Mayor Michael Nutter, who leaves office in January, will be recognized today with the 2015 Gold Medal Award from The Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) during the organizations luncheon today.

During his eight year term, the city has strengthened its status as a world-class destination with events like the World Meeting of Families and the Papal visit, the Forbes 30 Under 30 Conference and the upcoming Democratic National Convention in 2016.

“Mayor Michael Nutter has made an incredible impact on the City of Philadelphia,” said Meredith Z. Avakian-Hardaway, president of PPRA. “He showed the world our city’s rich history and bright future. I am confident he will continue to be a champion for Philadelphia throughout his future endeavors.”

Previous recipients include Chef Jose Garces; Gov. Ed Rendell; the Executive Vice President of Comcast, David L. Cohen; the President of the University of Pennsylvania, Amy Gutmann, among others.