Mon Valley NAACP to hold banquet

The Mon Valley NAACP will host its 55th Human Rights Banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Spyridon Hellenic Center in Monessen.
During the past year, the Mon Valley NAACP has focused on “One Nation Working Together for Justice and Equality,” and in addressing this theme, has held community forums, including a candidates’ night, educational programs and health and nutrition outreach events, as well as interacted with local law enforcement on the drug epidemic.
It collaborated with Westmoreland County for the MLK Food Drive and with Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County and the Borough of Donora in establishing the Second Street Community Garden.
Keynote speaker will be Geraldine Jones, who was named president of California University of Pennsylvania in 2016 after having served for four years as acting and then interim president, and Tim Stephens will serve as master of ceremonies. Stephens is past president of the Pittsburgh Branch of the NAACP, serving in that capacity for over a decade. He launched the Black Empowerment Project, a nonpartisan community collaborative in 1986.
The NAACP also will present awards as follows:
Athletic and Sports Award – Michael Bright of Newark, N.J.
Humanatarian Award – The Rev. Lee A. Haney Sr. of St. Paul Baptist Church, Donora.
Minority Business Award – Vonda Frezzel, owner of Sanctified Scissors Hair Salon in Monessen.
Community Service Award – Louis Panza, CEO of Monongahela Valley Hospital.
NAACP Merit Award – George A. Simmons of Monongahela, who joined the NAACP in 1951 and has served as the MonValley NAACP president since 2013.
Outstanding Academic Achievement Award – Kaysia Rowe-Lawrence of Ringgold School District.
Outstanding Athlete Award – Love Porter of California School District.
Outstanding Community Service Award – Rhys Taylor of Ringgold School District.
Outstanding Performing Arts Award – Cara Wheeler of Monessen School District.
Tickets are $50 and can be obtained by calling the branch office at 724-684-8545 or emailing monvalleynaacp@verizon.net.