Capstrat Recognized for its Work on Two Youth Tobacco Prevention Campaigns

Contact: David Chatham
919 882 1954

RALEIGH, NC - Capstrat, a Raleigh, N.C.-based strategic communications firm, today announced a number of recognitions for its work on behalf of the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust fund's Tobacco.Reality.Unfiltered., campaign and the Tobacco Free Schools Touchdown Tour campaign.

Capstrat won two awards at the 15th Annual Pollie Awards for its work on the Truth.Reality.Unfiltered. television ad. TRU earned a Silver Pollie in the category "Television on Behalf of a State Organization" and a Bronze Pollie in the category "Television for a Statewide Issue Advocacy/Public Affairs Campaign." The Pollies recognize the best in public affairs and political communications and are awarded by the American Association of Political and Public Affairs Consultants. This year's competition included more than 730 submittals eligible for about 150 possible awards in categories covering TV, print, radio, direct mail, phone, GOTV, and interactive.

Capstrat's work on behalf of HWTF's Tobacco Free Schools Touchdown Tour was also named a Sabre Awards finalist in the Events - More than Seven Days category. The SABRE Awards are held annually by the public relations industry publication The Holmes Report and recognize superior achievement in branding and reputation.

"We're honored that our work with HWTF has been recognized, but more importantly the results of the Teen Tobacco Use Prevention initiative have shown a real reduction in teen smoking rates," said Capstrat Executive Vice President Karen Albritton. "TRU and Tobacco Free Schools are both based on peer-to-peer interaction, giving young people the opportunity to talk to other young people through the media, events, the Web and other platforms. This recognition reinforces the fact that the strategy is a success."

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About Capstrat:
Capstrat is a strategic communications firm based in Raleigh. The company's services include marketing communications, public relations, public affairs, marketing communications and design. Capstrat was recognized in 2003 by PRWeek, the public relations industry's leading trade publication, as one of the nation's best Mid-Sized Agencies. For more information about Capstrat, visit www.capstrat.com.

About the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund:
The NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund makes North Carolina stronger, both physically and economically, by funding programs that promote preventive health. Created by the General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a portion of North Carolina's share of the national tobacco settlement, HWTF has invested $127 million to support preventive health initiatives and $78 million to fund a prescription drug assistance program. For more information, please visit www.hwtfc.org.

About TRU:
Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered., commonly known as TRU, is North Carolina's first-ever statewide youth tobacco prevention multi-media campaign that uses testimonials of real North Carolina teens as well as hard-hitting facts to dissuade young people from using tobacco. This campaign is part of the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund's (HWTF) teen tobacco use prevention initiative. Funded at $28 million from HWTF, this grassroots initiative includes the TRU media campaign, as well as a grant program including 70 grants (50 community-based grants, 4 statewide grants and 16 tobacco free school mini-grants) to a total of 55 organizations. To find out more about TRU, please visit www.realityunfiltered.com.