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Freedom Fund Dinner
October 4, 2025
Sharonville Convention Center
11355 Chester Rd, Sharonville, OH 45246
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
After Party
9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Featuring DJ Pillo
The Cincinnati NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Dinner is a long-standing tradition that brings together NAACP members and community supporters to raise funds to support the operations of our local Branch. At the level where we have been working diligently to eliminate discrimination and inequalities for over a decade, since 1915, in 52 neighborhoods and our surrounding communities.
Our initiatives are needed as much now as they ever were. Every day we focus on these key areas: voter education and empowerment, criminal justice reform, public safety, racial health disparities, and economic inclusion, among other aspects. We couldn’t do this work, and accomplish our goals, without the generous support of our community, and monetary support of our mission by our allies and partners.
Dinner Honorees
2025 President’s Award Recipient
Jerome Jackson
Pharmacist, Walgreens
The President’s Award is the highest award given at the local branch level that is chosen by the branch president to recognize an individual that has been a pillar of the organization for their individual sacrifice and overall impact.
2025 Game Changer Award Recipient
Phillip Holloman
The Game Changer Award recognizes the invaluable contributions of an individual that is vital to the mission, goals and objectives of the local NAACP branch through their extraordinary actions, by demonstrating a high-level of service making a noticeable difference in the fight for civil rights and against injustice.
2025 Wright-Overstreet Memorial Award Recipient
Rickell Howard Smith, Esq.
CEO, YWCA of Greater Cincinnati
The Wright Overstreet Award was established in 1989 to honor the memories of two dedicated civil rights leaders, Rev. Samuel Ross Wright and Mr. Henry Overstreet, Jr. Both men are recognized through this award for their work in the NAACP and in the community. Rev Wright, a minister in the United Methodist Church, was a past president of the NAACP and appointed to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission by the governor. Mr. Overstreet was a resolute union man who dedicated his efforts to supporting the NAACP.
2025 Theodore M. Berry Award Recipient
Mayor Aharon Brown
Mayor, Forest Park
The Theodore M Berry Award was established in 1995 to recognize outstanding achievement in the political arena and in service to the community.
Ted Berry was Hamilton County’s first African- American Assistant Prosecutor, and Cincinnati’s first African American Mayor. He was Assistant Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity in Washington D.C. He served as President of the Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP for 10 years.
2025 Empowering Education Award Recipient
Chara Fisher Jackson
Executive Director & CEO, Preschool Promise
The Empowering Education Award recognizes leaders in education, who greatly impact African American students in the Greater Cincinnati Area.
2025 Inspiring Innovator Award Recipient
Alandes Powell
Executive Director, Black Art Speaks
The Inspiring Innovator Award is given to organizations or persons who change the world we live in with their innovation and creativity.
2025 Eula Melson Distinguished Volunteer Award Recipient
Jean Beirise
Member, Cincinnati NAACP
The Eula Melson Distinguished Volunteer Award recognizes a very impactful volunteer of the Cincinnati Branch of the NAACP and a trusted member that has over time dedicated their time, energy, and resources to help push forward the mission of the local branch of the NAACP.
Community Outreach & Partnership Award Recipients
The Community Outreach Award recognizes the organization or persons that exemplify the values and mission of the NAACP in their outreach, efforts, and impact in the Greater Cincinnati area.
2025 Individual Community Outreach & Partnership Award Recipient
Matthew White
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Cincinnati
2025 Corporate Community Outreach & Partnership Award Recipient
The Cincinnati Reds
2025 Non-Profit Community Outreach & Partnership Award Recipient
Cincinnati Children’s
2025 Sponsorship Levels
For Sponsorship details, please contact David Whitehead, Freedom Fund Dinner Committee Chair at (513) 281-1900 or info@cincinnatinaacp.com
Freedom Funder
$20,000
Platinum Sponsor
$15,000
Gold Sponsor
$10,000
Silver Sponsor
$5,000
Freedom Friend
$2,500
Steadfast for Freedom
$1,500
Standing for Freedom
$500
Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Fifth Third Bank
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Metro/SORTA
United Way
Freedom Friends
Center for Closing the Health Gap
CMHA
First Financial Bank
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Standard Textile
UFCW Local 75
Walker Funeral Home
Steadfast for Freedom
AFL-CIO Labor Council
Black Art Speaks
City of Forest Park
Friends of Driehaus
Hamilton County Office of Reentry
Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
Iron Workers Local 44
Jewish Community Relations Council
Kappa Alpha Psi Cincinnati Alumni Chapter
Network for Hope
Phillip Holloman
Rep. Greg Landsman
Robert Richardson
The Cincinnati Reds
Standing for Freedom
Learning Grove
The Enquirer
Freedom Fund Dinner History
Our annual Freedom Fund Dinner serves as an opportunity to celebrate those who have made a difference in the community. It is also a place where the often-unseen work of individuals and organizations are recognized with visual and verbal recognition and awards. Everyday community member comes together to collectively support the work and commitment to civil rights and social justice.
The generous support of our sponsors and those who purchase tickets, allows us to pay our operational expenses for the year. This allows our all-volunteer organization to continue to assist and support those in our community who are addressing societal and systemic injustices through advocacy, engagement and education.
