Public Awareness Campaign Recognized

• By: VAFCC
• On: 06/09/2021 14:08:38
• In: News

The Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (VAFCC)'s #FreeClinicsCare statewide public awareness campaign has received significant national attention. The Health IT and Marketing Community (HITMC) selected the VAFCC for non-profit ad of the year and an honorable mention for campaign of the year. This is a national competition that recognizes the creativity and hard work put in by health companies, providers, agencies, associations, and advocates.
 
The campaign was also recognized with three Aster Awards, the nation's most elite competition dedicated to recognizing the most talented healthcare marketing professionals for outstanding excellence in advertising, marketing, and communications:

• Gold - Free Clinics Care Print Ad Series Design
• Gold - Free Clinics Care Digital Advertising Design
• Silver - Free Clinics Care Campaign Outdoor Advertising Design 

#FreeClinicsCare for vulnerable Virginians. During the pandemic when the need for accessible healthcare was never more important, the VAFCC launched the campaign to drive visibility and awareness. “We wanted people to better understand free clinics – what they do, who they serve, and how they can access the healthcare they need during these challenging times,” reports Rufus Phillips, VAFCC CEO. The VAFCC represents more than 60 free and charitable clinics across the state that serve as a safety net for uninsured and underserved Virginians who would otherwise go without care.
 
Free and charitable clinics provide regular health services to more than 50,000 uninsured or underinsured Virginians annually – patients who rely on clinics for a range of healthcare services including medical, dental, pharmacy, vision, and behavioral health services. In those unprecedented times, clinics faced unexpected burdens and loss in volunteers related to COVID-19, putting additional strain on already limited resources.    
 
Launched last year, the campaign focused heavily on digital ads that pushed traffic to a campaign microsite where visitors were able to connect directly with clinics to access care, make donations, and/or express an interest in volunteering. A successful endeavor, the campaign has resulted in just under 5 million impressions and more than 34,000 visitors to the campaign microsite (through May).