We’ll continue to feature some of this year’s most noteworthy MarCom Awards entries throughout the competition.

Organization: Mars Petcare Location: Franklin, TN Title of Entry: “How a Mars Petcare Event Helped 285 Pets Find Homes and Sparked National Dialogue about Pet Adoption” Category: Strategic Communications | Communications/Public Relations | 162c. Special Event

Every year, an estimated six million pets enter animal shelters. To raise awareness and spark a national conversation around homeless pets, Mars Pet Care, a pet food company, partnered with NFL teams to host a special event in Nashville and Kansas City. Nashville Titan quarterback Ryan Tannehill became the face of the campaign and was photographed with multiple adoptable dogs for social media. Pet shirts were worn by players. Mars Pet Care also arranged for shelter animals to greet players as they entered the stadium. As a result, hundreds of homeless pets were adopted. Even more impressive, the event was covered by Sports Illustrated, CBS This Morning and the New York Post among other news outlets creating more than 500 million impressions. View entry, here.