Students Support International Disaster Relief through PSAid Contest

WASHINGTON, DC (May 4, 2017) – USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information (USAID CIDI) is pleased to announce the winners of the 12th annual Public Service Announcements for International Disasters contest (PSAid).

The winning entries were chosen from a pool of submissions from nearly 140 college students across the United States in the categories of broadcast, print and – for the first time – infographic PSAs. (View all submissions at www.psaid.org/portfolio-gallery/2017-submissions.)

The selected PSAs, which will be distributed through broadcast and print outlets nationwide, convey the importance of practicing “Smart Compassion” and emphasize why monetary donations to relief organizations are the most effective way to help people after disasters.

The 2017 PSAid winners are:

Broadcast

1. “Be the Change, Donate Cash” by Rachel Addington, Arizona State University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/video_addington_rachel_2017)
2. “Cash Fits All” by Bradley Parks, Shannon Sweatt, Megan Perkins and Raine Yip, The University of Alabama (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/parks_bradley)
3. “Donate Effectively” by Emma DeVane and Emily Pina, Arizona State University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/devane-pina)

Print

1. “Cash Rebuilds” by Kaitlyn Olivier, Maria Castillo, Ludi Wang, Min Chen and Anna Kate Grosse, Boston University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/cash-rebuilds-2)
2. “Cash is Convertible” by Ana Hernandez, Arizona State University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/cash-is-convertible)
3. “Cash Keeps Your Donations Fresh” by Jordan Fonseca, Emily Hadfield, Nick Albanese and Daniel Arruda, The University of Rhode Island (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/cash-keeps-your-donations-fresh)

Honorable Mentions: “Hope for Change” by Anne Miller, Loyola University Chicago (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/hope-for-change), and “Cash is Best” by Sydni Alaniz, Arizona State University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/alaniz-cash-is-best)

Infographic

1. “Make an Impact” by Lauren Schaecher, Arizona State University (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/make-an-impact)
2. “Donations are Nice, but Cash is Best” by Sacha Rady, Caroline Largey, Courtney Scarboro and Megan Purcell, The University of Alabama (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/donations-are-nice-but-cash-is-best)
3. “Cash is Key” by Haley-Ann Simpson, Ashley Stults, Cameron Craig and Emily Baker, The University of Alabama (www.psaid.org/portfolio-items/cash-is-key)

Contest entries were judged by a panel of experts from the humanitarian and communications fields. This year’s judges were Jonathan Adashek, Nissan Motor Corporation; Kevin Conroy, Global Giving; Nick Sugai, the Ad Council; Gary Goldhammer, Group SJR; Deborah Willig, InterAction; Marcia Wong, the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Keith Hempel, TV Access.

“For the past 12 years, the PSAid Contest has helped spread the message that monetary donations through relief organizations provide the greatest help to disaster survivors,” said Barlin Ali, USAID CIDI Diaspora and Donations Expert. “The winners of this year’s competition have done a masterful job of creatively illustrating why ‘Cash is Best.’”

Current and past PSAid winners may be viewed on the competition website at www.PSAid.org.

About USAID CIDI
USAID CIDI was created in 1988 by the United States Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance to educate Americans about the best ways to help people affected by disasters overseas. USAID CIDI provides individuals, groups, embassies, businesses and corporations with information and guidance in support of maximally beneficial public support of international disaster relief efforts. The organization works with other donations management stakeholders, and promotes activities and donations to channel the public’s energy and generosity in ways most helpful to beneficiaries. For more information about USAID CIDI and helping international disaster survivors, please visit USAID CIDI at www.cidi.org.

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