KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — This Saturday, the Metropolitan Kalamazoo Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will be hosting the 40th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
According to an official press release, the purpose of the banquet is to raise funds for the Branch and honor men and women who have dedicated their lives to help the underserved and underrepresented population in Kalamazoo, regardless of race, creed, gender or religion.
The organization has hosted the banquet in Kalamazoo since 1979.
The Branch honors those who have made significant contributions to the advancement of people of color in the areas of politics, education, religion, civil rights, community and/or military service.
Honorees of the banquet this year include Stephanie Hoffman, who will receive the Distinguished Veteran Award.
The press release notes that Hoffman served in the United States Army for more than four years. After completing her service, Hoffman returned to the United States in 1997 and began working in the Muskegon community.
In 2006, she joined Next Door Shelter for Women, a women’s shelter operated by Open Doors Kalamazoo. In 2018, Hoffman became the first woman to lead the organization as Executive Director in its almost 50-year history of service.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Dr. L. Marshall Washington, president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The theme for this year’s banquet is “Freedom Only Knows One Direction… Forward!”
Tickets for the event are available for purchase at $50 (Adult) and $25 (Student, up to 25 years old) online at https://mkbfreedomfund2019.eventbrite.com/ until October 30th.
The banquet will take place Saturday, November 2, 2019 at the Bernhard Center, located on the campus of Western Michigan University at 5:00pm.
