U.S. Treasury's Bureau of the Public Debt Earns Government Communicators Award for Savings Bond Interactive Timeline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2012

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of the Public Debt received first place in the category of electronic publication at the National Association of Government Communicators’ (NAGC) 2012 Blue Pencil and Gold Screen Awards Competition on June 6, which honored superior government communications. The prize was awarded for an interactive digital timeline that featured the rich history of U.S. Savings Bonds and was a key component of a national campaign to inform Americans about the change in how savings bonds can be purchased.

The Bureau of the Public Debt developed “The History of U.S. Savings Bonds” to digitally showcase the 76-year history of savings bonds and ensure that the millions of Americans who buy and receive savings bonds each year know that bonds will now be sold electronically. The timeline included images and video segments celebrating the impact savings bonds have had on American history and culture, including photos of movie stars such as Judy Garland, Lucille Ball and Mickey Rooney, images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, and video clips from popular television programs such as "Lassie," "The Bugs Bunny Show” and "Cheers."

"The NAGC award for 'The History of U.S. Savings Bonds' interactive timeline exemplifies the Bureau of the Public Debt’s commitment to public education. The timeline is a way to honor the history of this iconic savings instrument while reminding Americans of the importance of saving," said Bureau of the Public Debt Commissioner Van Zeck.

The timeline was featured in a December 2011 public education effort to inform Americans that paper bonds will no longer be sold at financial institutions. Instead, electronic savings bonds can be purchased online at www.treasurydirect.gov. Weber Shandwick, a communications firm, provided technical and creative assistance, in producing the timeline.

Following the release of the interactive timeline,the Bureau of the Public Debt continued its public education efforts by launching Ready.Save.Grow., a national campaign to help people successfully navigate the transition to digital savings bonds and start saving for the future.Learn more about Treasury savings options at www.treasurydirect.gov/.

TreasuryDirect is a registered mark of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Ready.Save.Grow. is a service mark of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.