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OCPRSA Announces Winners of 2025 PROTOS Awards

Posted on Sep. 18, 2025  /  Awards  /  Subscribe 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (OCPRSA) celebrated the region’s top public relations campaigns, professionals and organizations at the 2025 PROTOS Awards Gala, held Sept. 17 at the Impact Club at Honda Center. Over 25 trophies were awarded to local organizations and agencies for their efforts in media relations, community engagement, crisis communications and more.

This year’s theme, “PR Elevated: Celebrating Excellence Above the Noise,” was selected to capture how exemplary work in public relations uplifts the local business community and the practice of PR at large.

"PROTOS is more than an awards program; it’s a celebration of the innovation and impact that public relations professionals create for our community and industry,” said Tiffany Aguinaldo, 2025 OCPRSA president. “This year’s winners truly represent what it means to rise above the noise."

Top award winners included:

Each year, agencies, organizations and individuals submit their best campaigns and tactics to be judged against national standards of excellence. In accordance with PRSA bylaws, entries are reviewed by an independent PRSA chapter to ensure fairness and integrity. PROTOS Awards are presented to individuals submitting the highest-scoring entries in a category. Awards of Excellence are presented to other noteworthy entries that meet scoring criteria.

The 2025 PROTOS Award winners are:

Community Relations/Institutional Programs:

• City of Newport Beach – San Miguel Accessible Park Grand Opening
• Orange County Transportation Authority – Active Transportation Outreach and Engagement Support



Total Program – Consumer Programs:

• Treat Public Relations – Portland Marathon / Success Over Obstacles



Total Program – Nonprofit Programs:

• Powerhouse+Co. – CRF / LA Fire Relief



Media Relations Programs:

• Treat Public Relations – Las Vegas Marathon Hits The Jackpot



Public Affairs Programs:

• Westbound Communications – 2024 General Election Campaign with OC Registrar of Voters
• Reveille, Inc. – CalFood Funding Defense for California Association of Food Banks



Special Events and Observances:

• Biola University – Snyder School of Cinema & Media Arts Groundbreaking
• City of Hope Orange County / Reveille, Inc. for the Music of Hope



Internal Communications Programs:

• City of Hope Orange County – Marathon Toward Day One



Crisis Communications/Issues Management Programs:

• Think Together – Celebrating Shalimar



Online Marketing Programs:

• Idea Hall – “Discover Freemasonry” Digital Membership Campaign



Broadcast Productions:

• Think Together – Celebrating Shalimar: The Final Chapter



News Release or Media Alert – Business-to-Business:

• Gina Ray, APR, and ABBYY Global PR Team – ABBYY Relocates HQ to Silicon Hills



Press Conference or Press Tour:

• Reveille, Inc./Olive Crest – San Diego PROMiSE Press Launch



Article for Consumer Publication – Pitched:

• Treat Public Relations – Chex’s Big Finish

Best Single Media Placement – Print or Broadcast:

• Treat Public Relations – Run Nash Gives Back
• Mesa Water District – Mesa Water Education Center Grand Opening
• Westbound Communications – CBU Aim High Flight Academy Media Campaign



Creative Tactic / Stunt / Event:

• Think Together – Celebrating Shalimar



Collateral Materials – External Audiences:

• City of Irvine – Irvine Public Library Marketing



Corporate Identity:

• The Smart Agency – Brand Development for Mark IV Capital



Social Media Program:

• Mesa Water District / Westbound Communications – Power 7 Social Media Advertising Campaign
• Brianna Rhodes, Maria Villar Dude, Gina Ray – ABBYY Smashes Social Media Engagement Targets

Blogs:

• Camille Womack, Bri Rhodes, Sarah Bagjiran, Gina Ray – Elevating ABBYY’s Blog Visibility in AI Summaries

The Awards of Excellence also recognized standout work, including:

• Allied Universal – 2024–2025 Media Relations Program
• Allied Universal – Allied Universal & Mariners Testimonial Production
• Allied Universal – Executive Protection CNN Media Placement
• Biola University – Biola Blend / Custom Coffee
• City of Hope Orange County – Beauty in Hope
• City of Hope Orange County/Reveille, Inc. – Pink is Powerful
• City of Irvine – 2024 Park and Recreation Month Collectible Card Challenge
• City of Irvine – Great Park Mobility: Whoosh System
• Forge – Jersey Mike’s x NEGU Month of Giving
• Idea Hall – City of Irvine State of the Great Park
• Idea Hall – Second Harvest Food Bank Google Ads Grant Campaign
• Master Plan Communications – Newman HERE
• Mesa Water District – Education Center Grand Opening
• Mesa Water District – Mesa Water Education Center Grand Opening
• OC Sports & Entertainment – OCVIBE Unveiled: Countdown to a New Downtown
• OC Waste & Recycling – Paint Collection Event
• Reveille, Inc. and Pacific Symphony – Carl St.Clair’s 35th Anniversary
• Reveille, Inc. and The CEO Sisterhood – CEO Sisterhood Feature
• The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County – National Vocations Awareness Week Campaign
• The Smart Agency – Supports Major Refinancing for KBS
• Treat Public Relations – Carlsbad Marathon / Waves of Success
• Treat Public Relations – Illinois Marathon Overcomes Crisis
• Venture Strategic – Miracles for Kids’ Social Media Program

The PROTOS Awards have been held for over 60 years, and it is the key event held by OCPRSA each year. The gala was made possible through the support of sponsors, including OCVibe, ArtsPR, City of Hope Orange County,  Reveille, Westbound Communications, Treat Public Relations, Think Together, and Venture Strategic.

In addition to PROTOS, OCPRSA hosts panel discussions, networking events, professional development workshops and more throughout the year. Through these events, as well as leadership and mentorship opportunities, the organization enriches the professional and personal lives of its over 200 members.

For more information about the PROTOS Awards, visit OCPRSA.org.

ABOUT OCPRSA
The Orange County chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (OCPRSA) is a networking and professional development organization for communications professionals in Orange County, Calif. For over 60 years, the chapter has been chartered as part of PRSA, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. PRSA is the principal advocate for industry excellence and ethical conduct and provides members lifelong learning opportunities and leading-edge resources to enhance professional connections and support them at every stage of their career. With nearly 30,000 members, PRSA is collectively represented by 110 Chapters and 14 Professional Interest Sections, and on nearly 375 college and university campuses through its student organization, the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). For more information, visit OCPRSA.org and PRSA.org.

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