The Long Beach Branch NAACP will host its 38th Annual Founders Dinner Gala and Awards Presentation on Thursday, Nov. 2 at The Hilton Long Beach. The theme will be “United for Equality and Justice,” and the event will recognize members of the community who provide services and support to the branch.
The president’s reception and silent auction will be from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, and the program and dinner will begin at 7pm.
The purpose of the event is to not only recognize the honorees, but to generate funds for the programs geared mainly for youth that the branch offers, such as Scholar Dollars, internships and the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Program. The 2017 Long Beach Branch NAACP’s 38th Founder’s Celebration Dinner is dedicated to the late Robert Ellis, a Long Beach educator, and former Mayor Ernie Kell.
The 2017 Long Beach Branch NAACP Founders Gala Honorees are: Dr. Jill Baker, LBUSD Deputy Superintendent of Schools, receiving Secondary Education Award; Dr. Forouzan Golshani, Dean, College of Engineering CSULB receiving Higher Education Award; Dr. Carmen Taylor, vice president of Student Affairs, CSULB receiving Zelma Lipscomb Award; Uduak Joe-Ntuk, petroleum administrator, City of Los Angeles, receiving Science & Technology—Education Leadership & Mentoring Award; Kelly Lucera, executive director, Long Beach Symphony, receiving Art & Culture Award; Major General Peter Gravett, Military and LAPD, retired, receiving Ernest McBride Sr. Award; Rabbi Steven Moskowitz of Temple Israel, receiving Peace & Unity Award; Kenneth McDonald, President and chief executive officer, Long Beach Transit, receiving Corporate Community Service Award; and Braden Phillips, Navy captain and LBPD bureau chief, retired, receiving Community Service Award; Keesal, Young, & Logan and Forest Lawn, receiving Corporate Partners Award.
President’s Award recipients include: William Shibley, attorney; Thad Jackson, retired educator; Antonio Gaskin; and Thomas Le. The branch’s Executive Committee will receive the 2017 Volunteers Award. Sam Nguyen, Ph.D candidate in molecular engineering—cancer research, will receive the Rising Star in Science for Cancer Research. The 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Mike Murray, External & Government Affairs Manager, Verizon— retired.
Event sponsorship and scholarship sponsors are still needed, and individual/corporate tickets and donations are still being accepted. More information is avaialbe. at lbcanaacp.org, mnaacp@gmail.com or (562)856-7586.
Source: NAACP LB branch
