THE ACADEMY Awards, better known as the Oscars, for artistic and technical merit for the global film industry, were big entertainment on Sunday. That included watching all the celebrities in their elaborately styled evening wear as they strolled the champagne-colored carpet. Many missed the royalty of the red carpet this year.

But Toledo had its own awards ceremony recently — not in the film industry, but the advertising world. It was the American Advertising Federation of Toledo’s annual awards on March 9 at the Summit in downtown Toledo.

After mingling over appetizers and dinner, Scott Grosteffon, president of AAF Toledo, formerly known as the Advertising Club of Toledo, welcomed everyone. Then it was on with the show led by emcee Charlie Mack of 107.3 The Juice.

Just like the Oscars, there were various presenters for the different awards.

Best in show went to Bowling Green State University for its “In the Round” speaker series: Jenn Stucker, Heidi Nees, Jesse Walton, and Doug Hinebaugh.

Judge’s Choice Awards went to Hart, Madhouse, and Interrupt.

The Silver Medal Award for lifetime achievement of outstanding contributions to the advertising and marketing industry, honoring someone who has been active in furthering the industry's responsibility in areas of social concern, was presented to Rhonda Sewell. She’s director of belonging and community engagement at the Toledo Museum of Art.

The Mosaic Awards recognize agencies and individuals whose commitment to diversity and inclusion are evident through their creative work and organization-wide initiatives. 

The Mosaic Educator Award went to Mercè Culp of Toledo Museum of Art; the Most Promising Multicultural Student Award to Ayln Martinez of the University of Toledo; the Mosaic Champion Award to Linda Parra of Nuestra Gente radio station and Nuestra Gente Community Projects, LLC, and the Multicultural Talent In Advertising Award to James Dickerson, known professionally as dirtykics. 

There was also a Mosaic Addy Award for A Letter From Home, LoudKid Films; a Gold Addy Award for “Blue”: Stories From Toledo, Madhouse, and a Bronze Addy Award of the “In The Round” speaker series at Bowling Green State University.

Gold Addy Awards went to the Toledo Museum of Art (2), Madhouse (2), Interrupt, Jacob Parr, Hart, the University of Toledo, and Bowling Green State University. Silver Addy Awards went to Madhouse (6), Toledo Museum of Art, LoudKid Films, Nick Amrhein, Bowling Green State University, MadAveGroup, Interrupt, and Hanson Inc. Bronze Addy Awards went to Madhouse (3), Bowling Green State University (3), Hart (3), Hanson Inc (2), VOXHUB (2), Electric Fun (2), Toledo Museum of Art, Melissa Wehrman Designs, and Interrupt.

Finally presenters announced Student Addy Awards.

Gold went to Corey Channell and Loraine Young, both from Bowling Green State University. Silver went to Cassandra Watson (2) of Owens Community College. And Bronze went to Madilyn Williams, Abigail Brown, Noah Ackerman, Ramona Wolff, Mackenzie Hoot, and Victoria Leu of Owens Community College and Kiley Sabo of Bowling Green State University.

SEWHOPE had a fund-raiser recently, and my column covering it on March 9 raised a few questions. Namely, does SewHope sew to raise funds?

No, it does not sew. The focus is cervical cancer prevention and education in Guatemala. The name reflects the initials of a young woman, Shannon E. Wilson, who worked with the founders, Drs. Anne and Randy Ruch, in the early years of their mission.

Ms. Wilson, a student at the former Medical College of Ohio, participated in several mission trips to Guatemala back in the early 2000s. She had an abounding love and compassion for the poor, and her hope was to become a full-time medical missionary following the completion of her residency at the University of Texas. However, before she could achieve her dream, she died tragically at the young age of 26.

Her legacy continues in the name SewHope.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY is Friday. Have fun but be sure to have a designated driver if you plan to indulge in spirits.

First Published March 16, 2023, 10:00 a.m.