The USAID Center for International Disaster Information and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance announced the winners of their annual PSAid contest, a public service announcement design competition for college students, where all winners hailed from Arizona State University. 

Each year, participants are invited to create PSAs explaining why “Cash is Best” when donating to international disaster relief efforts, a press release stated.

When disaster strikes internationally, Americans want to help. While well-intentioned, most people are unaware that donating material goods can hinder relief efforts by creating logistical challenges and overwhelming local infrastructure, according to the release. 

Monetary donations to trusted organizations working on the ground help support international disaster relief efforts and make a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by these devastating events.

The 2024 winning PSAs were selected from submissions received from universities and community colleges across the country in three categories: video, static image and GIFs.

Congratulations to the 2024 PSAid contest winners:

GIF:

• 1st: Cash is Best, Izie Figueroa, ASU
• 2nd: Cash is Fast, Emyli Hinojosa Rafael, ASU
• 3rd: Why is Cash Best?, Hyelim (Amy) Song, ASU

Static Image:

• 1st:  Send Cash!, EL Mikkelsen, ASU
• 2nd: Unblocking Relief Efforts, Emma Klarin, ASU
• 3rd: Change is Magic, Sydnee Reed, ASU

Video: 

• 1st: Global Chat, Natalie Clark, ASU             
• 2nd: No Matter the Disaster, Alula Valdivia, ASU
• 3rd: Quick and in Quantity, Gabe Pante, ASU

"Throughout this experience, I learned how valuable cash is during international disasters,” Sydnee Reed, third-place winner in the static image category, stated in the release. “I hope people see this and understand that needs are different in every situation, and the best way to make a change is to donate something that is universally valued.”

A panel of experts from the fields of humanitarian assistance, communications and design served as volunteer judges. USAID also invited the public to vote for their favorites in the People’s Choice contest.

People’s Choice winners:

• GIF: Finding Your Zen With Cash, Alliyah Zaragoza, ASU
• Static Image: The Pocket Sized Solution, Avery Cluff, ASU
• Video: One Solution, Cash is Best, Jasmine Lawson, ASU

The winning PSAs will be used in CIDI’s “Cash is Best” outreach efforts, the release stated. Previous winning PSAs have reached over 1 billion people and have been in more than 150 media markets. 

All winning entries can be viewed at PSAid.org. For information about the “Cash is Best” message and how best to help after international disasters, visit CIDI.org.