A year of excellence: ruckus wins 11 awards
In an era when large-scale agencies often dominate the spotlight, ruckus is proving the size of your business does not dictate the size of your impact. Our customized strategies and innovative marketing solutions for value-driven organizations have created powerful results, but this year takes the cake. We were honored as the Jacksonville Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” for small companies (10-25 employees), garnered 10 prestigious industry awards and were named a finalist in four others across various sectors. Happy individuals achieve great things — such a simple concept.
This year was a solid one for us, with our campaigns celebrated at multiple industry award ceremonies. We received accolades for projects in healthcare, the arts, social services, and real estate — each requiring a blend of strategy and creativity. Here's a breakdown of some of ruckus’ award-winning work:
Our nearly 20-year partnership with Nemours Children’s Health has sharpened our skill in conveying complex topics with care. The Well Beyond Medicine Podcast has quickly become a key component in enhancing Nemours Children’s national reputation, hitting the Top 20 on Apple Podcasts and even reaching #2 in the medicine category. This launch earned us multiple awards, including:
- AdWeek’s Best B2B Podcast
- PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Award finalist for Branded Podcast
- PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Award finalist for Campaign of the Year
- PRSA’s Bronze Anvil Winner
- Ragan’s Content Marketing Award for Branded Podcast
- Shorty’s Impact Award Finalist for Original Content
Our dedication to social impact was evident through our campaign with the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition. “Hey, Mama” tackled the critical issue of Black infant mortality in Jacksonville, employing impactful storytelling to spur policy change and boost awareness. The integrated marketing campaign significantly increased enrollment in Coalition programs and won:
- American Advertising Federation District Four’s Gold Angel Award
- American Advertising Federation District Four’s Best of Show
- Anthem Bronze Award for Health/Community Engagement
- Ragan’s Nonprofit Communications Award for Advocacy
- Shorty Impact Award Finalist for a Local Campaign
Throughout our nearly decade-long partnership with Greenpointe, we’ve received recognition on various marketing campaigns and other initiatives promoting the developer’s communities across Florida. The latest — a Laurel Award from Northeast Florida Builders Association — recognizes our logo design for Hyland Trail, Greenpointe’s newest development in Clay County and marks our 26th award for our real estate-related work.
In the arts, our campaign for Moving the Margins highlighted marginalized voices through art. By merging bold social media storytelling and immersive digital experiences, we revitalized the brand’s identity while increasing brand awareness and attendance at their installations in downtown Jacksonville. We were proud to receive:
Working with Jacksonville University (JU) allowed ruckus to flex its fundraising expertise with the development of FUTURE. MADE., an integrated marketing campaign designed to increase awareness and support for JU in alignment with the school’s capital campaign. Through a mix of paid advertising, earned media and event activations, we engaged successful alumni to share their stories, underscoring the return on investment to individuals and other partners who donate, mentor or engage with JU.
Having worked at various organizations that have partnered with agencies of all sizes, I can attest that what sets ruckus apart from larger counterparts is our ability to remain nimble, adaptive and closely connected to each client’s needs. By “digging deep” with our clients in just a few industries, our agency has been able to dedicate more time, energy and strategic insight to delivering campaigns — and service experiences — that exceed expectations.
Looking Ahead: Continuing Innovation and Impact
With 2024 shaping up to be a banner year, ruckus is not set to rest on its laurels. Our team is already gearing up for even bigger challenges ahead, with plans to further expand our impact and continue pushing creative boundaries. As the advertising and marketing landscape continues to evolve, ruckus is proving that the real keys to success lie in the size of our hearts, minds and commitment to being a force for good.
Written by Lisa Luther, Director of Communications