• August 30, 2011

The Advertising Club and Google are collaborating on a first-time contest to recognize top talent in advertising. The "The Young Innovators Award" is meant to spotlight up-and-coming leaders of the industry. Submissions end on Sept.12.

In a statement the groups said the purpose of the award is to "bring attention to and reward those of the millennial generation and to provide an incentive to young people to reach for business success even in a difficult economy."

Individuals 30 and under must nominate themselves by posting a 2-3 minute video on The Club's new YouTube brand channel, at www.youtube.com/theadvertisingclub, explaining their idea and why they deserve to win. The top 20 crowd-sourced videos will be presented to a jury, made up of Ad Club Board members and senior advertising executives.

The Grand Prize is $5,000 cash, and two runners-up will be able to have a lunch or dinner with a leading advertising executive on The AD Club Board of Directors. A reception to announce the winners will be conducted at Google's headquarters in New York City on Sept. 22.

The Ad Club is doing a social media and direct marketing plan to get the word out. "We view this new program and partnership with Google as a watershed concept that reflects The AD Club's mission of supporting the growth and achievement of talented, enthusiastic young people. There is nothing like this award in our industry right now," says Gina Grillo, President and CEO, The Advertising Club, in a statement. "One of the key pillars of The Club is to foster educational and financial support through numerous programs, scholarships, and mentorships."