The East St. Louis Branch of the NAACP will present its annual Freedom Fund Life Membership Banquet on October 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Millennium Hotel. The VIP Reception hosted by Anheuser-Busch Cos. will precede the dinner at 4 p.m.
NAACP National Chief Operating Officer Rev. Nelson Rivers III will be the guest speaker. Stellar Awardees are Congressman Jerry Costello, Sheriff Merle Justus and Elquie Murray.
The Rev. Johnny Scott is branch president. Alvin Leo Parks Jr. and Jennifer Gomric Minton are chair and co-chair, respectively. Dr. Katie Wright is chair of the VIP Reception. Dr. Lillian Parks is co-chair and will preside at the reception. Mrs. Minton will preside at the banquet.
The banquet program will include an essay contest for Metro East High school students.
For tickets, call the NAACP Office at (618) 271-4698. Regular tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $100.