By Beacon staff
Continuing its award-winning run, Beacon College’s monthly PBS show “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity” in January scored gold (and silver) in the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards.
Now in its fourth season, and the second broadcast on Orlando PBS member station WUCF and streaming nationally via the PBS app, the Beacon College-produced program was a gold Anthem winner for best strategy for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Awareness and Media categories. “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity” also picked up a Silver Anthem Winner for news and journalism for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Awareness and Media categories.
The show previously earned a Bronze Anthem Award in the competition’s inaugural year.
“This recognition is a testament to Beacon’s steadfast mission to support, educate, and celebrate families that are walking the neurodiverse path,” said Darryl E. Owens, associate vice president of communications and engagement at Beacon, and the show’s creator, producer, and host. “It’s also a well-earned acknowledgment of the creativity, dedication, devotion, and sacrifice the ‘A World of Difference’ team pours into every episode.”
That team now consists of freelance correspondents across the country and the pond, including Cindy Peterson, Brad Kuhn, Dave DeJohn, Luisa Ardila, Bassey Arikpo, Ryan Peterson, United Kingdom-based videographer Elijah Grant, and HealthDay special correspondent Mabel Jong, with production support from NG Production Films in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and promotional support Mary Wymer, digital communications manager at Beacon, and Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management in Orlando, Florida.
Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards honors the purpose and mission-driven work of people, companies, and organizations worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the competition strives to define a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to act in their communities.
The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity; Equity and Inclusion; Education; Art and Culture; Health; Human and Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action and Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment and Climate.
The competition was founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, GLAAD, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.
This year’s Anthem Award winners were selected from more than 2,000 submissions from 44 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Anthem judges are intellectually diverse leaders from across the impact industry with expertise that spans across the Anthem cause areas.
“The Anthem Awards were born out of the desire to amplify and celebrate the voices that are creating sustainable change and to inspire others to take action,” said Patricia McLoughlin, Anthem Awards general manager. “In a year where so much is at stake, it is incredibly important to recognize impact work and celebrate the progress happening globally.”