Cookerly Public Relations' PRSA|GA Phoenix Awards Highlight Breadth of Experience

Agency Receives Recognition in Seven Award Categories

(ATLANTA – Nov. 5, 2010) Cookerly Public Relations has had a tremendous year in 2010, and on Thursday, November 4, its peers recognized these efforts with three Phoenix Awards and four Certificates of Excellence from the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. With recognition in seven different categories, these awards highlight not only Cookerly's unwavering commitment to excellence, but also its variety of experience with a diverse group of clients.

At the annual awards ceremony, Cookerly took home Phoenix Awards for the following public relations programs:

• Media Relations Project – Consumer Services (Financial Services) Award for the launch of SunTrust's LiveSolid.com resource center. Cookerly executed a high-touch, relationship-building media relations project to raise visibility of the site, drive traffic and provide banking services as needed. The agency's efforts with reporters throughout SunTrust's footprint reached more than 70 million readers and helped SunTrust achieve more than 620,000 visits to the site through June.
• Annual Report – Nonprofit Organization Award for the University of Georgia Foundation. Facing tough economic conditions and reduced donations, Cookerly created an annual report reminding donors that the foundation offers a solid, well-managed investment in Georgia's education. The report reached 6,000 interested parties, resulting in $15 million in donor gifts.
• Public Service Program – Nonprofit Organization Award for Cookerly's continuing work with The Clean Air Campaign. The non-profit organization works to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in the metro Atlanta area by encouraging alternative, cleaner commutes. Through consistent media relations and an expanded social media presence, Cookerly continued to raise brand visibility and helped the organization meet its goals and change commuter behavior. This is Cookerly's eighth Best Public Service Program Award, and the sixth time it has won for its work with The Clean Air Campaign.

In addition to Phoenix Awards, Cookerly was recognized in four additional categories with Certificates of Excellence:

• Social Media Project (Other) Award for the Carpool Rap, an online video designed to encourage the use of carpooling as a clean commute alternative. Created for The Clean Air Campaign, the video got people talking—and watching—and generated a multitude of online and traditional coverage. It was dubbed a "YouTube Rap Hit" by the local ABC station.
• Media Relations Project – Consumer Services (Other) Award for Mercer University Press' 20th Annual Authors Luncheon and Book Signing. Designed to raise awareness and attendance at the prestigious event, Cookerly created exposure through notable media placements, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and an e-marketing/social media campaign. The results: an all-time record number of attendees.
• Media Relations Project – Business to Business Award for Softchoice's Windows XP SP2 Retirement Study. Softchoice Inc., a leading technology service company, discovered widespread security problems in the industry after Microsoft abandoned its support of Windows XP SP2. In four weeks, Cookerly "hit solid gold" by securing 38 media placements, including NYTimes.com and USAToday.com, reaching more than 77 million people.
• Public Service Program – Government Award for its second year of work with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency's Ready Georgia. This local dimension to the nationwide campaign promotes awareness about emergency preparedness throughout the state. Cookerly's comprehensive plan included media relations, event planning, contests, social media, PSAs and community involvement. It surpassed all of its goals in raising awareness.

"Congratulations to our talented team," said Carol Cookerly, president of Cookerly Public Relations. "These wins recognize what our clients already know: that we have a group of people dedicated to top-notch performance and consistency. I am constantly impressed with the creativity and effort this group demonstrates."

About Cookerly Public Relations
Cookerly Public Relations, based in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, is a multi-disciplinary firm with expertise in the development and execution of communications programs including media relations, crisis communications and issue management, investor relations, special events planning and execution, business-to-business marketing/ communications and consumer product marketing. The agency's experienced staff develops communications strategies to strengthen client brand images and accelerate long-term growth. For more information, visit www.cookerly.com.