Special Events Campaign of the Year: American Jewish World Service
That certainly was the case with this event hosted by American Jewish World Service. Rather than bring in a big-name headliner (like it had done with Bill Clinton a few years prior) to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the organization presented an elegant affair built around live performances, multi- media presentations and speeches that focused on the organization's mission to support human rights in the Global South. The event, hosted by ABC News' Christiane Amanpour, included a tribute to 14 grantees, musical performances, remarks by journalists and activists, and a 70th-birthday video tribute to AJWS President Ruth Messinger. But perhaps the biggest splash of the evening was the premiere of a star-studded comedy video produced by Judd Apatow. According to AJWS's Suzanne Offen, the video eventually generated more than a million hits on YouTube and raised more than $60,000 in subsequent online donations.
Going for the Gold
Package of the Year [and Gold winner, Direct Mail]: World Vision U.S.
E-mail Campaign of the Year: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Telefundraising Campaign of the Year: Democratic National Committee
Multichannel Campaign of the Year: MSPCA Holiday Tree Campaign
On the Edge Campaign of the Year: New York Public Library
Grand Control of the Year: The Nature Conservancy Hummingbird Membership
Complete List of the 2011 Gold Awards for Fundraising Excellence Winners
