AAF Mosaic Awards honorees.

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) announced the winners of the prestigious Mosaic Awards, which honor companies that are at the forefront of multicultural advertising. The number of entries for the 2006 awards increased dramatically, with 25 percent more compared to last year. AAF District Two also announced the honorees for their coveted Diversity Achievement Awards, which recognize significant strides towards a diverse advertising industry. Together, these awards comprise the premier advertising industry honors for multicultural marketing initiatives and will be celebrated at an awards luncheon on September 27, 2006, at the New York Athletic Club.

2006 AAF Mosaic Awards Honorees

Advertiser of the Year & Agency of the Year: Verizon “Realize” Campaign/Burrell Communications
Multicultural Ad Campaign: Client/Agency: Tyson Foods/E.Morris Communications
Multicultural Media Usage: Client/Agency: Verizon Corporate Brand Campaign/La Agencia De Orcí
Employee Diversity Programs: Valassis
Multicultural Student Career Development Programs: DDB Worldwide – New York
Workforce Diversity: McDonalds/DDB Worldwide – Chicago

2006 AAF District Two Diversity Achievement Awards

Corporate Leader – Advertiser: AOL
Corporate Leader – Agency: BBDO
Educator: The College of New Rochelle School of New Resources
Industry Career Achiever: Karen Katen, vice chairman, president of human health, Pfizer
Industry Influential – Advertiser: Marlene V. Coulis, VP – brand management, Anheuser-Busch
Industry Influential – Agency: Dolores Kunda, president & CEO, Lápiz Agency

“The Mosaic and Diversity Achievement Awards recognize the most advanced, enlightened and forward-thinking individuals and corporations that have seized upon multicultural marketing to embolden their business’ fortunes,” added Wally Snyder, AAF president & CEO. “This year’s honorees are prime examples of those who have embraced multicultural marketing techniques, best practices and diversity initiatives to improve the bottom line and stay relevant in today’s competitive corporate environment.”

“Today, in honoring those who have done so much to create diversity and multiculturalism in our industry, we are assuring that progress in this area is continuing. As Spike Lee said, ‘Just do the right thing.’ These honorees have all done the right thing, and the advertising industry is the better for it,” said Nick Ferrari, governor of District 2 and CEO, Erdos & Morgan, Inc.

The awards will be presented during Diversity/Mosaic Day on Wednesday, September 27, at the New York Athletic Club during Advertising Week New York. The Diversity/Mosaic events kick off at 8:00 a.m. with a series of panels featuring industry leaders from the country’s largest advertising agencies, client companies and media organizations. The Forum will be followed by a star-studded awards luncheon combining District Two’s Diversity Achievement Awards and AAF’s Mosaic Awards.

Past recipients of the Mosaic Awards include Johnson & Johnson and their agency, Lowe Worldwide; Tyson Foods and their agency, Lopez Negrete Communications; Staples and El Diario La Prensa & La Opinion; DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Procter & Gamble and their agencies, Carol H. Williams and Grey Advertising; Pepsi-Cola of North America; Kraft Foods, Inc.; McDonald’s Corporation; John H. Johnson (Johnson Publishing Company), Clarence O. Smith (Essence Communications) and many others. Diversity Achievement awards have gone to Darryl B. Hazel (Ford Motor Company); Jerri DeVard (Verizon); Esther Lee (the Coca-Cola Company); Carlos Gutierrez (Kellogg Company and U.S. secretary of commerce), Bob Wehling (Procter & Gamble), Judy Hu (GE), Spike Lee, Keith Reinhard (DDB), David Bell (IPG) and Jay Chiat. Corporate awardees include AT&T, Coca-Cola, FedEx, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and many others.