Cook Children’s Takes Best of Show; GFW PRSA Named “Chapter of the Year” by PRSA Southwest District
The Greater Fort Worth Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (GFW PRSA) is celebrating the region’s most impactful public relations work following the 2025 Worthy Awards Friday evening. The event, held at 5th & Carroll Events, recognized 15 Worthy Award winners out of 60 entries, as well as two prominent industry leaders who were recognized for their outstanding contributions.
The evening, hosted by WFAA Daybreak’s Marc Istook, also honored GFW PRSA for being named “Chapter of the Year” by the PRSA Southwest District’s Horizon Awards. Additionally, GFW PRSA member Abigail Hoover was named “Volunteer of the Year” by the Southwest District, which comprises 15 chapters across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Cook Children’s Health Care System earned the top honor, Best of Show, for “Grant’s Story Elevates Cook Children’s Prosper,” a reputation and brand management campaign. It will now go on to compete against the Best of Show winner of the PRSA Dallas Pegasus Awards for the “DFW Best of Show” award, which will be announced in early 2026.
“The Worthy Awards showcase the elite level of talent we have among local communicators,” said Reggie Johnson, APR, 2025 GFW PRSA president. “Across industries, our PR professionals perform at the highest level. They bring more attention to the region we call home, highlighting the great things going on all over Fort Worth and beyond. Whether they’re telling stories that inspire or helping businesses navigate choppy waters, their work benefits our entire community.”
2025 Individual Awards
- 2025 Communicator of the Year: Dr. Jacqueline Lambiase, professor emeritus and director of the TCU Certified Public Communicator® Program
- 2025 Douglas Ann Newsom PR Professional of the Year: Beth Lamb, APR, executive director of the Key School and Training Center
- 2025 Rising Star: Reilly Ternan
- 2025 Unsung Hero: Sydney Hanes
- 2025 Volunteer of the Year: Maricar Estrella
2025 Worthy Award Winners
- Balcom Agency – Volunteers of America Texas Integrated Campaign (Integrated Communications – Nonprofit Organizations)
- Balcom Agency – Better With Dairy Website (Website)
- Burnett School of Medicine at TCU – Mission Impossible Video (External Video – Business)
- City of Fort Worth – Fort Worth Convention Center Phase 1 Tops Out (External Video – Government)
- Cook Children’s Health Care System – Grant’s Story Elevates Cook Children’s Prosper (Reputation & Brand Management – Nonprofit Organizations)
- Kwedar & Co. – Seldens New Bassett Showroom Press Release (Media Relations Press Release)
- Leadership Academy Network – Campus Connection: LAFO Junior Cadet Corps (External Video – Nonprofit)
- Master Plan Communications – Nucor Warehouse Systems ProMat 2025 Media Relations Campaign (Media Relations Event)
- PAVLOV Agency – ChopSports’ 77 for 77 Fundraiser, benefiting the Luka Dončić Foundation (Special Event)
- PAVLOV Agency – Fort Worth Country Day Lower School Building Dedication (Special Event or Observance)
- PRSA Southwest District – PRSA Southwest District Conference 2024 (Marketing and Communications)
- Story and Strategy – 2025 State of Communications in Dallas/Fort Worth (Special Tactic)
- TSC/Get Your Comms – PR Turns “Quiet Cracking” into the Buzzword of the Year (Integrated Communications – Business)
- UNT Health Fort Worth – It’s in Our DNA Brand Campaign (Reputation & Brand Management – Government)
- UNT Health Fort Worth – Student Experience Social Media Strategy (Social Media)
GFW PRSA is grateful for the generous sponsors who made the Worthy Awards possible: UNT Health Fort Worth, Minuteman Press, Printed Threads, Goodwill North Central Texas, Key School & Training Center, Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, Pavlov Agency, J.O. Agency, The Cause Agency, Texas Wesleyan University, Balcom Agency, Master Plan Communications and Fort Worth Report.
