The 2018 Friend of Public Education Award, given by the Pennsylvania State Education Association/Mideastern Region (PSEA/MER), will be presented to the marketing professional who has promoted the importance and value of public education in Bucks and Montgomery counties for nearly 15 years.

Lana Weinstein, an account manager at DDCworks, a full-service marketing, advertising and public relations agency in Center City Philadelphia, will receive the honor April 19 at the organization’s bi-annual House of Delegates meeting at Spring Mill Manor in Ivyland, Pa.

“We are delighted to honor Lana with this award,” said Alan Malachowski, president of PSEA/MER. “For so many years, she has worked closely with the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS) to shine a spotlight on the wonderful education, social and support opportunities that our students enjoy and helped us to advocate for issues that matter to our children’s education.”

Weinstein, of Upper Dublin Township, first began working with CAPS in 2003. She brought the account to DDCworks in 2015, where she was joined by a full team of creative professionals, together creating an integrated communications approach utilizing advertising, thought leadership videos, social media, web communications, special events, and media and community relations.

“It’s exciting to receive an award for doing work that I enjoy so much and I am really touched,” said Weinstein. “I believe deeply in the importance of strong public schools, having graduated from and sent my children to them. I know from first-hand experience how many opportunities public schools provide and I love working alongside dedicated education professionals and observing their passion and commitment to teaching every child, no matter what their skills or challenges.”

As part of their work, Weinstein and the DDCworks team create television commercials and videos to highlight the amazing personal investment teachers have in their students and publicize the annual “Touch the Future” art show, which celebrates the creative work of hundreds of students each year. They have also increased the followers on the CAPS Facebook page by more than 40 percent in a little more than two years.

“We are proud of Lana and the campaign she has led to ensure as many people in Bucks and Montgomery counties as possible understand the important role public education plays in their communities,” said DDCworks CEO Mike Diccicco. “The depth of her knowledge of the issues that face public education has enabled our team to create messages that have helped the public to understand what goes on in a 21st century classroom and why their support matters.”

PSEA/MER is comprised of the 44 local education associations that represent nearly 16,000 public school educators in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

The Friend of Education Award is given to an individual or organization whose leadership, acts or support has significantly benefited education, education employees or students in the Mideastern region. Past recipients include Pa. Rep. Daylin Leach, Pa. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, the DARE Program of Bucks and Montgomery counties and more.