The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) held its second annual PRSA Cleveland Rocks award ceremony today at Windows on the River on the West Bank of Cleveland's Flats. In all, eight local agencies, two corporations, a non-profit organization and an individual won awards. There were 29 awards presented in 20 categories.

Liggett-Stashower, Inc. won a total of 10 awards including four gold "Rocks." For the second year in a row, Liggett-Stashower also walked away with the "Best of Show" for its "Crane Performer" newsletter for Crane Performance Siding.

Eaton Corporation earned a Judges' Choice and gold "Rock" award for its 2003 annual report. Jeff Zidonis also was presented with a gold "Rock" and Judges' Choice for his work for the Mentor Public Schools.

Public Relations Partners and Stevens-Baron Communications each won five separate awards. In addition to Liggett-Stashower, Eaton and Jeff Zidonis, other gold "Rocks" winners included Cleveland Sight Center, Edward Howard & Co., James J. Roop Company and Landau Public Relations.

Cleveland Rocks awards are presented to area public relations practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, have demonstrated excellence in creativity, planning and execution while achieving measurable real-world results. Proceeds from the program will be applied to the local PRSA chapter's scholarship fund, benefiting local college students studying public relations.

This year's entries were judged by the Orange County (CA) PRSA chapter in a reciprocal agreement with the Greater Cleveland PRSA chapter.

"I think that this year's awards clearly shows that the public relations work being done here in Cleveland stacks up favorably with the work being done anywhere in the country," said Pam Blossom, president of the Greater Cleveland PRSA chapter. "We have a significant concentration of talented public relations practitioners here in Northeast Ohio."

Chartered in 1947, the Public Relations Society of America is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. Its nearly 20,000 members - organized into 117 chapters - represent business and industry, technology, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Greater Cleveland Chapter of PRSA consists of approximately 300 members serving the needs of public relations professionals throughout Northeast Ohio.