Promise House Wins 2009 Excellence in Communications Award from the Center for Nonprofit Management

Reprinted with permission.

Award recognizes organizations that exemplify distinctive achievement in nonprofit management

DALLAS - Dec. 1, 2009 - Promise House, a Dallas nonprofit agency founded in 1984 to serve homeless, runaway and at-risk teens, recently received the 2009 Award of Excellence in Communications from the Center for Nonprofit Management.

"Winning the Excellence in Communications award is a great honor and true testament of the work and efforts of Promise House in communicating our mission of embracing homeless, runaway and at-risk teens giving them the support, encouragement and hope they need to live a better life." said Harriet Boorhem, president of Promise House.

Promise House was awarded the Excellence in Communications award for various original communication tools including; its innovative and informative web design, the "Who's Sofa Surfing Tonight?" teen homelessness public awareness campaign and the effective utilization of social networking sites. The culminated efforts furthered the Promise House mission by increasing awareness about the teen runaway crisis and helping more youth find out about its services.

Because internet usage has become more frequent, increasing Promise House online presence was a natural choice for communicating its mission and message. Promise House created informational pages on social networking sites frequented by teens that direct them to its website for more help. The new website has many upgraded features, including a resource section for youth seeking assistance, a searchable database of area Safe Place sites, information for donors and volunteers, and examples of the remarkable teens whose lives Promise House has helped transform. The website was made possible through a joint efforts of NPower Texas and Savvis, Inc.

The Excellence in Communications award, in honor of Robert Miller is awarded annually to a nonprofit organization that successfully develops, executes and communicates its message and mission. The $5,000 award was open to current member organizations of the Center for Nonprofit Management operating in the state of Texas.

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Promise House embraces homeless, runaway and at-risk teens, giving them needed support, encouragement and hope to live a better life. Ten programs cover the vital needs of teens, including emergency shelter, transitional living, pregnant and parenting teen services, individual, group and family counseling, substance abuse prevention and education, street outreach, and educational intervention. Promise House is dedicated to providing the strength, stability and hope that teens need today to fulfill their promise for a healthy, productive and self-sufficient tomorrow. Since 1984, Promise House has had an open door 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to youth and families in crisis serving over 50,000 teens and families in North Texas.