TALLAHASSEE, Fla., February 20, 2017 – Community service superstar Tallahassee City Commissioner Gil Ziffer will receive the 2016 Silver Medal Award at the American Advertising Federation Tallahassee’s (AAFT) American Advertising Awards ceremony Feb. 25. This annual event recognizes the best and the brightest in the industry, and the Silver Medal Award is AAFT’s highest honor.

Each year, the recipient of the Silver Medal Award is selected for his or her dedication and service to the community through both volunteer and entrepreneurial work, creativity and innovative contributions to the advertising industry.

Since 1990, Ziffer has led his own advertising and public relations firm, Ziffer Stansberry, helping both the public and private sectors with advertising, branding, PR, public affairs and more. Through his business and community service, Ziffer has made a lasting positive impact for children, the homeless, vulnerable seniors and many others across Tallahassee.

Recently, Ziffer has led the charge on dementia friendly initiatives, resulting in Tallahassee being named the first dementia caring community in the state. And in 2012 and 2013, Ziffer’s tireless dedication to the local Change for Change campaign, as noted by the City of Tallahassee, helped lead to an increase of 98 percent in contributions of funding for homelessness service providers in the area. These are among dozens of other projects Ziffer has contributed to in some way to help better Tallahassee. “We’re thrilled to honor community servant and industry powerhouse Gil Ziffer as this year’s Silver Medalist,” AAFT President Giavona Williams said. “His long history of dedication and giving represents an important part of AAFT’s mission – applying our time, talents and energy to help solve community concerns.” Ziffer is the 38th recipient of AAFT’s Silver Medal Award since it was first presented to Fellis Carnley in 1974. Last year’s Silver Medal winner was Emmy-award winning columnist Gary Yordon. The 2017 Silver Medal Award will be presented to Ziffer during the American Advertising Awards ceremony scheduled for Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Florida State University Alumni Center.

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About the Silver Medal

The American Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award was established in 1959 to recognize outstanding members of the Advertising community. This award is chosen by a panel of past Silver Medalists to honor an individual’s contribution in the advertising field who have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, in displaying creative excellence, and in demonstrating responsibility in areas of social concern. The first AAFT Silver Medal was awarded to Fellis Carnley in 1974. Annually, AAFT bestows this honor upon an outstanding member of the Tallahassee advertising community and is the club’s highest honor.

Silver Medal Award Criteria

A panel of judges from each local club selects Silver Medal recipients. Judges use the following criteria when making their selections:

  • Contribution to His/Her Company – The recipient must have achieved success in one of the following areas of work: advertising agency, advertiser, media or advertising service
  • Creative Ability – The recipient must have shown a consistent, high degree of original thinking in their field.
  • Contributions to the General Advancement of Advertising – The recipient must have worked to increase the stature and raise the standards of the advertising profession.
  • Contributions to the Community – The recipient should be someone who has been active in civic, religious, or other groups dedicated to human or social welfare.

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Past Silver Medal Award Recipients

2015 – Gary Yordon
2014 – Cathy Schroeder
2013 – Charlie Belvin
2012 – Nick Waller
2011 – Jon Brown
2010 – Jerry Kidd
2009 – Ron Sachs
2008 ‐ Tom Tomasi
2007 ‐ Mike Vasilinda
2006 ‐ Tod Thomas
2005 ‐ Belinda Bininger
2004 ‐ Heather Johnson
2003 ‐ John Goodson
2002 ‐ Anna Johnson Riedel
2001 ‐ Rick Oppenheim
2000 ‐ Lee Ann Franceschi
1999 ‐ Richard Rice
1998 ‐ Karen Moore
1997 ‐ John Burns
1996 ‐ Tyler Wold
1995 ‐ Bob Carnley
1994 ‐ Maureen Thompson
1993 ‐ Frank Watson
1992 ‐ Gene Deckerhoff
1991 ‐ Duane Franceschi
1989 ‐ Judy Newsome
1988 ‐ Peter Mitchell
1987 ‐ Len Taliaferro
1986 ‐ John Evans
1985 ‐ Lynne Stephenson
1984 ‐ Don Keyes
1983 ‐ Chal Crowell
1980 ‐ Fellis Carnley
1979 ‐ Carol Ann Boydston
1978 ‐ Bill Boydston
1977 ‐ Susan Hove
1974 ‐ Fellis Carnley
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