The agency, along with other winners, was recognized for the award during the 2009 Silver Anvil Awards Evening held June 4 at the Equitable Tower in New York.

Swanson Communications received a 2009 Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation in the “Outstanding Press Conferences” category for “Swanson Communications Delivers Dream Press Conference for De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao ‘Dream Match’ Kick-off at The Statue of Liberty” campaign. The agency, on behalf of their client Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, organized, planned and executed the first ever press event on Liberty Island that was not a speech by a president or dignitary. The event officially announced DE LA HOYA VS PACQUIAO ‘DREAM MATCH’ which took place on December 6, 2008.  The press event also kicked-off a six-city media tour to promote what ending up being the biggest boxing event of the year.

“I am delighted to honor Swanson Communications with the Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation in recognition of tactical excellence serving the organizations we represent and the communities they serve,” said PRSA Chair and CEO Michael Cherenson, APR. “Best practices in public relations tactics also help establish our profession as an indispensable part of business planning and strategy.”

Swanson Communications worked tirelessly with the Concessionaire to Liberty Island on each detail needed to pull-off such a logistically challenging event, including staging and erecting a outdoor press tent with a one-of-a kind backdrop of Manhattan’s skyline, securing a Statue of Liberty ferry to transport the press and VIPs from Battery Park to-and-from Liberty Island, a Park Police escort for the fighters and a multitude of photo opportunities including the fighters’ arrival to the Island, shots in front of the Lady Liberty, shots of Manhattan and a grand finale with the fighters on the upper deck of the ferry upon departure from Liberty Island.  The event was attended by over 100 media members including national television and wire services, as well as local electronic, print and web-based media outlets. 

“We are so excited to be recognized by PRSA and receive the Bronze Anvil for our efforts in planning this once-in-a-lifetime endeavor,” said Kelly Swanson, President of Swanson Communications, who has been in the business for over 20 years.  “Thanks to my client’s vision, we were able to take part in what is surely the most exciting press event I have ever staged in the course of my career.”

The Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation was created by PRSA in 1969 to recognize outstanding public relations tactics — the individual items or components that contribute to the success of an overall program or campaign. Awards of Commendation are possible in 63 categories and subcategories, including Media Relations, Newsletters, Web Sites, Feature Stories, Press/ Media kits, Podcasts, Word-of-Mouth and Blogs.

Entries are judged by teams of PRSA members — and others who have specific category expertise — across the country. Up to two Bronze Anvil Awards of Commendation may be earned in each category or subcategory. No Award of Commendation is bestowed in those categories where the judges feel the entries do not rise to standards set forth for the award by PRSA.