA members are recognized for their commitment to best practices and excellence in communications.