The St. Louis County NAACP on Monday announced its keynote speaker for its annual Freedom Fund Leadership Dinner, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). The 2017 Freedom Fund dinner takes place on Thursday, June 22, where Waters will receive the Margaret Bush Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award along with former Missouri Governor Bob Holden. The event will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, Mo., with a 5 p.m. reception followed by the dinner and program at 6:45 p.m.
Maxine Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. The thirteen-term Congresswoman and St. Louis native has a reputation of being a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color and the poor.
She is the senior African-American woman serving in Congress and serves as ranking member of the powerful House Committee on Financial Services. An integral member of Congressional Democratic Leadership, Waters serves as a member of the Steering & Policy Committee. She is also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and member and past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“It’s an incredible honor to be able to bring Congresswoman Waters back to her hometown of St. Louis for the Freedom Fund dinner,” said John Gaskin, 2017 event chair and NAACP national board member.
“Congresswoman Waters had dedicated nearly four decades of her life to public service and advancing the cause of social justice and economic inclusion for all people across the nation. We need her voice more than ever.”
“I’m so pleased to honor Congresswoman Waters with this well-deserved award,” St. Louis County NAACP President Esther Haywood said. “She has worked to advance civil rights through substantive legislation that increases opportunities all across this nation and has become widely known as a fierce advocate who won’t back down.”
Jimmy Loomis, honorary general chair and Clayton township committeeman, said Waters has committed herself to the public service of others in the name of equal opportunity.
“Congresswoman Waters’ life work speaks directly to this year’s theme of Rise Together.”
The St. Louis County NAACP will also honor state and community leaders for their dedication to increasing diversity and inclusion at the annual dinner, which draws more than 700 attendees annually. Award winners and honorees for 2017 include: Hon. Bob Holden, 53rd governor of Missouri, Margaret Bush Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award; Steven and Holly Cousins, Frankie Muse Freeman/Norman R. Seay Commitment to St. Louis Award; Lodging Hospitality Management, 2017 Corporate Partner for Diversity Inclusion; Ronald Norwood, partner at Lewis Rice, Medgar Wiley Evers Legal Advocacy Award; The LINKS, Inc., Daisy Bates Commitment to Education Award; and James “Jimmy” Williams, president, Estel Foods, Minority Entrepreneur of the Year.
Additionally, the St. Louis County NAACP will recognize five Legacy Honorees:
Ken Franklin, vice president, Advocacy and Governmental Relations, Bi State Development Agency; Laurna Godwin, president, Vector Communications Corporation; Jason Hall, managing director, Arch to Park Collaborative; Dr. Tina Clark Scott, associate superintendent Normandy Schools Collaborative; and State Sen. Gina Walsh, (D-13), democratic floor leader.
General admission tickets are $100 each and VIP tickets are $150 each.
For more information, visit http://naacpstlcounty.org/freedom2017.
