The Peekskill NAACP Freedom Fund Gala “Stand Up and Be Heard” Sneaker Ball will take place on Saturday, November 2, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m inside of the Peekskill High School Gymnasium. The Freedom Fund Gala is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Peekskill NAACP, which then brings programs to Peekskill throughout the year such as the Celebrating the Survivors Domestic Violence Walk that just happened on October 20, or the Peekskill Gun Buyback program of 2023 that saw over 66 guns collected – 40 handguns, 10 shotguns and 16 rifles. Another Gun Buyback program will occur this year on November 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Attendees of the Peekskill NAACP Freedom Fund Gala “Stand Up and Be Heard” Sneaker Ball will be dressed to the nines in formal attire, minus the shined shoes and high heels. This is a Sneaker Ball. Attendees are expected to wear their best, their fanciest, their finest, and their coolest pair of fashionable sneakers. There is no need for your feet or your toes to be curled up, squished up or hurting all night. Attendees will be completely comfortable in their sneakers which makes it so much easier to Stand Up and Be Heard.
The Freedom Fund Sneaker Ball will be a celebration that will bring together people from all over who are passionate about social justice and equality. The evening will be filled with empowering words, powerful speakers, meaningful discussions, community, food, drinks, raffles, and live music. In addition, the Peekskill NAACP will honor and give awards to Peekskill High school Coaches Tyrone Searight and Demetric Gardner, Judge Lissette Fernandez, Michael Simpkins, Rev. James Perry, Meghan Kelly, Lawrence (LA) Anthony, Sandra Blackwell, Maria Coto (posthumously), and Peekskill Pride. Moreover, Pete Peterson will DJ throughout the event keeping the night lively and energy high. Bria The Artist, who resides in Peekskill will serenade the crowd with R&B and Neo Soul, and R&B Band, No Money Down will make a special guest appearance.
“The Peekskill NAACP branch wants to reaffirm its stand for social justice for those we are serving, fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves. We must reinforce the importance of standing together. We must stand tall to fight against the violence and war that is around the world. It is so important for us to exercise our voice by standing tall to advocate for what is right for those who are not able to speak for themselves,” said Priscilla Augustin, Peekskill NAACP president.
Tickets to the Peekskill NAACP Freedom Fund Stand Up and Be Heard Sneaker Ball are $150 and can be found on Eventbrite using this link or by visiting the Peekskill NAACP website.
The Peekskill NAACP will give the following awards at the Freedom Fund “Stand Up and Be Heard” Sneaker Ball.
Coaches Tyrone Searight and Demetric Gardner will receive the Unsung Hero’s Award. Last year, Coach Searight led the PHS Basketball team to win the NYS Section 1 Gold championship after an 11 year drought and Coach Gardner led the PHS Football team to their first championship in over 29 years at the Hudson Valley Football Tournament. .
Peekskill City Judge Lissette Fernandez will receive the Unsung Heroine Award.
In February 2020, Lissette Fernandez made history when she became the first Latina judge appointed to Peekskill City Court. After her appointment, Judge Fernandez revamped the Peekskill City Court advocating for every document in the courthouse to be translated into Spanish to assist Spanish-speaking residents who visit the Court.
Michael Simpkins will receive the Ambassador of Education Award.
Michael Simpkins has distinguished himself as the longest serving Board of Education member in the Peekskill City School District. For more than 20 years and counting, Mr. Simpkins has helped lead the transformation of the Peekskill City School District. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Simpkins has led the district through countless infrastructure projects including the building of the new Middle School, the reconstruction of Torpy Field and the new football field, the renovation of the PHS auditorium, the Peekskill High School STEAM Innovation Center, and most recently, environmental green upgrades throughout the district.
The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Rev. James Perry.
Rev. James Perry of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church has dedicated his time and energy to education, social justice, economic development, health, voting rights, and community service throughout Peekskill.
Meghan Kelly will be awarded the Exemplary Service Branch Member Award.
Meghan Kelly has been one of the most dedicated and consistent branch members at the Peekskill NAACP. She has served on numerous committees and has continually supported the fight for justice and equality. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ms. Kelly along with local organizations, businesses, and others from the community created the Peekskill Technology Equity Community Coalition to help get an estimated 1200 students computers and internet access so students could continue to learn at home in spite of the schools shutting down.
The Mel Tapley Award will be presented to Lawrence (LA) Anthony.
Mel Tapley was a giant in Peekskill’s African-American history. An early president of the NAACP, Tapley was also Vice President of the Peekskill School Board, a founder of the Human Relations Committee and Trustee Emeritus to Peekskill’s Field Library. Tapley garnered world-wide fame as the Entertainment Editor of the Amsterdam News and as a cartoonist, his clear, salient messages helped raise awareness of many topics overlooked or buried in mainstream papers.
For decades, Lawrence (LA) Anthony has promoted and performed Soul, R&B, Funk and Blues music. In 2016 he became a member of the “Persuasions”, and founded LA Soul – a high powered “Funk band”, covering funk from the 60’s to 70’s. For many years, LA hosted “Quite Storm” on 91.1 WOSS in New York and throughout his career has been seen in numerous commercials and documentaries for public and commercial television.
The Drum Major for Justice Award will be presented to Sandra Blackwell.
Sandra Blackwell, a retired special education teacher, is the owner and publisher of the Westchester County Press. By using the power of the Press, Ms. Blackwell amplifies the voices of the African American community through the pages of the newspaper by sharing local, state, and national news stories, accomplishments, and concerns relevant to the African American community.
Maria Coto will be Posthumously awarded the Community Service Award.
As a Westchester County social services case worker, Maria Coto had a vast knowledge of children’s safety measures and risk assessments. Her diverse background made her excellent at working with different groups of people from varied backgrounds and social standards without judgment. Maria passed away on June 19, 2024.
Peekskill Pride will be awarded the Community Empowerment Award.
Founded in 2016, Peekskill Pride has become a staple in the City of Peekskill for the LGBTQIA+ an the community overall. The organization’s mission is “to foster safe, healthy, and supportive environments for LGBTQIA+ individuals of all ages, their allies, and families by working within the community to further the foundation for inclusion, diversity, and pride through education, advocacy, and celebration.” Over the years, Peekskill Pride has brought many programs and events to Peekskill including the annual Peekskill PRIDE in the Park.
Join the Peekskill NAACP Freedom Fund Stand Up and Be Heard Sneaker Ball on Saturday, November 2, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m and don’t forget to let them know you read about the Sneaker Ball in the Peekskill Herald.
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