WRTA’s Holiday Lights Campaign Wins National Award

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Western Reserve Transit Authority’s annual Holiday Lights campaign was awarded first place in a nationwide public transit competition for community educational initiatives.

WRTA’s campaign competed with entries from across the U.S. in the American Public Transportation Association’s annual marketing and communications awards competition. APTA members include more than 320 public transit agencies, including New York MTA, the nation’s largest transit system.

“The award from APTA is very much appreciated,” said Dean Harris, WRTA executive director. “But one of the reasons we entered the competition was to hopefully inspire other transit systems to conduct similar campaigns in their service areas also.The first place win will help us do that.”

Each fall, WRTA invites nonprofit organizations to apply for participation in the Holiday Lights campaign, which honors those who “light up the Valley all year long.” A mix of nonprofits are nominated each year, and 12 are chosen and honored at a special event around Thanksgiving. The winning nonprofits are then spotlighted on WRTA buses, TV and social media by WRTA and its sponsors throughout the holiday season.

More than 30 local nonprofit organizations have been spotlighted since the campaign began.

“The Holiday Lights campaign was created to bring awareness of local nonprofits and what they do for the community,” Harris said. “We are blessed to have so many caring organizations and people in the Valley. We wanted to spotlight their good works.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.