By SUE GUINN LEGG
NET News Service
JOHNSON CITY — Tickets are on sale for the annual Johnson City/Washington County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet coming up April 22 at The Charles downtown.
Roger C. Woods III, team chaplain for University of Tennessee athletics, will be the guest speaker at the annual benefit dinner, which provides funding for local NAACP branch activities year round.
Branch Vice President Ralph Davis said the banquet will be held on a Sunday for the first time this year, and organizers hope Woods’ appearance will help draw a good crowd of branch members and others in the community who wish to attend.
During his more than 20 years in youth ministry, Woods’ goal has been to “encourage, enrich and empower” young people. At UT he works with coaches Pat Summitt, Cuonzo Martin and Derek Dooley, the UT Athletic Department and the university’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes to accomplish that goal among the student athletes.
Outside the university, Woods has served with the Knoxville area’s Pillar of the Community Awards Committee, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Intercollegiate Fine Arts Society, Winning Circle, Juvenile Advocates for DeKalb County, and other nonprofit organizations. He has also served with ministries led by Israel Houghton, Charles and Taylor, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Tyler Perry, Shun Pace Rhodes, Ann Nesby, Byron Cage, Donnie McClurkin and former All-Pro NFL receiver Danny Buggs.
On April 22, Woods will join the local NAACP branch for a dinner of honey roasted ham and turkey and cornbread dressing catered by Taste Budz, beginning at 6 p.m. at The Charles at 308 E. Main St. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by saxophonist Danny Williams, who represented the local NAACP branch in the national NAACP ACT-So program.
The program also will include the announcement of the winners of this year’s Johnson City/ Washington County NAACP Branch Awards. The awards are presented annually to a local community member or group in recognition of their work for civil rights or for community, and to a local business for their work with the NAACP.
The chapter’s annual Souvenir Journal featuring local, state and national NAACP news will be available for purchase at the dinner.
Davis emphasized the public is invited to banquet, saying, “It’s something we believe will be entertaining and informative, and we want everybody to come out.”
Tickets are $40 and may be purchased by calling Davis at 426-2851 or Chapter President Joyce Goines at 943-6059.
The Johnson City/Washington County NAACP Branch has been active since 1975 and includes about 150 members. The chapter meets on the third Monday of every month at Carver Park Recreation Center at 322 W. Watauga Ave. beginning at 6:30 p.m.
