Boutique creative agency K. Hope Creative was recognized at the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America’s Mercury Awards Dinner in Charleston Thursday, April 11, with a 2018 Silver Wing Publications Award for its 16-page children’s book Hello, Big World.

The book was part of a comprehensive public awareness campaign, known as Count 5, created for Florence 1 Schools in an effort to remind parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers that, in order for young children to be school and life ready, they need adequate sleep, movement, nutrition, routine, and love. In addition to the book, K. Hope Creative curated a collection of content and design deployed through posters, fliers, table tents, banners, T-shirts, stickers, magnets, andsocial media tiles. 

“Hello, Big World was originally intended to be a flier,” said Kim Bowman, K. Hope Creative CEO. “But the first time I read it out loud to Dr. Creech, we knew it would make a precious children’s book. I was fortunate that Nick Kask, my graphic design partner, had the skills to illustrate it, and that Duke Energy generously stepped up to cover the cost of printing.” 

Hello, Big World was printed by Professional Printers in Columbia and distributed to every family with young children in the Florence 1 school district. Books were also distributed to local childcare centers, libraries, and pediatricians offices. 

K. Hope Creative worked with Dr. Floyd Creech, administrator of school readiness for Florence 1 Schools, and Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation, to develop the five-month Count 5 campaign last fall. The campaign kicked off in September with a summit for early childhood champions featuring international expert Helle Heckmann. 

Plans to extend and expand the Count 5 campaign in the 2019-2020 school year are currently under way.