NEW YORK, NY  - The Manahan Group and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources were awarded this year's Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America.  The award, which recognizes creative tactics in a public relations campaign, was announced to during a special event held June 3rd in New York City.

"This illustrates that state government and the private sector can work together successfully with careful planning and clearly defined goals," said DHHR Secretary Paul Nusbaum.

"We are very honored by the award and appreciate the opportunity provided to us by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources," said TMG Chief Executive Officer George Manahan. "We join a very elite group of public relations practitioners and agencies." Other winners of the award include: Motorola, Nintendo, Ford Motor Company, Maytag, Microsoft, and Toyota Motor Sales of USA. Only 116 entries out of 844 submissions nationwide were awarded the Bronze Anvil and TMG's entry was the only Bronze Anvil Award winner in West Virginia.

TMG and WVDHHR received the 2004 Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation for its public relations campaign for the Raze teen anti-tobacco campaign. Entitled "Razing Awareness," the PR effort helped to reduce teen tobacco use in West Virginia by 32.5 percent over a three-year period. TMG and DHHR work closely with the West Virginia Department of Education, West Virginia Hospital Association, the American Lung Association of West Virginia and the Coalition for a Tobacco Free West Virginia.

"We applaud The Manahan Group and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources for its exceptional creative tactical solutions to a public relations challenge," said David H. Simon, APR, Fellow PRSA, chairman, Bronze Anvil Awards and public relations consultant. "Their entry truly set them apart from a wide field of worthy competitors."

The Bronze Anvil Awards and the Awards of Commendation were created by PRSA more than 34 years ago to recognize outstanding public relations tactics, the individual teams or components or campaigns.  They are awarded in 50 categories and subcategories.