Freedom Fund Celebration

Dear Editor,

On June 17, 2017, the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP will host its Freedom Fund Celebration on the grounds of the historic McCabe United Methodist Church, 280026th Ave. S, under a tent with guests adorned in classy white!

I know some are saying how is that possible? Everything is possible through the grace of God when there is a will to do what is pleasing in his sight as opposed to man’s sight.

One of the primary injustices that the NAACP is charged to respond to is economic inequality.  It is the St. Petersburg Branch NAACP’s position that it is very difficult for us to hold government officials and the private sector accountable for creating economic opportunities for minorities and women-owned businesses when we are not intentional doing the same thing.

This year’s Freedom Fund Celebration’s theme is a Juneteenth Celebration, celebrating one of the holidays associated with the African-American experience, but also bringing attention to the reality that we must create economic opportunities for historically disenfranchised businesses such as black, Hispanic and women-owned businesses.

We also believe that we must take the lead in creating opportunities for excellence within our own back yards. The media does an exceptional job of capturing the negativity within our community but minimizes or simply ignores the plethora of talented people in addition to activities that represent our positive experiences.

The St. Petersburg Branch NAACP did not host a Freedom Fund Celebration in 2016, a year after the branch was revived, but instead chose to spend in excess of a year to plan to ensure that each and every detail could be properly attended to ensure our guests have a memorable time and to ensure that our purpose was fulfilled!

Recognizing that we needed to cultivate new sponsors in addition to bringing back sponsors who have supported the branch’s major annual fundraiser, sponsorship packets were sent out as early as last July. We have been honored by those sponsors like the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Lawson Funeral Home and Duke Energy,  just to name a few who committed early to support the work of the NAACP through the Freedom Fund Celebration.

Sponsorship packets, which include various sponsorship levels, ad sizes for the souvenir program booklet and table sponsorships (10 seats) for only $500 are available up until March 31!

Individual ticket sales will go on sale April 1 and will be available online at the NAACP website at naacp-stpete.org or through individual members at our general membership meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Enoch Davis Center and by simply mailing your check and sponsorship/ticket requests to P.O. Box 35123 St. Petersburg, FL 33705!

If you would like a sponsorship packet mailed or emailed to you simply call 727-798-5361 or email President@naacp-stpete.org!

Maria L. Scruggs, President, St. Petersburg Branch NAACP