NAACP to Host Annual Freedom Fund Banquet June 15

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Lake Wales Branch will host its 46th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, June 15 at the James P. Austin Community Center, 315 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., in Lake Wales. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and the banquet begins at 6 p.m. The Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet is celebrating the 2019 theme: "Defeat Hate - VOTE!" with the emphasis on "Vote-Our Lives Depend on It."

The entire community is invited to come celebrate the theme along with the continued progress of the NAACP. Since 1909, the mission of the NAACP has been to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights to all people. The Freedom Fund Banquet is the primary fundraiser of the year. Proceeds go to the branch's operational costs. This fundraiser will allow us to continue our activities and programs for the community at large such as citizen's civil rights advocacy, voter's registration, financial literacy, health seminars, youth programs and economic development.

The keynote speaker is the Honorable Audrey Gibson, State Senator for District 6, Jacksonville. Gibson is currently the Minority Leader in the Florida Senate. During her career, Sen. Gibson has worked as a Congressional district administrator and as a business community liaison. She has a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter. Sen. Gibson is also a member of the Jacksonville Women's Network, the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Duval Democratic Executive Committee, Women in Government and many other worthwhile organizations. In the Senate, she currently serves on the following committees: Rules (Vice Chair); Appropriations, Innovation Industry and Technology; Judiciary and Joint Legislative Budget Commission. We look forward to her address at this year's banquet.

Contact local NAACP Lake Wales Branch members to get your tickets. Tickets will also be available at several Lake Wales locations, including: Adell's Beauty Salon, 340 Lincoln Ave.; Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce/EDC, 340 W. Central Ave.; Tonya Stewart Law Office, 229 E. Park Ave; and B Street Community Service Center, 230 B Street.

Each adult ticket is a $65 donation and includes membership. Youth tickets are $35. Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are available. For more information, contact [email protected] or call Wanda Howard, branch president at (863) 604-9303 or email at [email protected].