The American Advertising Federation (AAF) Charleston and the Charleston American Marketing Association (AMA) announced a strategic partnership to streamline the annual awards submission process, making it easier than ever for local agencies, in-house teams and individuals to earn recognition for their outstanding work.
For the 2025 awards cycle, the organizations have combined the timelines for the prestigious AAF Addy Awards and the AMA Spark Awards into one unified schedule. This collaborative effort is designed to allow creative and marketing teams to focus their energy on selecting and submitting their best work from the past year, rather than navigating separate deadlines.
The unified process offers two distinct opportunities for recognition:
The leaders of both organizations emphasized the importance of this partnership in recognizing the full spectrum of local industry talent.
“By aligning the Addy Awards and the Spark Awards, we are ensuring that every successful campaign and brilliant creative piece has a clear and convenient path to local recognition,” said Genna Shelnutt, President of AAF Charleston. “Our goal is to celebrate not just the 'what' but also the 'how' and the 'why,' recognizing work that is strategically sound and impactful. This unified timeline will undoubtedly increase participation and showcase the quality of work coming out of the Lowcountry.”
Mike Compton, President of Charleston AMA, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the benefit to the local marketing community. “Our goal is simple: celebrate great work, uplift our creative community, and help Charleston shine on a bigger stage. Teaming up with AAF CHS gives the Spark Award the visibility and prestige it deserves. To be recognized the way we should be, we need to step confidently into District and National arenas, and we’re excited to take that step together.”
The partnership will culminate in a single, sensational celebration in March 2025 (Date TBD) dedicated to honoring all submissions and crowning the best of Charleston's creative talent. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, view the work that moved the market and toast to the future of the vibrant industry.
Further details regarding the unified submission schedule and the awards celebration are both available on the AAF Charleston and Charleston AMA websites. For more information on the Addys: https://www.