By admin 
Introduction
Prestigious Honor to Be Awarded During AAF’s 2026 Advertising Hall of Fame Gala
Announcement Launches Advertising Week New York 2025
NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The American Advertising Federation (AAF), known as “The Unifying Voice for Advertising,” revealed today that Barry Manilow — the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy-winning music legend — and Marlo Thomas — acclaimed actress, author, activist, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom — will receive the organization’s prestigious 2026 President’s Award. The announcement was made this morning as part of the opening celebrations for Advertising Week New York 2025.
The President’s Award honors individuals whose lifelong work has left an exceptional mark on the field of advertising. The award will be formally presented in April 2026 during the AAF’s Advertising Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, widely recognized as “The Biggest Night in Advertising.” Previous honorees include Spike Lee, Michael J. Fox, Robert DeNiro, and Annie Leibovitz, who most recently received the distinction in 2022.
Barry Manilow, an international superstar with deep roots in advertising, began his career creating commercial music. He produced, wrote, and performed some of the most enduring and influential jingles ever crafted — for iconic brands like State Farm, Band-Aid, KFC, Pepsi, and McDonald’s. His unforgettable slogans — “Like a good neighbor,” “Have a barrel of fun,” “Join the Pepsi Generation,” “Give your face something to smile about,” “I’m stuck on Band-Aid,” and “You deserve a break today” — remain fixtures of brand culture decades later. With a career spanning more than 50 years, Manilow has become one of the most celebrated performers in history, crowned Billboard’s No. 1 Adult Contemporary Artist of all time, surpassing 85 million albums sold and earning 51 Top 40 singles, including 13 No. 1 hits and 28 Top 10s.
Marlo Thomas has made a profound cultural impact through her unique combination of entertainment, activism, and mission-driven messaging. As National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, she has spearheaded influential campaigns — including the annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® initiative she created — which has raised over a billion dollars in more than two decades and transformed the way storytelling inspires empathy and action. From her groundbreaking role as television’s first single working woman in That Girl, to the cultural force of Free to Be… You and Me, to her decades of dedication to St. Jude’s mission, Thomas has consistently promoted inclusivity, challenged social conventions, and empowered audiences of all ages. A New York Times best-selling author eight times over, she has leveraged her public platform to advance values-based communication and demonstrate how advertising can help build a more compassionate and connected society — today and for generations ahead.