NAACP Honors Community Leaders at Freedom Fund Dinner
The NAACP Oneida County Branch marked its 65th annual Freedom Fund Dinner in Utica, recognizing seven honorees for positive community change.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The NAACP Oneida County Branch held its 65th annual Freedom Fund Dinner at the Five Points Public House and Events Center in Utica, a sold-out event. Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens delivered the keynote address under the theme "We the People."
Why it matters
The Freedom Fund Dinner is a fundraiser supporting programs and services for people in need in the Utica area. The event recognized individuals and organizations credited with helping create positive change in the community.
The dinner marked the 65th consecutive annual Freedom Fund Dinner and recognized seven honorees, including Rev. Sharon Baugh, Dr. Cynthia Jones, and Citizen Action of New York. The amount raised by the event has not been disclosed.
The players
NAACP Oneida County Branch
The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that organizes the annual Freedom Fund Dinner in Utica.
Sharon Owens
The mayor of Syracuse, New York, who served as keynote speaker at the dinner.
The details
The dinner was held at the Five Points Public House and Events Center in Utica, with Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens as keynote speaker. Honorees included Teresa Van Etten, Monalisa Fermin-Fennell, Martinez Chambers, and Indivisible Mohawk Valley.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: NAACP Oneida County Branch holds its 65th annual Freedom Fund Dinner in Utica.
November 3, 2026: Election day, with NAACP leaders encouraging residents to vote.
Philanthropy Landscape
The 65th annual Freedom Fund Dinner continues the NAACP Oneida County Branch's long-running practice of pairing fundraising with public recognition of local community contributors. The event extends that tradition into a sixth and seventh decade of community giving in Utica.
Residents of Utica who rely on NAACP-supported programs and services may benefit from the funds raised at the Freedom Fund Dinner. The honorees recognized at the event reflect local efforts residents can point to and support.
The takeaway
Local fundraising dinners like the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner show how sustained community recognition and giving can continue across generations. Residents interested in supporting similar work can look to local branches and the honorees they celebrate.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage to see how local fundraising events like this one support community programs in Utica.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKTV NewsChannel2.
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