AAF’s Minority Students Program Draws Top Talent & Corporate Support.

The advertising and marketing industry’s need for diverse talent has never been greater. The American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism has announced that the seventh annual “Building Bridges for Our Future Awards Luncheon,” recognizing AAF’s Most Promising Minority Students Program, will be held on February 14, 2003, at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Randy Melville, vice president of multicultural development and strategic initiatives, Pepsi-Cola North America, will serve as the presiding luncheon co-chair, with Pepsi-Cola North America taking on the role of principal underwriter. Luncheon proceeds fund this unique program that connects leading advertisers, agencies, and media companies with exceptional entry-level candidates.

AAF’s Most Promising Minority Students program identifies top graduating college students through a competition based on academic achievement, demonstrated interest in the industry, leadership and character indicators and faculty adviser nominations. In February, 25 finalists will receive all-expense-paid trips to New York City’s famed Waldorf-Astoria, where they will participate in workshops, meet leading industry executives, and participate in on-site job interviews. The finalists and an honor roll of well-qualified candidates will be featured in a resume book, a spread in Advertising Age, and on AAF’s Web site, www.aaf.org.

Heide Gardner, executive director of the AAF Mosaic Center on Multiculturalism and SVP-multicultural strategies and programs, urges companies to take advantage of sponsorship and recruiting opportunities. “This initiative is the ad industry’s most efficient and cost-effective opportunity to recruit entry-level candidates and to launch relationships for the future.” said Gardner. “This is a win-win proposition for sponsoring companies and candidates. The companies get immediate access to pre-screened candidates, a chance to demonstrate their commitment to building a more diverse industry and the experience of advertising’s most uplifting celebration. Our candidates get a once in a lifetime opportunity to network with top executives, receive immediate feedback from job interviews and experience a first-class welcome to this business through the luncheon.”

In addition to principal underwriter Pepsi-Cola North America, sponsors include official airline American Airlines, Advertising Age, The New York Times, Ford Motor Company, ABC Inc., Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO New York, Young & Rubicam Advertising, BBDO New York, Turner Broadcast Sales, and Cleveland Advertising Association Education Foundation.

Information on sponsorships, recruitment opportunities and luncheon table reservations are available on AAF’s web site, http://www.aaf.org, or by contacting Paula White at 1-800-999-2231.

As the “Unifying Voice for Advertising,” the American Advertising Federation (AAF), headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a Western Region office in Newport Beach, Calif., is the trade association that represents 50,000 professionals in the advertising industry. AAF’s 130 corporate members are advertisers, agencies, and media companies that comprise the nation’s leading brands and corporations. AAF has a national network of 210 ad clubs and connects the industry with an academic base through its 210 college chapters. For more information, visit the AAF’s award-winning Web site at www.aaf.org.