AAF Honors Helen Lavelle with Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal Award
WASHINGTON D.C., January 22, 2021—AAF is proud to announce Helen Lavelle as the 2020 recipient of the Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal Award.
Established by the American Advertising Federation’s board of directors in 1994, to recognize distinguished individuals for their volunteer service to advertising through work with the AAF, the award is AAF’s highest volunteer service award.
“In this, the 25th year of the American Advertising Federation’s Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal Award, AAF honors the legacy of Barton A. Cummings and its 2020 award recipient, Helen Lavelle. Helen embodies the spirit and the actions of a distinguished industry leader and visionary,” AAF President and CEO Steve Pacheco said.
Helen’s connection to the AAF has spanned nearly 35 years during which she has selflessly served at each level of the organization beginning with Club President, soon after District 2 Governor (two consecutive terms) and ultimately as the Council of Governors Chair and Eastern Region Chair. From her involvement with the National Student Advertising Competition to the American Advertising Awards, Mosaic Awards and more she has been a guiding light for AAF members throughout the country seeking to not only give back to the industry but to bring a voice to the importance of diversity.
Formally educated in fine art and advertising art, Helen’s advertising career began in Pennsylvania where she worked as art director, television producer and promotion artist for Ralph Lauren and Halston. As president and chief strategist for Lavelle Strategy Group, she has been the recipient of countless creative awards and the prestigious AAF Silver Medal. Additionally, she remains dedicated to her gift as an exceptional artist.
Congratulations to Helen for this recognition and among many other contributions, for her “Gifts, Guidance and Goals,” a magnificent book of knowledge and information for all AAF members and Clubs to help them advance AAF’s mission pillars: “advocating in Washington, DC, setting ethical standards, providing professional development opportunities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and so much more,” Pacheco concluded.
For more information about this year’s recipient and the AAF Barton A. Cummings Gold Medal Award, please contact Dawn Reeves at dreeves@aaf.org.
About the American Advertising Federation
Established in 1905, the American Advertising Federation (AAF), acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising.” Its membership is comprised of more than 75 corporate members made up of the nation’s leading advertisers, agencies, and media companies; a national network of nearly 164 local clubs representing 30,000 advertising professionals; and more than 170+ college chapters with 4,000 student members. The AAF operates a host of programs and initiatives, including Advertising Day on the Hill, the Advertising Hall of Fame, the Advertising Hall of Achievement, the American Advertising Awards, the National Student Advertising Competition, the Mosaic Awards, the Most Promising Multicultural Students Program and AdCamp for high school students.