The Sampson County branch of the NAACP welcomed a large crowd to its annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday night, celebrating a milestone in the organization’s history and showcasing the community’s strong support. This year marked the 70th anniversary of the branch, founded on Sept. 9, 1955, and the 24th edition of the Freedom Fund Banquet.
President Larry Sutton reflected on the turnout with genuine enthusiasm. “I was very pleased with the attendance and the level of community engagement. And that has been the norm for the last several years, except for Covid. When we had Covid, we weren’t having it in person. It was done on a StarVision, and a YouTube campaign. But, the attendance was great and I was very pleased with how they came out and supported our branch of the NAACP,” he said.
The event drew not only local attendees but also guests from surrounding communities. Sutton believes this outreach speaks volumes about the branch’s ability to connect beyond county lines. “I think it speaks quite well of the branch being able to draw from surrounding communities and areas as well. Normally, each branch of the NAACP tries to support each other. I know we got some support from Pender County, and I am pretty sure from different counties as well,” he said.
A key announcement at the banquet reflected a broader shift in national branding. Sutton shared, “The top leadership, national leadership, informed that the proper way of identifying the organization is N.A.A.C.P, and not pronouncing it as N double A CP. I think there has been a new look at branding on the national level. And we want to use those iconic letters, let that stand out as part of the new branding for the NAACP.” He added that while people may take some time to adjust, most members are adopting the new usage.
The banquet demonstrated the branch’s commitment to inclusion across demographics. Sutton noted, “It makes you feel that we are making progress as far as having support from various demographics across the community. It makes me feel pleased and happy that we have that outreach beyond the African-American community. I believe it goes back to our membership. Members are involved in other organizations, and that connects members with other organizations. They choose to support us when we have a big fundraising event every year as well.”
Community partnerships and support were evident throughout the night, including contributions from local law enforcement. “The sheriff has always supported our banquet. Normally, he has been there in person over the years as well. We have normally gotten support from the sheriff’s department every year. They support us with the banquet by buying an ad, so that is really usual for the sheriff’s department, and others normally come through as well. So it is good to have that outreach improving and getting deeper into the various demographics across the community,” Sutton said.
Youth involvement was another highlight of the evening. The branch has worked to engage younger generations, and the presence of young attendees underscored this effort. “That has been a part of our outreach for years, trying to include the youth in our banquet and in the activities of the NAACP on the local level. We successfully chartered our first youth council last October. There has been a close collaboration between the branch and the youth branch. Adult members work with and attend youth council meetings monthly. That is good because we are trying to train young people to become the leaders of tomorrow. That is part of why we chose this year to honor our past and empower the future. The future relates to young folks being involved and taking ownership of the NAACP as well,” Sutton said.
The evening’s master of ceremonies, Danielle Koonce, and the keynote speaker, who will turn 25 this month, represented the branch’s investment in young leadership. Sutton described the emcee as a young person with an interest in promoting youth involvement and environmental activism. Elder Quaveon Richardson, a young pastor from Clinton, delivered the opening prayer, further reflecting the intergenerational spirit of the event.
Looking ahead, Sutton expressed optimism about the branch’s continuity and focus on nurturing future leaders. “That is, provided we can continue to recruit and get engagement from the youth members of our community. That is going to be a focus of the NAACP throughout the rest of this year. We hope to really highlight the campaign to recruit the next generation of leaders for the NAACP,” he said.
As the banquet drew to a close, Sutton emphasized the broader mission and message of the night. “A major takeaway from last Saturday’s banquet should be that the NAACP sees the need for us to continue working toward bridging the gaps across the whole spectrum. There is growing interest in helping to create a society where everyone can thrive. That should be the takeaway from the banquet, and I hope that was the message we tried to impart,” he said.