The American Advertising Federation – Black Hills (AAF-Black Hills) is entrusted each year to take on and create an advertising campaign for a local non-profit organization. These organizations are the recipients of the combined talents and skills of the AAF-Black Hills members. New this year, a second non-profit organization was selected to benefit from the Student Summit Marketing Competition. These talented local college students will compete in March with ready-to-implement plans.
This year’s selection for the Public Service Campaign will be the Lakota Circles of Hope. For the last two years, Lakota Elders, educators, and the Catholic Social Services staff have worked together to create a culturally specific prevention program for the Second through Fifth grade students on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations. It is the mission of LCH to teach these students how to make healthy positive choices using Lakota traditions, culture, and values.
The selection for the Student Summit Marketing Competition will be the Sturgis Center for the Arts. Michelle Grosek, and her staff of volunteers strive to make the arts a daily “habit “ for students of all ages. Over the last five and a half years, the Sturgis Center for the Arts has seen the benefits of providing a secure place where people can express their artistic passion or simply work out some of the daily stress in their lives. Their mission is to provide an environment of learning and appreciation of the arts.
The AAF-Black Hills is a volunteer association composed of members of the advertising, marketing, and business community. In addition to the annual Public Service Campaign, AAF-Black Hills holds monthly luncheon meetings and networking socials from September to April. In February, the AAF-Black Hills hosts the Black Hills Advertising Awards competition and the Silver Medal Award.
