EVENTS

The American Advertising Awards

2024 Winners Book

OVERVIEW

Showcasing Polk County's Bold Creativity

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 25,000 entries every year in local AAF Ad Club competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

The AAF Polk County competition is the first level of the three-tiered national competition conducted annually.

With more than 200 categories, advertisers, creatives, students and brands have the opportunity to show off where they shine and be awarded a coveted ADDY Award.

What Does it Mean to Win an Addy?

Our chapter goal is to make sure everyone feels included and involved, whether you’re an ADDY alum or this is your first year entering. While you submit your entries and prepare for the annual gala where the awards will be presented, we want to make sure you understand how the competition process works and what your wins mean.

Get Started

Professional Rules and Categories

Student Rules and Categories

Questions? Reach Out!

Email Us

Think Nationally. Submit Locally.

As the first of the three-tiered competition, the AAF Polk County Local tier launches the competition process! All entries are judged by experts in our field and scored individually based on the category it’s submitted. Winners from the 120 Local tier competitions advance to the second tier, Districts. For our AAF Polk County winners, the next step will see them at the AAF Fourth District American Advertising Awards. Those District winners then advance to the final stage, where they will compete at the National American Advertising Awards during the AAF Annual Conference, ADMERICA.

Benny. Silver. Gold. Oh My?

To understand what exactly you're winning, allow us to break down how the certificates and trophies are decided. A Silver ADDY is given to entries that are considered outstanding and worthy of recognition. A Gold ADDY is recognition of the highest level of creative excellence and is judged to be superior to all other entries in the category.

The Benny Awards are awarded to the highest scoring winner in the major categories. The Benny Awards are named after Mr. Dick Bennick, aka Dr. Paul Bearer, former Executive Director and supporter of AAF Polk County for many years, before his passing in 1995.

The Judges Choice awards are chosen by each judge in that year’s competition. Out of all the entries, it’s the one submission that stood out to our three judges the most for one reason or another.

And finally, the Best of Show is awarded to the highest scoring winner out of all entries submitted!

Silver Medal Recipient

The American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award Program was established in 1959 to recognize local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence, and responsibilities in areas of social concern.

For AAF Polk County, awarding the AAF Silver Medal is the highlight of our year. It enhances the image of advertising by recognizing a locally outstanding person for their advertising and community involvement.

Nominate someone by emailing yvonne@aafpolkcounty.org.