A disaster relief poster created by Greg Bennett for the So-Cal Fire Project has been recognized as Best of Show in the 2009 Baltimore Advertising Awards. The ADDY Awards are the world's largest advertising competition with more than 60,000 entries annually. In addition to Best of Show, we were also presented with five additional ADDY awards.

The So-Cal Wildfire Project was a collaborative effort by the design community to help effect change through our work. Signed and numbered, limited-edition projects were donated by designers and the sold to benefit the victims of the fires. All funds raised went directly to the Salvation Army, for the California Wildfire Fund.

ABOUT OUR PROJECT
Brighter Days Ahead was created to commemorate those affected by the southern California wildfires. The destruction of the wildfires is portrayed by physically making, photographing and then compositing various textures such as burnt paper, water stains, ash and grit. These elements are juxtaposed with beautiful illustrations of life occurring all around them. The beauty lies in the fact that life carries on. Even the scorched tree shows signs of new life through it’s sprouting buds. The text sprinkled throughout the poster are facts regarding the wildfires. 

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ADVERTISING AWARDS
The American Advertising Awards, formerly the ADDYs, is the advertising industry's largest and most representative competition, attracting over 40,000 entries every year in local AAF Club (Ad Club) competitions. The mission of the American Advertising Awards competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.

Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local Ad Club phase is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards - recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in your local Ad Club competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY.

Entering the American Advertising Awards supports the entire advertising industry, because the AAF and its local and district affiliates use the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education, and consumer awareness.

Selection of the most creative entry in each category is affected by a scoring process in which a panel of judges evaluates all creative dimensions of every entry. 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. Entries that are also considered outstanding and worthy of recognition receive a SILVER ADDY. The number of awards given in each category is determined by the judges, based on the relative quality of work in that category.

For further information, please visit: americanadvertisingawards.com