Aiken County NAACP branch promotes fundraiser, celebrates anniversary virtually

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Sep. 18—The Aiken County Branch of the NAACP promoted its Freedom Fundraiser campaign for 2021 and celebrated the 103rd anniversary of its founding Friday night virtually with the debut of a video.

Continuing concern about COVID-19 was the reason the virtual platform was used.

Prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Aiken County Branch typically held a Freedom Fund Banquet in April and there was another gathering in September to observe the anniversary.

This is the 40th year that the Aiken County Branch has held a Freedom Fund Banquet or conducted a Freedom Fundraiser campaign.

In 2021, the Aiken County Branch has been focusing its efforts on education equity, economic development and improvements in public safety.

In a letter earlier this year that announced the plans for the 2021 Freedom Fundraiser campaign and anniversary celebration, Aiken County Branch President Eugene White and Freedom Fund Committee Co-Chairs Dorothy Scott and Anthony Daniels wrote the following:

"Our Branch has received recognition as the best NAACP Branch in the state of South Carolina and as the top mid-sized Branch in the nation. We were recognized because we do our due diligence in the community to address issues regarding racial equality and provide support to organizations with similar missions.

"This year we made dozens of calls and advocated for member of our Branch and the community at-large in a variety of ways.

"In equal measure, our Youth Council was also named the best Youth Council in South Carolina. This talented group of young people has been active in the community and excelling academically. They volunteer their time to several organizations and participate in school-based extracurricular activities. We were able to award all five Youth Council seniors a scholarship to assist them in their first semester of college."

The Aiken County Branch's theme for 2021 is "We Are Done Dying."

The video for the 2021 Freedom Fundraiser campaign and the anniversary celebration can be viewed at youtube.com (search for Aiken County NAACP) and on Facebook (search for the Aiken County Branch NAACP page).

Donations to the Freedom Fundraiser campaign can be made at paypal.me/naacpaikencounty.