The Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America presented Aversa PR & Events and Diner en Blanc Philadelphia with a first place public relations award for the viral campaign that promoted the pop-up picnic in white. The award represents the first Pepperpot for Aversa PR & Events since its incorporation just nine months ago. Aversa PR & Events owner Kory Aversa was also recognized with an individual achievement award for chairing the chapter’s inaugural Nonprofit Resource Committee that matches nonprofits with public relations pros from the public sector. Ceremonies were held last evening, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Arts Ballroom, 1324 Locust Street. The sold-out event recognized best in class PR campaigns and tactics from the Philadelphia region that were conducted in the last 12 months.
PEPPERPOT AWARD + DINER EN BLANC
Diner en Blanc Philadelphia was honored for the public relations campaign in the category of special events and observances, for events seven days or less. Diner en Blanc Philadelphia brought style and elegance to its Philadelphia debut on Thursday, August 23, 2012. After a summer of suspense, the secret pop-up location was revealed to be Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Circle. The sold out viral picnic attracted 1,300 guests clad in white and toted their white tables, linens, china and décor.
Coverage for the event started in April of 2012 with two blog pieces that helped co-chairs to secure group leaders. In June of 2012, the organizing committee secured the services of Aversa PR & Events LLC. Together, the team put into motion a viral campaign between late June and late August that produced 47 blog stories and 10 traditional press stories. In response to the campaign, the waiting list grew to 4,000+ people. Online efforts landed Dîner en Blanc Philadelphia with 2,200+ followers on social media. On August 3, 2012, all 1,300 registration slots were sold out to people of all ages, races, nationalities, sexual orientations and backgrounds. Attendees hailed from counties as varied as the United States, Poland, France, Russia, Australia and Great Britain. The picnic bolstered Philadelphia’s reputation as a truly international city.
Day of and post event coverage produced approximately 10 million audience impressions from at least 32 traditional press stories (including 19 stories and mentions on CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC) and 25 blog stories. Thousands of photos filled flooded Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Yelp. Philadelphia’s public space received the attention it deserved with hundreds of photos and mentions in 50 blog and traditional press stories. Philadelphia Magazine’s HughE Dillon declared, “I think we have a new event space that is at the center of everything.” Due to the tremendous success, the city of Philadelphia and Dîner en Blanc International have already given the green light for another event in Philadelphia in 2013.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD + KORY AVERSA
Aversa PR & Events Owner Kory Aversa was honored with an the “President’s Award” during the pre-ceremony for individual achievement winners. Chapter president Blair Kahora Cardinal recognized Aversa for chairing the chapter’s first Nonprofit Resource Committee. The new committee was formed to connect chapter members from the public sector with members (and non-members) in the nonprofit community. Activities also were designed to provide educational and social opportunities for nonprofit professionals to enhance their public relations and social media skills. Activities in the first year included a sold-out speed networking event, a holiday happy hour mixer, a collection drive for members to “Adopt a Senior,” and a public service project at MANNA (coming on December 19, 2012).
ABOUT AVERSA PR
Aversa PR & Events was founded in March of 2012 by owner Kory Aversa. The new company’s official mission is to create big buzz for arts, culinary, entertainment, small business and nonprofit clients that specialize in quality, one-of-a-kind, meaningful products or services. Services focus on public relations, media relations, social media, event planning and nonprofit development. This new public relations company was founded to promote the very things that Aversa loves about Philadelphia – and modeled his business model after subject matter from his website Phillylovesfun.com.
Aversa PR’s client roster has expanded in nine months to include 20+ clients, such as Diner en Blanc Philadelphia, Fly School Circus Arts, East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, Eviama Life Spa, Ms Goody Cupcake, Charm City Movement Arts, Smokin’ Betty’s, Devil’s Alley, Chhaya Café, Bitar’s, Alphabet Academy, 2B Groomed Barbering Studio, Headhunters Hair Design, Acorn Dental Associates, Brat Productions, City of Hope Philadelphia, City Year Greater Philadelphia, Tashan and Tiffin. New clients are on the way for 2013, with announcements coming in late December of 2012.
Owner Kory Aversa, 39, is originally from Utica, New York, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts from Utica College of Syracuse University. He majored in Public Relations with a minor in Political Science. Since moving to the Philadelphia region in 1998, Aversa has worked for and on behalf of some of the region’s largest and most interesting causes, including Philadelphia Senior Center, Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, Epilepsy Foundation of EPA, Children’s Healthcare Foundation of South Jersey and others. He has served on the board of directors for Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, Plays & Players Theatre, Safeguards and People-Pet Partnership.
Aversa resides in South Philadelphia with his shelter dog Buster Brown. They live just off of the East Passyunk Avenue business corridor where they spend much of their business and personal time.
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