NAACP celebrates centennial as part of annual banquet
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had its annual Freedom Fund Banquet dinner Oct. 17 at Caesars Palace. It was also a celebration of the NAACP's centennial anniversary.
Frank Hawkins Jr., president of the Las Vegas branch of the NAACP, welcomed guests including U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron, Jesse Scott, Marion Bennett, Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr., former North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, Sarann Preddy, Roxann and Michael McCoy, Ida Gaines, Wendy Welch, Benita Rhodes, Cheryl Hawkins and Daisy Miller.
The event's keynote speaker was native Las Vegan Dr. Naida Parson, senior pastor at New Antioch Christian Fellowship. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno and is a staff psychologist for Summit View Youth Correctional Center.
More guests attending were Ethel Wilson, Betty Barfield, Inez Dean, Pearl Morgan, Katherine Joseph, Stacye Walker, Anthony Snowden, Ann Johnson, Michelle Walker, Victor Green, Jackie Ingram, Jo Cato and event chair Dora LaGrande.
AMERICAN HERITAGE DINNER: The Anti-Defamation League, working to combat hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism, presented their Heritage Dinner at Caesars Palace on Oct. 17.
A VIP cocktail party preceded a grand reception for all guests, including Justice Michael Cherry and Sheryl Kogan, Justice Ron Parraguirre and wife, Leslie; District Judge Elissa Cadish, Toni and Victor Chaltiel, Flora and Stuart Mason, Sue and Paul Lowden, Lynn and Bill Weidner, Linda and Burton Cohen, Sonja and Michael Saltman, Bill Bible, Abigail Richlin, Ercy Rosen, Jean and Bill Curran, Ed Bernstein and Brad Friedmutter.
The dinner, chaired by Susan Fine, Cari Marshall and Sonja Saltman, recognized leaders of government, community affairs and business endeavors who distinguish themselves in their dedication to preserving liberty.
The Torch of Liberty honorees were U.S. Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign. Ensign was unable to attend.
The American Award honorees were Jayn and Arthur Marshall. The event's speaker was U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
Among ADL officers attending were Abe Foxman, Glen Lewy, Ellis Landau, Phyllis Friedman and Leonard Gross. Seen among the guests were U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, Max Spilka, Marla and Tom Letizia, Paul Murad, Jason Firth, Florence Bolatin, Michael Yackira, Melissa and Bryan Taylor, Bernice Friedman, Harry Kogan, Abe Hodes and Priscilla Schwartz Hodes, Joshua Reisman, Elizabeth Sorokac, Leonard Stone and Larry Woolf.
