DALLAS—The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) has extended its contract with Weber Shandwick beyond the research phase of its statewide awareness campaign. The firm will now handle the development and implementation of the organization’s sexual assault awareness campaign throughout the state of Texas. In addition, TAASA has selected sister company Temerlin McClain to direct the advertising portion of the campaign.

In 2001, TAASA received a $2 million grant from the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services Program for a two years campaign. The grant was awarded to identify Texans’ attitudes towards sexual assault and develop a public awareness campaign around the issue. Weber Shandwick was awarded the research portion of the grant in 2001.

In the campaign and implementation phase of the grant, Weber Shandwick will be responsible for developing a statewide communications and education strategy including grassroots marketing efforts, public relations, public affairs and advertising.

“The research that Weber Shandwick conducted clearly shows the need for this awareness campaign,” said Chris Lippincott, communications director for TAASA. “Texans place sexual assault in their top tier of crime concerns, and they want the state to do more to stop this offense from occurring.”