Call for Nominations

DREAM Fund Humanitarian Award ~ Honoring the Legacy of Mary Henry

DREAM Fund is proud to announce the call for nominations for the DREAM Fund Humanitarian Award, established in 2005 to honor the legacy of Mary Henry.

For many in our advertising, media, and public relations family, Mary Henry was a colleague, a mentor, a volunteer, and a friend. She believed deeply in showing up for others – not for recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. Mary gave her time, her talents, and her heart freely, always looking for ways to lift others and strengthen the community around her.

For those who may not have known Mary personally, her legacy lives on through this award. It represents the very best of our industry – people who give back, who serve with compassion, and who make a meaningful difference, often quietly, through their actions.

To continue Mary’s legacy of service and generosity, this prestigious award is presented annually in her honor to an individual who exemplifies outstanding volunteerism, empathy, and a deep commitment to making a difference within both the media industry and their local community.

This award is about more than recognizing service; it is about honoring a legacy of compassion and inviting each generation of industry professionals to carry it forward. By nominating someone who gives back, you help keep Mary’s spirit alive and celebrate the values that continue to define our community.

We invite you to help us recognize someone whose service reflects the heart of Mary Henry and the mission of DREAM Fund.  

The recipient will be honored at the AWM Awards of Excellence Gala on April 30, 2026.

To submit a nomination, please use this form link.

To be eligible, the candidate must meet the following criteria:

  • Display the spirit of volunteerism by contributing significantly to the industry during the past year.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to service in advancing the cause in the advertising community and their local community.
  • Be an advertising/media/public relations employee in any of the states that DREAM Fund serves: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico, for at least one year.

Recipients are eligible to receive this award only once in three years.

  • Past recipients of the Mary Henry Humanitarian Award:
  • Mary Henry – posthumously, 2004
  • Shirley Ward, 2005
  • Joanne Brookhart, 2006
  • Jeff Zimmerman, 2007
  • Rick Mills, 2008
  • Patricia Nolan, 2009
  • Essie Dalton, 2010
  • Susie August, 2011
  • Teresa Novak, 2012
  • Juleann Pasqualini, 2013
  • Willie Baronet, 2014
  • Roger Tremblay, 2015
  • Farrah Momayezi Reid, 2016
  • Karen Coffey, 2017
  • Kathy Sparks, 2018
  • Melodie Cottingham, 2019
  • Jared Sandler, 2020
  • John Breland, 2021
  • Stacie Martin, 2022
  • Don Clampitt, 2023
  • Angel Gonzales, 2024