PRSA-NY Unveils 2025 Big Apple Awards Shortlist Highlighting PR Brilliance
PRSA-NY has officially released the shortlist for the 2025 Big Apple Awards, showcasing the year’s most inventive and impactful public relations campaigns, teams and practitioners. Tickets are now available for the gala event, which will be held on September 18 at Sony Hall in Midtown Manhattan.
Themed “Elevate & Evolve: Honoring PR Excellence in a Changing Landscape,” this year’s program features campaigns that reflect the ever-adaptive nature of the communications industry. Finalists span a diverse array of sectors including healthcare, consumer products, media relations, social impact and digital engagement.
“The work represented on this shortlist is not only innovative but a testament to how resilient and forward-thinking our industry has become,” said Fay Shapiro, publisher of CommPRO and longtime supporter of the Big Apple Awards. “It’s inspiring to see so many companies step up with purpose, creativity and impact. Everyone shortlisted should be incredibly proud.”
Among this year’s standouts are Coyne PR and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical for their kidney disease awareness campaign featuring Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin, and Zeno Group’s nostalgic back-to-school push for KIND Kids. Carmichael Lynch Relate appears across multiple categories, notably for its quirky “Slicey, Spicy” Montchevre cheese launch and media work with Insomnia Cookies. Meanwhile, PR agency HUNTER is recognized for its corporate social responsibility efforts with Meals on Wheels America and its street-level activation replacing NYC pretzels with King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites.
Feintuch Communications and NCSolutions garnered multiple nods for their integrated campaign sparking the “sober curious” movement, while The TASC Group earned a spot on the list for launching NYC’s first pet-inclusive homeless shelter.
The event will also celebrate the exclusive 15 Under 35 Awards, sponsored by PRophet, along with individual honors yet to be announced.
Event co-chair Brittany Bevacqua added, “In line with this year’s theme, we set out to create an event that feels as fresh, bold and innovative as the campaigns and people we’re honoring. It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable night.”
This year’s event is sponsored by 360PR+, Burson, Gregory FCA, HUNTER, PRophet – exclusive sponsor of the 15 Under 35 Awards – Edelman, Notified, The Stevens / Jachetti Group, Truescope, PR Museum, Hill & Knowlton, and IW Group, with event production by CommPRO.
Now in its 38th year, the Big Apple Awards remain one of the most prestigious honors in the public relations industry. The 2025 celebration marks the first time the awards will be hosted at Sony Hall, setting the stage for a glitzy evening in the heart of Broadway.
2025 BIG APPLE AWARDS HONOREES SHORTLIST
Best Use of Spokesperson/Influencer
Nasoya Fuels Inspiration and Empowers Women to Explore Tofu with Power of 9 Campaign, 360PR+
Treasure Cave's Recipe for Brand and Category Love, Carmichael Lynch Relate
Missy Franklin Dives into Kidney Disease Awareness with Otsuka Collaboration, Coyne PR & Otsuka America Pharmaceutical
Best Use of Owned Social Media
KIND Kids Taps Into Back to School Nostalgia, Zeno Group
Corporate Social Responsibility
Meals on Wheels America Ends the Wait for Millions of Seniors, HUNTER
Events & Observances
A Slicey, Spicy Launch with Montchevre, Carmichael Lynch Relate
Team Citizens Scores a Ten (Year Milestone), Citizens Financial Group and Hudson Cutler & Co.
Sea-To-Table Restaurant Week NYC 2024, Padilla with Norwegian Seafood Council
“Sasquatch in the Skies” National Jerky Day 2024, Padilla with Jack Link’s
Launching New York City's First Pet-Inclusive Shelter for Homeless Families, The TASC Group
Experiential Marketing
A Slicey, Spicy Launch with Montchevre, Carmichael Lynch Relate
CeraVe Embarks on a Multi-City Drama Free Cleansing Tour, Coyne PR & CeraVe
Generational Targeted Marketing (Gen Z, Boomer, etc.)
Goldfish Goes Viral with Adult Name Change: Chilean Sea Bass, Zeno Group
Integrated Communications
Blitzing the Region: A Targeted Approach for iovera°, Coyne PR & Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
From Cocktails to Mocktails: How NCS Drove the Sober Curious Conversation, NCSolutions and Feintuch Communications
Stranahan’s Takes Ownership of a New Whiskey Category, Three Cheers PR
Marketing Business-to-Business
A Future Without Bananas? Chiquita’s Quest to Prevent a Global Agricultural Crisis, Coyne PR & Chiquita
From Cocktails to Mocktails: How NCS Drove the Sober Curious Conversation, NCSolutions and Feintuch Communications
Marketing Consumer Products & Services
A Slicey, Spicy Launch with Montchevre, Carmichael Lynch Relate
Treasure Cave's Recipe for Brand and Category Love, Carmichael Lynch Relate
Insomnia Cookies Broke Up With Your Partner So You Didn’t Have To, Carmichael Lynch Relate
TUMS Makes Gameday Food Dreams a Reality with TUMS Fantasy Foodball Pool, Coyne PR & Haleon
Supplementing Smarter – Thorne x Diffusion, Diffusion PR
Hundreds of NYC Street Carts Ditch Their Iconic Pretzels for King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites, HUNTER
Media Relations
Insomnia Cookies Broke Up With Your Partner So You Didn’t Have To, Carmichael Lynch Relate
From Cocktails to Mocktails: How NCS Drove the Sober Curious Conversation, NCSolutions and Feintuch Communications
Leading the Fight Against AI-Generated CSAM Through the Power of Media, Gregory FCA
Refresh, Reengage, Reeducate: Expanding a Brand Story Through Earned Media, Padilla with NMDP
Breaking Down TINCUP Bourbon to Build it Up, Three Cheers PR
Mental Health & Awareness
Revolutionizing Digital Therapeutics with Rejoyn, Coyne PR & Otuska America Pharmaceutical
Public Service
Trash or Cash: Padilla with Hennepin County
Reputation/Brand Management & Engagement
Treasure Cave's Recipe for Brand and Category Love, Carmichael Lynch Relate
From Cocktails to Mocktails: How NCS Drove the Sober Curious Conversation, Feintuch Communications
Citizens x Queens Night Market: Building Reputation and Engagement Through Culture, Citizens Financial Group and Hudson Cutler
Video
ViiV x The Skin Deep | Navigating HIV: Real Stories, Real Impact, GCI Health
