STATE COLLEGE — Local advertising club [CP]2 hosted its third Bracket Awards — a competition awarding excellence in advertising, design and marketing created in Central Pennsylvania — on May 13 at the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center in State College.
Actor Mike Waldheir emceed the event, where gold and silver Bracket Awards were presented to 14 agencies, media outlets, businesses and nonprofits. More than 100 people were in attendance at the event, sponsored by Comcast Spotlight.
“The 2017 Bracket Awards are a celebration of the very best advertising, design and marketing work created right here in Central Pennsylvania,’ said [CP]2 president Mark D. Dello Stritto. ‘This year, there was fantastic art direction and design, copywriting, web development, video production and illustration. This event is a symbol of the growth of our community, and a proud statement on the bright ideas and rich talents of creative professionals throughout our region.”
Best in Show was awarded to Accuweather for its ‘Game of Thrones’-themed video.
Gazette sister publication Town & Gown magazine was an award winner for design.
Taproot Kitchen was selected as this year’s Brand[Aid] recipient. The nonprofit integrates young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities into the community by teaching culinary skills and hosting dinners for the public. It was selected out of 20 applicants to receive a free marketing and brand refresh this summer by [CP]2 members.
While the process takes several months of collaboration, Brand[Aid] centers around a massive work session in June, when dozens of professionals come together for a weekend of brainstorming and designing. In 2015, [CP]2 worked with Housing Transitions to update its logo, website, messaging, marketing materials and fundraising strategy.
“This is such a great opportunity. Taproot Kitchen is so grateful and excited to see what this talented, enthusiastic and community-minded group will do to help advance our message and mission in the Centre Region,” said Sharon Schafer, cofounder of Taproot Kitchen.
[CP]2, also known as Central Pennsylvania Creative Professionals, accepted more than 100 entries and presented 47 awards this year from marketing and design professionals in the area. Advertisements, publications, digital marketing, social media, branding, signage and video had to appear in the media or launch between April 1, 2016, and April 19, 2017, to qualify.
The entries were judged in April by an objective third-party panel of eight experts in Philadelphia. Those receiving the highest marks were selected for awards. Entries did not compete head-to-head in categories; the best work overall received an award.
There event was organized by [CP]2 board members Mark D. Dello Stritto, Carol White, Jeff Erickson, Curtis Harrison, Ron Smith, Brad Groznik, Ric Jones, Dave Costlow and Dan Rowland, along with the Bracket Award committee members Michelle Damiano, Rich Frank Veronica Terrill, Maria Barton and Maggie Anderson and [CP]2 intern Erin Rogers.
