Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 1-15-19

Features
NAACP Selects Annual Banquet Keynote Speaker
ANDREW GILLUM Keynote Speaker
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The Hillsborough County Branch of the National Associa- tion for the Advancement of Col- ored People, (NAACP), will hold its Annual Freedom Fund Ban- quet on Friday, February 1st.
The event will take place at the Hilton Tampa Downtown, 211 North Tampa Street, 33602, beginning at 6 p.m. The theme for the banquet this year is, “De- feat Hate: Vote.” The theme lends itself from the National NAACP’s 109th Annual Conven- tion held last summer.
The keynote speaker for the event this year is former Talla- hassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. Mayor Gillum made history last year when he became the first African American to win the Democratic Party in the Gen- eral Election. He was barely de-
MS. DONNA DOUGLAS
... Co-Chair NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner
feated in the race.
A native of Miami, Mayor
Gillum was raised in Gainesville. After graduating from Gainesville High School, he moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida A & M University as a Po- litical Science major.
He served as president of the Student Government Association and was the first student mem- ber of the FAMU Board of Trustees.
At the age of 23, Gillum was elected to the Tallahassee City Commission before graduating from college, becoming the youngest person elected to serve on the Commission. He served on the City Commission for 11 years.
He was elected as the City’s Mayor in 2014 and served in that capacity until November 19, 2018.
Mayor Gillum is married to Mrs. Jai Gillum and they are the parents of 3 children.
The Freedom Fund Dinner is the premier fundraiser of the year for the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP.
Since its inception, the NAACP has continued to remain in the forefront as the organiza- tion serves as an advocate for the rights of others. Currently, the organization is encouraging peo- ple to register to vote in prepara- tion for the upcoming March Election.
The duties of Chairmanship will be shared between Ms. Donna Douglas and Ms. An- drea White.
Ms. Yvette Lewis is Presi- dent, Daryl Richardson is the First Vice President, and Joe Robinson is the Second Vice President of the organization.
MS. ANDREA WHITE
... Co-Chair NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner
Online Voting Began January 7th:
Courage Through Cancer Founder To Be Honored
RUTH AND DARRYL ANTHONY WALKER
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Ms. Ruth Walker,
founder of Courage Through Cancer, has been selected by the committee of a local TV sta- tion as one of 4 people who will be voted on for the 2018 Bay News 9 ‘Everyday Hero’ View- ers Choice Award.
Last month, Walker was selected an “Everyday Hero” for the month. All of the 2018 He- roes will be honored with a luncheon on April 3, 2019 at TPepin Hospitality Centre.
The Selection Committee chose 4 people to be voted on by the viewers in the ‘Viewers’ Choice’ category. Voting online began on Monday, January 7th, and continues thr0ugh Friday, January 18th. The person receiv- ing the most votes online will be recognized at the luncheon as the “Viewers’ Choice Hero of the Year.”
Mrs. Walker, of Riverview, founded Courage Through Cancer after the death of her husband, Darryl An- thony, in June 2018. He was 55 years old. The couple was married 2 years.
A few days after the burial of her husband, Mrs. Walker learned that her brother had been diagnosed with cancer and given 6 weeks. He died 6 weeks later.
“There are over 200 kinds of cancer that people don’t know
much about. Helping people is my passion and that’s why I started the organization,” she said. “Darryl showed so much courage through it all. He often reminded us not to question God,” she said.
Courage Through Cancer is a 501c3 organization that sup- ports victims of all forms of cancer and their caregivers.
“Courage Through Cancer cannot stop your health situa- tion, but with the support of our sponsors we can assist with meeting some of their needs and offer support through it.
“Our goal is to help patients and their families financially, spiritually and aid in areas of comfort,” she explained. Ulti- mately, Mrs. Walker would like to build Darryl Anthony House, a place for the weak and weary.
The young organization also has developed fundraisers to assist as they move forward: banquets, cancer walk, and 5K Walk/Run.
Also, Mrs. Walker is com- piling several scriptures that her husband had collected. “I will be putting those into a book with plans to donate to all those who will come to Darryl An- thony’s House.
For additional information on Cancer Through Courage, go to www.couragethrough- cancer.org, or email courageth- roughcancer@outlook.com.
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