PRSA Greater Connecticut's
2023 Beacon Award

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (Dec. 1, 2023) - The Public Relations Society of America Greater Connecticut Chapter (PRSA CT) today announced that Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, is the recipient of the organization’s 2023 Beacon Award for his outstanding efforts to leverage communications to help distribute more than 40 million meals each year through a statewide network of pantries and mobile distribution sites.

The PRSA CT Beacon Award honors an executive who is a champion for the value of communications and public relations to enhance the important connection between their organization and its customers, clients, employees and communities but is not a communications professional themselves. Doherty was honored with the award on November 30 at PRSA CT’s 2023 Mercury Awards Ceremony in Middletown.

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“Jason’s passion and advocacy for families who face food insecurity are exemplified by his skills as an exceptional communicator who represents the gold standard in inclusive and equitable communication, programming, and community engagement,” said PRSA CT President Elizabeth Walden. 

Jakubowski leads a dedicated team of 120 employees and more than 5,700 volunteers. Throughout his tenure, Connecticut Foodshare has been named a “Top Workplace” five times by the Hartford Courant and Hearst newspapers; and in 2020, he received the prestigious C-Suite Award from the Hartford Business Journal for his organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to joining Connecticut Foodshare, Jakubowski served as Vice President of External Relations at Hospital for Special Care and he worked as the Director of Corporate & Community Development at Charter Oak State College. He holds adjunct faculty appointments at both the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy and Central Connecticut State University’s Department of Political Science.

A resident of West Hartford, Jakubowski holds both a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut, and he is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program.

He has chaired the Board of Directors at both Leadership Greater Hartford and Community Health Resources, and he currently chairs Feeding America’s national Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee (PEAC). Jason also serves on the boards of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, the West Hartford Chambers of Commerce and the United Way of Connecticut. In 2019, he received the Distinguished Leadership Award from the National Association of Leadership Programs. In 2021, he received the Polaris Award for Visionary Leadership from Leadership Greater Hartford.

About PRSA Greater Connecticut (PRSA CT):

PRSA CT is one of more than 100 chapters that are part of the national Public Relations Society of America. Its mission is to advance the public relations profession and support the public relations practitioner. PRSA CT represents a diverse group of nearly 100 professionals in all stages of their careers who are committed to enhancing the practice of public relations in the state. Its members work in a variety of settings, including agencies, independent consultancies, business and industry, government, hospitals and healthcare organizations, professional associations, education, and nonprofit organizations. To learn more about the chapter, visit prsact.org and follow it on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Contact: admin@prsact.org