NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 24, 2026) — Stones River Group (SRG) earned two Parthenon Awards at the 2026 PRSA Nashville Parthenon Awards ceremony on Aug. 20, receiving top honors in two categories for a public affairs campaign that focused on strengthening support for education initiatives in Tennessee.
SRG earned recognition in the categories of Public Service: Associations, Government & Nonprofits and Public Affairs: Associations, Government & Nonprofits for a campaign that supported Parents for Public School Options, a statewide coalition advocating for high-quality public charter schools in Tennessee.
“These awards reflect the true value SRG offers our clients: the combined strength of government relations and strategic communications to help organizations advance meaningful public policy goals and create positive outcomes for communities across Tennessee,” said Mark Cate, Stones River Group Co-Founder and President. “We are honored to be recognized by PRSA Nashville and grateful to our clients and partners for entrusting us with work that helps strengthen educational opportunities for students and families throughout our state.”
As part of the winning campaign, SRG was tasked with developing a comprehensive public affairs campaign to strengthen public perception and advocate for legislation for charter schools during the 2025 legislative session. The campaign included a statewide parent opinion survey, targeted paid media, earned media placements, parent advocacy efforts, and direct engagement with legislators during the 2025 General Assembly.
Through research-driven communications, stakeholder engagement, grassroots advocacy, media relations, and digital outreach, both campaigns successfully elevated public awareness and built support among policymakers and key audiences. The initiative helped generate more than 1,100 messages to lawmakers, reached nearly 396,000 social media accounts, and supported passage of key legislation and funding priorities designed to improve opportunities for public charter schools across Tennessee.
For more information on ways SRG has helped its clients succeed in their goals, visit our Successes page on our website.