TOPS

The Case

Several months after the tenth anniversary of Louisiana’s Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), Louisiana voters were heading to the polls to decide whether to guarantee permanent funding of TOPS with the state’s recently awarded portion of the national Tobacco Master Settlement dollars. The program’s creator, oil magnate and community activist Patrick F. Taylor, wanted to commemorate TOPS’ ten years of success and garner broad-based grassroots support for Louisiana Constitutional Amendment #2.

The Strategy

Our work included the planning and execution of a full-scale integrated media, community and government relations campaign lobbying on behalf of the Taylor Education Foundation for the passage of the amendment.

The Results

Our plan created the widespread support, media endorsements and the landslide victory at the polls that we were working toward. Recognition of TOPS and its merits, and support for the amendment are reflected in an overwhelming voter approval of more than 71 percent.