Announcing Ragan’s 2021 CSR & Diversity Awards finalists

Congratulations to these powerful communications professionals and teams.

By Ragan Staff
July 13, 2021

The finalists on this list created campaigns, initiatives and projects that were instrumental in positively impacting their communities.

Their work helped make the world safer, healthier, more equitable and sustainable. These dedicated communications professionals and teams developed, executed and told compelling stories about their efforts.

Congratulations to this year’s list of 2021 CSR & Diversity Awards finalists. Keep an eye out for the winner announcement in mid- to late-August.

CSR & ESG BUSINESS PRACTICES

Brand Activism

Capgemini: Social Response Unit
Disney General Entertainment Content: 2020 Election Engagement
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
WWE: School of Strength

Covid-19 Program

ESPN: #oneteam
Intel: Pandemic Response Technology Initiative
LaGuardia Gateway Partners: Travel Smart. Work Smart.
Maximus: COVID-19 Response
McGraw Hill: McGraw Hill’s COVID-19 Innovations
MGA Entertainment: MGA Cares
Sanofi: Trusted Messengers Project

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Employee Volunteer Program

Cresco Labs: “Make a Difference” Initiative
HMTX Industries: Halstead/Metroflor Addiction Crisis (HMAC) Charity
SAP Brasil: SAPotentiALL100

Green and Environmental Stewardship

HMTX Industries: The journey from product transparency to social justice; the new CSR

CSR & ESG ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Covid-19 Communications

Alorica: Team Alorica
Astellas Pharma: US, Astellas Communications for COVID-19: Supporting and Inspiring our Communities
John Hancock: John Hancock Employee Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Maximus: COVID-19 Response
PCL Construction: PCL Construction’s Response to COVID-19
RB: Navigating the new normal together: RB’s plan to stay safe in workspaces
Webster Bank: COVID-19 Communications

CSR or ESG Event (Virtual or In Person)

Northwest Center: 2021 Virtual Derby
Walgreens Boots Alliance: At The Heart of Health

Internal Communications Campaign

Astellas: Astellas Volunteerism
Edward-Elmhurst Health: Edward-Elmhurst Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Humana: Interrupting Bias
Jack Henry & Associates: Corporate Communications Team
UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown

Media Relations or PR Campaign

Gearbox Entertainment Company: Borderlands Science
KWI Communications: Applause for Aflac: Using CSR to Step Up Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Report (Annual or One-time) (Print or Digital)

Aflac: Investing Today for a Better Tomorrow
Cambia Health Solutions: Cambia 2020 Community Response Report
ESPN: 2020 ESPN Corporate Citizenship Report
Jack Henry & Associates: Corporate Communications Team
Paychex: Inc.: Paychex FY20 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
Walgreens Boots Alliance: At The Heart of Health
Webster Bank: 2019 ESG Report

Stakeholder/Employee Engagement

Edward-Elmhurst Health: Edward-Elmhurst Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives
Mower: Bring Your Work to Kids
Purdue Pharma: Moving for a Cause: Charity Miles and Purdue Pharma
Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd.: RWS Cares during an unprecedented global pandemic year

Video or Visual Design

Arizona School Boards Association: Become a School Board Member Video Campaign
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown

CSR & ESG PEOPLE AND TEAMS

CSR Agency of the Year

APCO Worldwide
KWT Global
Yulu Public Relations

CSR Campaign of the Year

Aflac: How CSR Helped Aflac Weather the Storm
Gearbox Entertainment Company: Borderlands Science
WWE: Support Tomorrow’s Superstars

CSR Professional of the Year

Caroline Roan: Pfizer Inc. and The Pfizer Foundation
Fred Ferguson: Vista Outdoor
Kevin Martinez: ESPN

CSR & ESG SOCIAL IMPACT

Cause Advocacy Campaign

Civic Alliance: 100% in for democracy
Committee for Children: Captain Compassion
Kiva and Hotwire: Kiva: Helping financially excluded communities
Land O’Lakes: Inc.: American Connection Project
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World
Travelers Insurance and Peppercomm: TBWA\Chiat\Day New York: Zaadii: The Legend of Z-Hawk—Consumer Distracted Driving Education Campaign
Walgreens: ‘Buy vitamins here, Change lives everywhere’

Community Affairs

Federal Bureau of Investigation: FBI American Indian and Alaska Native Committee and Language Initiative Team
Mower: Put the “U’ Back in Syracuse

Corporate-Community or Nonprofit Partnership

BuzzRx: You Save, We Donate: The Prescription Discount Card That Gives Back
Experian North America: Operation HOPE
Horizon Therapeutics: Forever Home
Lowe’s: Lowe’s Partners with LISC to Support Rural Small Businesses
Sanofi: Trusted Messengers Project
Walgreens: ‘Buy vitamins here, Change lives everywhere’
WWE: WWE & UNICEF USA

Disaster Prevention or Pandemic Relief

Brother International Corporation USA: COVID-19 Pandemic Relief
Lowe’s: Lowe’s Commits $1.3B to Inspire Hope Through Pandemic Relief
Astellas Global Health Foundation: Astellas Global Health Foundation COVID-19 response
WWE: WWE Branded Face Masks Benefiting Americares

Education or Scholarship Program

DonorsChoose & Google.org: #ISeeMe

Fundraising and Philanthropic Initiative

ManTech: Charitable Matching Campaign
McKinsey & Company: Generation, transforming lives through meaningful employment

Global CSR Initiative

McKinsey & Company: Generation, transforming lives through meaningful employment

Public Health or Safety Initiative

CAIPA Foundation: CAIPA Mobile Rapid Testing Center
RB: HERE FOR HEALTHY SCHOOLS

DE&I BROAD-BASED ENTRIES

Diversity: Equity and Inclusion Commitment

3M: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report
Experian
Fifth Third Bank Corporate Communications Team: Fifth Third Bank DEI Corporate Communications
Lambert & Co: AMERICANTBREATHE with Lambert & Co.
New York City Football Club: New York City Football Club – DEI Commitment
Porter Novelli: Porter Novelli Mexico #AsiSomosAqui
Prudential Financial, Inc.: Taking Action: Prudential’s Commitment to Racial Equity

DE&I CAMPAIGNS/INITIATIVES

Allyship

AAA Club Alliance: Allyship in Action
ENGIE North America: Clean Energy Industry Leaders Take a Stand Against Racism
Lambert & Co: AMERICANTBREATHE with Lambert & Co.
Munchkin Inc.: Radiant Colors
National Association of REALTORS: Campaign to Advance Fair Housing and Racial Equity

Brand Activism

CARS: CARS Action
Children’s Health: Children’s Health Introduces Employee and Community Resources Amidst Racial Injustice
The Y: The Y’s public commitment to become an anti-racist, multicultural organization

Community Relations and Engagement

Archie Group: Nasdaq diversity rule
McDermott Will & Emery: McDermott Diversity & Inclusion Team
OZ Art NWA: ARkanvas
Sunovion Pharmaceuticals: Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators: Lead the Way to a Healthier World

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

CARS: CARS Action
UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown

Event (Virtual or Live)

Entergy Corporation: Entergy Town Hall on Race & Equality
Lowe’s: Lowe’s Diversifies Shelf Space, Supports Small Business through Making It…With Lowe’s
Pearson: Black History Month – A Gift of Excellence
PRSA: Transforming the Landscape Fundraising Concert
UPS: Black Voices from Big Brown

Inclusive Language Initiative