Honors & Awards

The Chairman or the previous recipient will present the Silver Medal at the ADDY award ceremony, which generally occurs in February of each year.

Anyone can make nominations for this award by submitting information based on the following criteria to the Silver Medal Committee Chair or they may request a nomination form from the AAF-H office.

At least 60 days prior to the AAF-Houston ADDY Awards, the chairman shall propose to the Board at least 5 and no more than 7 AAF-Houston members (designating one as Chairman) to serve as the Silver Medal Selection Committee.  The committee will be comprised of the most recent Silver Medal recipient, the current chairman and individuals who did not serve on the committee in the prior year.  Committee members are ineligible to receive the Silver Medal during the year in which they serve.

The Silver Medal winner will be considered a matter of highest confidentiality, with disclosure limited to the selection committee and those directly involved with producing the award and presentation.

AAF-Houston will honor the award design and criteria determined by AAF.

The Silver Medal Award is based on five areas of consideration:

• Contributions to the recipient’s own company – success achieved in one of the following areas of work – advertising agency, advertiser, media, or advertising service company.
• Creative ability – a consistent, high degree of creative, original thinking in whatever phase of advertising the nominee has worked.
• Contributions to the general advancement of advertising – efforts to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.
• Contributions to the community – activity in civic, religious or other groups dedicated to some phase of human or social welfare.
• Contributions to the AAF-Houston.

Honorary Life Membership Awards are generally granted at AAF-Houston’s annual luncheon meeting in June of each year.

Any AAF-Houston member or the AAF-Houston Chairman can make a nomination for this award by April 1^st of each year and selection, if any, will be made by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Awarded to AAF-Houston members who have made significant contributions to the advertising industry or to AAF-Houston’s welfare and progress.

Honorary Life Membership Awards are generally granted at AAF-Houston ’s annual luncheon meeting in June of each year.

The award is conferred after nomination by the Presidents Council and approval of the Board of Directors.

The Living Legend Award is granted to individuals who have achieved a high level of success through their career in the advertising and marketing field.

Distinguished Service Memberships are generally granted at AAF-Houston’s annual luncheon meeting in June of each year.

The membership is conferred after nomination by and approval of the AAF-Houston Board of Directors.

The Distinguished Service Membership is based on the following areas of consideration:

• Recipients must have been active or educational members for at least ten (10) years;
• Have made continuing and significant contributions to the welfare and progress of the AAF-Houston;

The Spirit of AAF-Houston Awards are generally granted at AAF-Houston’s annual luncheon meeting in June of each year.

The Spirit of AAF-Houston Award will be conferred after selection by the AAF-Houston Chairman.  The award is granted solely at the discretion of the AAF-Houston Chairman.

The Spirit of AAF-Houston Award is based on the following areas of consideration:

• Recipients must have contributed significantly to AAF-Houston’s success during the current fiscal year;
• Have worked on a particular event or committee in a selfless manner

The Trailblazer Award is presented at the annual Made in Houston Gala. The event honors a leading individual who personifies the spirit of the Trailblazer and celebrates that person’s energy, ingenuity, and vision. The evening brings together an audience of our city’s influential media, business, and advertising professionals. It is also a showcase for the remarkable creative talent found right here in Houston.

Ultimately, the Made in Houston Gala is about what we think of our hometown and what the world thinks of Houston. It is about the business and advertising communities working together to enhance our city’s image.

The Made In Houston Gala is an opportunity to highlight the exceptional advertising and marketing expertise that is available in Houston.  The design work, photography, videography and cinematography manifested in the award’s event are all evidence of the remarkable talent found right here in Houston.

Through exceptional advertising produced by local talent, many businesses have helped create and enhance a positive image of the city of Houston.  The Trailblazer recipient and Gala affair exemplify this “Made In Houston” spirit and the important partnership between the advertising and business communities.

The AAF-Houston is the city’s preeminent advertising and marketing communications organization. Founded in 1911, it is one of the oldest professional service clubs in Houston. The promotion of education and excellence in our industry is at the core of the AAF-Houston ‘s mission. The gala is an AAF-Houston fund-raising activity that has always focused on education. Proceeds from the Made in Houston Gala, including a silent auction, help fund scholarships and educational activities for aspiring young advertising and marketing professionals in Houston. 

The AAF-Houston is proud to honor local business leaders who have demonstrated a true spirit of innovation in marketing and advertising at the Made In Houston Gala. The Trailblazer Award recognizes an influential business leader for enhancing the overall image of Houston through marketing.  The Trailblazer honoree is typically presented to the community at a black-tie gala in early fall incorporating audiovisual presentations, auctions, live entertainment and an audience of influential media, business and advertising professionals.

The Trailblazer Selection Committee will include the following committee members chaired by a Representative of the AAF-Houston Presidents Council:

• All Previous Trailblazer Recipients
• AAF-Houston Chairman
• AAF-Houston President
• AAF-Houston Presidents Council Chair or representative
• Current Gala Chair

Three at-large AAF-Houston members appointed by the gala chair  The committee shall meet in person one or more times during the first quarter of each year, and select by private and individual vote, the Trailblazer recipient for the following year by April 10th.  There must be five qualified committee members present at the final selection meeting.  Notification of the selection should be made in person by one of the previous recipients, the AAF-Houston Chairman, the AAF-Houston President and the gala chair as soon as possible.

Trailblazer candidate must be a person who embodies the following characteristics:

• Leader of a Houston organization.
• Successfully used marketing to promote their own business or enterprise.
• Successfully used marketing to enhance the image of the city of Houston.
• Has demonstrated a positive involvement in community or charitable activities.
• Has helped promote and use the talents of Houston’s advertising and marketing community.