News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The 3rd annual Putnam County NAACP Freedom Fund Awards Banquet will be a virtual event this year.
President Tom Savage said this event is their largest fundraiser of the year. He said this is the first year the funds will go toward civic engagement.
“So this year is a special year because we want to make sure that all of our members and non members, especially our people of color who haven’t been doing this for a long time, participate in the upcoming election,” Savage said.
Savage said the virtual event will provide an opportunity to honor five individuals from various Upper Cumberland counties for their civil rights achievements. Last year the NAACP raised about $8,000. He expects to raise about the same amount this year.
Health is the number one reason for switching the event to a virtual format this year, Savage said. While 18 percent of the United State’s population is people of color, he said over half has either been affected or died from the virus.
“That’s why we’re really making sure that it’s not even considered to have a live meeting because of COVID-19,” Savage said. “The people that are going to show up are more than likely people of color.”
The Virtual Freedom Fund will take place October 3 at 6 p.m.
A ceremony honoring civil rights veterans like Joseph Lowry, C.T. Vivian, John Lewis, and Hector Black is on the event agenda. In addition, an award ceremony will be presented to recognize local leaders for their achievements.
The Achievement Award will go to White County native Mark Gwen, the only known first black TBI agent.
The Leadership Award is for Robert Gardenhire who attended a Jim Crowe school in Algood and later worked for Tennessee Tech’s College of Business. Gardenhire is the senior preacher at Schrader Lane Church of Christ, the largest African-American Church of Christ in Tennessee.
Marc Burnette will be given the Diversity Award. Burnette was a successful basketball player for Tennessee Tech, and later became involved in Minority Affairs. The new fitness center on Willow Avenue was named after him.
The Young Men United group will be awarded the John Lewis Award for active civic engagement. The group partnered with NAACP to spread voting awareness.
Dr. Barbara Reynolds will be recognized for her education and activism efforts. Reynolds was the previous dean of Tennessee Tech’s Nursing Program.
