The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board won the PR News Nonprofit Branding/Re-Branding award at the CSR & Nonprofit Awards Luncheon at the historic National Press Club in Washington, D.C. this week.

The VFTCB was also recognized for its work on the Freedom from Hunger Food Drive with an Honorable Mention in the CSR Social Good category.

The first place Branding/Re-Branding award acknowledges the launch of the VFTCB’s newest brand, Arts Montco, and refresh of the Valley Forge Sports and Revolutionary Events (Meetings) brands.

“We’re the first nonprofit tourism organization in the nation to connect with new audiences and visitors with a multi-brand “portfolio” marketing strategy,” said Edward Harris, Chief Marketing Officer for the VFTCB. “I’m proud and lucky to work with a talented team every day that not only produces unique campaigns that drive results, but now those efforts are garnering national recognition.”

With more than 200 arts and culture venues – from live music, to award-winning playhouses, historic movie theaters, and some of the finest gardens and arboretums in the country – the VFTCB felt the need to introduce a specific brand to promote that area of the region, and help to form an area arts community.

The board also implemented crafted, branded videos in digital marketing campaigns across multiple social media channels to introduce their newest brand.

PR News officials described the VFTCB’s storytelling of Montco as innovative and unique. Other finalists in the category were Jhpiego, Nutrition International – GMMB, and Zenith Education Group.

The PR News CSR & Nonprofit Awards Luncheon celebrated leaders in those categories and their communication initiatives. The event brought together more than 350 communications professionals at the top agencies, corporations, and nonprofit organizations driving the year’s best corporate social responsibility initiatives and nonprofit campaigns.

Campaigns in more than 40 categories competed including Community Affairs, Media Relations, Event PR, Public Service Announcement, and Social Media. PR News also honored CSR Professionals of the Year, and Agency CSR A-List winners.

For the CSR Social Good category, the VFTCB’s third annual Freedom from Hunger Food Drive in September collected more than 4,800 pounds of food donations, and exceeded the board’s goal by more than 300 pounds of food. To date, the drive has gathered more than 9,000 pounds of food to feed the hungry in Montgomery County.

The VFTCB created the Valley Forge Freedom from Hunger Food Drive in 2015 when Pope Francis stayed in Montgomery County at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

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