BCW TAKES HOME ONE GOLD AND ONE SILVER PENCIL AT THE 2024 ONE SHOW AWARDSMay 15, 2024

NEW YORK, May 16, 2024 – BCW, which will merge with Hill & Knowlton as of July 1 to form Burson, today announced that in won a Gold Pencil and a Silver Pencil at the 2024 One Show awards. The One Show is the world's most prestigious award show in advertising and design. For more than 50 years, the Gold Pencil has been regarded as one of the top prizes in the creative industry.

“I am extraordinarily proud of our teams for their breakthrough creative work on ‘Joaquin’s First School Shooting’ and ‘War Stories,’ which used powerful earned-first ideas to help facilitate a national conversation on gun violence,” said Kristine Boyden, CEO, Americas, BCW, who will become CEO, Americas, Burson, upon completion of the merger. “I’m equally proud of the recognition from such a prestigious organization as The One Show. The awards underscore what can be achieved through a creative idea that can both make people stop in their tracks and reconsider their perspectives on complex, divisive issues, while at the same time build reputation for our clients.”

The awards include:

• Gold Pencil, Public Relations Category, in Public Relations for Good, with client Change the Ref for “Joaquin’s First School Shooting" a not-for-children (rather, for lawmakers) children’s book designed to illustrate to politicians, in the simplest terms possible, the horrific effects of mass shootings. It tells the story of the last day of Joaquin Oliver, son of Change the Ref Founders Manuel and Patricia Oliver, who was killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Joaquin’s mother Patricia hand-delivered copies of the book to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and Minority Whip and Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark read the book on the House floor. Other representatives who engaged with the book include Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senators Debbie Stabenow and Tina Smith, and Representatives Judy Chu, Laurel Lee, Chrissy Houlahan, Madeline Dean, Maxwell Frost, Robin Kelly and Jeff Jackson. The book is in its second printing, with citizens encouraged to send to their representatives.

• Silver Pencil, Film and Video, Film and Video for Good, with Brady for “War Stories.” Working with client Brady, a bipartisan gun safety organization, and as part of its overall “War Stories” campaign, BCW created A Story of Survival. The film depicts a U.S. Navy veteran reading a story that sounds like an intimate, first-hand account of combat in a war zone. When he finishes reading the letter, the veteran learns that the author is actually Josh who, at six years old, was a victim of a mass shooting.

“Joaquin’s First School Shooting” also earned a merit award in the Print and Promotional: Books/Pamphlets/Brochures category, while “War Stories” earned a merit award in the Health and Wellness: Film & Video category.

About BCW

BCW is the global communications agency built to move people. BCW partners with clients in the B2B, consumer, corporate, crisis management, healthcare, public affairs, purpose and technology sectors to set strategic direction for all communications and create powerful and unexpected ideas that earn attention. BCW uses earned media, paid media, creative technology, data, AI and an expanding suite of innovative capabilities to move people with power and precision to move its clients forward. BCW is a part of WPP (NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. For more information, visit www.bcw-global.com.