NEW YORK, NY (April 14, 2020) — With COVID-19 causing unprecedented disruptions to society and the global marketplace, the PRSA Foundation has announced a temporary scale-down of its programming in 2020. During this time, the Foundation will focus its efforts on providing awards and scholarships to students and new professionals, with a goal of advancing diversity and inclusion in the field. The PRSA Foundation Paladin Awards, which is typically held in late Spring, has been postponed to early 2021.

These operational actions are being taken to help mitigate the impact of a challenging environment that is expected to carry through the year.

“In recent weeks, our leadership team has been assessing the impact of COVID-19, and we believe we will be able to generate more impact if we postpone elements of our programming, including our annual Paladin Awards, to a later time. We will continue to offer awards and scholarships to help create much-needed opportunities for students and new professionals of diverse backgrounds,” said Joe Cohen, APR, President of the PRSA Foundation.

During this period of reduced programming, PRSA Foundation Executive Director Carmella Glover will take a temporary leave of absence. Ms. Glover will serve as a full-time communications consultant at AXIS, a global insurance and reinsurance company where Mr. Cohen serves as Chief Communications Officer. She will return to her role at the PRSA Foundation on January 1, 2021.

About the PRSA Foundation

The PRSA Foundation, an independent, 501(c)(3) charity, is solely dedicated to advancing and promoting diversity in the public relations and communications profession. The organization supports diverse students through programming, scholarships and awards to attract them to PR and help them better prepare to contribute to the profession and to society when they enter the workforce. For more information regarding the PRSA Foundation, its activities and its full board of trustees, visit www.prsafoundation.org.

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Contact:
Susan Belanich
212-460-1442
susan.belanich@prsa.org