Award-Winning Storytelling: ThinkThru Wins Two W3 Awards for My Ancora

ThinkThru, a creative studio that helps companies turn customer education into their most powerful competitive advantage, has been honored with two W3 Awards for its work on "My Ancora," a short film created in partnership with nonprofit organization AncoraTN. Produced for AncoraTN's annual Voices of Freedom fundraiser, the film raises critical support for the organization's mission to combat human trafficking and provide trauma-informed care to survivors across Middle Tennessee.

The film received Gold in General Video-Non-Profit and Silver in Video Features-Best Directing, distinguishing it among thousands of entries evaluated by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, which includes leaders from brands such as Disney, Netflix, Deloitte Digital, and The National Gallery of Art.

"Having the opportunity to leverage our team to support organizations like AncoraTN in combating human trafficking and supporting survivors is an incredible honor," said Matt Tidwell, Founder & CEO of ThinkThru. "We believe that educating the public and building trust at scale is critical to advancing the mission of any organization. Receiving the W3 Awards is also a wonderful nod to the countless hours our team pours into every project — work that often goes unrecognized. I'm grateful to see our team celebrated for their dedication and proud we could contribute to this year's Voices of Freedom fundraiser."

AncoraTN serves as the single point of contact for all human trafficking referrals in Middle Tennessee, working with survivors to provide stability, healing, and hope. The organization's work is at the center of My Ancora, which uses storytelling as a tool for awareness and community engagement.

Rather than relying on statistics or data-heavy appeals, My Ancora centered survivor voices — showing how AncoraTN's programs provide refuge, stability, and hope for those rebuilding their lives. By focusing on lived experiences, the project demonstrated how storytelling rooted in trust can inspire action and lasting change.

"You all are amazing! I get emotional watching the video and continue to be grateful for the care you put into telling both of these survivors' stories," said Carlee Smith, Director of Development & External Relations at AncoraTN. "Every time I watch it, it centers me in why this work is important."

The ThinkThru creative team included Matt Tidwell (Director), Karl Weidmann (Director of Photography), Alyssa Davenport (Operations Lead), Dave Behm (Post Production Manager), and Christian Flores (Editor), who partnered closely with Carlee Smith (Director of Development & External Relations, AncoraTN) and Kelli Cary (CEO, AncoraTN) to bring the survivors' stories to life.

The My Ancora film premiered at AncoraTN's Voices of Freedom event, which raised approximately $280,662 to advance the organization's mission.

The My Ancora film highlights the power of survivor voices and the critical work AncoraTN leads across Middle Tennessee. To learn more or support their mission to eradicate human trafficking, visit www.ancoratn.org.

To explore how storytelling and education-driven media can catalyze growth and trust in your own organization, visit www.thinkthru.co.