MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Paul Maccabee, president of Maccabee Public Relations, was awarded the Donald G. Padilla “Distinguished Practitioner Award” as part of the annual Minnesota PRSA Classics event in Minneapolis.
The award recognized that during his 30 years in the public relations industry, Maccabee has served organizations whose focus is to create a more inclusive and tolerant community. Supporting clients who fight drug addiction, lymphedema, eye diseases, orthopedic conditions and eating disorders has been central to Maccabee’s public relations career, in addition to his being a champion for LGBT rights.
Before co-founding his Minneapolis agency in 1996, Maccabee, Maccabee began his career as PR director for the federal anti-poverty agency Community Action of New Haven. Since that time Maccacbee has helped Carlson Companies publicize their efforts to fight global sex trafficking, dedicated time to helping agency Padilla and Minnesotans Against Terrorism fight anti-Semitism, coordinated campaigns for Hazelden against drug addiction and Rosewood Centers to combat eating disorders, and helped organize opposition to Minnesota’s proposed same-sex marriage ban and staff cuts at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
“Throughout the Classics Banquet, speakers referred to our PRSA Minnesota ‘community’ – and it’s really true,” said Maccabee. “My biggest mentors have been the men and women who run the PR agencies that compete with mine. I’ve been referred clients and employees by other PR agencies. Even when we ‘pitch’ against each other for a potential client, when the battle is over – we often gather together to solidify professional friendships. Winning the Padilla award? I accept it as a symbol of this entire community of Minnesota PR pros, who are so supportive of the growth of everyone involved in PRSA.”
As part of the award, the winner has the chance to name a charity for which a donation would be made in honor of the winner. Maccabee chose the non-profit Protect Minnesota. “With the mass shootings of students at Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School in Parkland so fresh in our minds, it felt right to honor their courage with a donation to one of Minnesota’s brave non-profits fighting gun violence,” Maccabee said. “I love the fact that the techniques of public relations can be used for social justice. The ‘Parkland Generation’ of students have demonstrated how publicity for the public good, social media and public advocacy can be used to further the improvement of our society.”
