MINNEAPOLIS (May 18, 2020) — Children’s Minnesota was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Communications or Public Relations Campaign of the Year—Healthcare category in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®. The honor was given for the public relations campaign to launch the Children’s Minnesota Gender Health program. The award announcement comes as the program marks its one-year anniversary.
“The successful launch of this clinic and this marketing campaign changed kids and families lives for the better. And, I have no doubt that making sure that the word got out about this particular program saved kids’ lives over this past year,” said Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, medical director of the Gender Health program. “So many of these kids and families didn’t know where to turn for help, didn’t know where to go. And when they saw something in the newspaper, or in a magazine at the dentist’s office, or heard a story on the radio, or saw something in their Facebook feed, it provided an immense relief just knowing there was a place to go and experts who could help.”
In 2019, Children’s Minnesota joined only about a dozen hospitals in the nation to launch a program dedicated to providing specialized care and support for youth and their families. A multi-channel public relations campaign was utilized to reach families and providers in the region. The campaign far exceeded metric goals and reached key audiences. In the first six months, the Gender Health program attracted 85 new patients, reaching the annual goal in half the expected time. One award judge commented “News of the program reached 123 million people nationally through 179 broadcast[stories]: That’s a huge effort, your company should be proud of it. Good luck with your future.”
“Congratulations to the public relations team on an honor that is well deserved,” said Dr. Goepferd. “They joined together with our team to create a remarkable campaign that ensured news of the program’s launch reached families in our community, and most importantly, to make sure that kids got access to care that they need and deserve.”
More than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Live Event of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Children’s Minnesota was nominated in the Public Relations Campaign of the Yea category for healthcare.
More than 230 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards will be virtually presented to winners during a live event on Wednesday, August 5.
Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2020 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.
About Children’s Minnesota
Children’s Minnesota is the seventh largest pediatric health system in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children’s Minnesota serves kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, 12 primary and specialty care clinics and six rehabilitation sites. Children’s Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children’s hospital.
Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.
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Nick Petersen