Gaffney Bennett Public Relations Wins 2010 PRSA Mercury Award

GBPR wins award in highly competitive Media Relations category

New Britain, CT (June 14, 2010) – Gaffney Bennett Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm based in New Britain, Connecticut, was recently honored during the annual Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Mercury Awards. Since 1997, the Mercury Awards recognize outstanding work in the public relations, communications and marketing professions. Sponsored by the Connecticut Valley, Southern Connecticut and Westchester/Fairfield PRSA chapters, this year’s ceremony was held at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.

GBPR received a Silver Award in the Media Relations category for its work on behalf of Propark America to promote the unveiling of electrical car charging stations and a free attended bicycle parking lot for commuters at Neon Garage in New Haven. Propark America operates more than 400 parking lots and garages in the U.S., including more than 30 in New Haven. .

“GBPR is thrilled that our work on behalf of Propark America has been recognized by our peers in the public relations industry,” said Patrick Kinney, a principal with the firm. “We are proud to have helped with such an innovative and environmentally responsible project.”

GBPR created a targeted media relations plan consisting of outreach to business reporters, statewide broadcast, trade magazines, environmental blogs and websites. As a result, Propark’s Neon Garage was highly publicized and received coverage from broadcast and print outlets throughout the state, including feature articles in the New Haven Register and New Haven Independent and segments on WFSB-TV, WTNH-TV, WVIT-TV.

About Gaffney Bennett Public Relations:
GBPR is a full-service public relations firm, with extensive experience in media relations, media training, issues management, survey research and grassroots campaign management, as well as crisis management and materials development. Based in New Britain, our team has decades of experience executing regional campaigns in Connecticut and New England, as well as national campaigns with clients spanning various industries. For more information visit www.gbpr.com.

# # #

Photo Caption: GBPR's Nicole Laster accepts a Silver Mercury Award from Chris Velardi, Anchor/Reporter, WTNH-TV (Channel 8).