learning

Silver Anvil Award Winning Case Studies 

Public Service Category 

Farm Town Strong: Overcoming the Rural Opioid Epidemic  – The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic, and it is increasingly affecting rural communities. Opioid addiction is often viewed as an urban problem, but rural areas have been hit much harder than the rest of the country. The nation’s two largest general farm organizations – the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union – joined forces to address this public health crisis. Their campaign, Farm Town Strong, had a significant impact in raising awareness, promoting life-saving prevention and treatment information, reducing stigma and influencing public opinion about opioid addiction in rural America. 

U.S. Loneliness Index – Seeing increasing evidence that, if we help people stabilize their emotional well-being and improve their overall vitality, it can have a significant impact on both their physical health and overall health care costs, we set out to create a movement to bring attention to the topic of loneliness; and to elevate the conversation around loneliness as a root cause of more acute mental well-being issues. Seizing the opportunity to gather primary research and lead the conversation, we launched the largest study of loneliness ever and branded it the U.S. Loneliness Index. 

Community Relations Category 

Celebration of Service: Creating Independence at Home for U.S. Veterans – The Home Depot Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the world’s largest home improvement retailer, is focused on improving the homes and lives of U.S. military veterans. In its fifth year, the nonprofit’s Celebration of Service associate volunteer campaign needed a fresh approach to break through with national media and enlist the help of consumers for the first time. By focusing on personal stories addressing the critical needs of safety and accessibility and implementing the #ServiceSelfie social giving campaign to raise $1 million for veteran causes, The Home Depot Foundation and MSLGROUP achieved historic results. 

Creating a Community’s Voice in the Wake of a  Tragedy: OneOrlando Alliance – In the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting, an incredible pressure was put on a patchwork of local organizations trying to help those in need. The crisis demanded a unified effort to meet both the physical and emotional needs of those impacted. The agency volunteered its time and expertise pro-bono to launch the One Orlando Alliance to serve as a unifying voice to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of the LGBTQ community in Orlando. This initiative achieved that aim and has since become a nationally recognized model of how to strengthen communities in the aftermath of a crisis.