CHRISTIANSBURG – The NAACP Montgomery County-Radford City-Floyd County Branch is holding its 49th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, this Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at The Inn at Virginia Tech.
This year’s theme, “Moving Forward,” reflects the branch’s steadfast commitment to justice, equity, and civic engagement.
The banquet will feature a keynote address by Reverend Cozy Bailey, President of the NAACP Virginia State Conference. Elected in November 2023, Bailey assumed leadership at a pivotal moment for civil rights advocacy across the Commonwealth. He now oversees more than 100 active NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters—mobilizing a statewide network dedicated to equity, justice, and inclusion.
Under Bailey’s leadership, the Virginia State Conference has taken bold legal and policy action to defend civil and human rights. He has played a central role in litigation surrounding the restoration of voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals—a cornerstone issue in the fight for full democratic participation. He has also led the organization’s response to efforts to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Virginia, advocating fiercely for inclusive policies in education, employment, and government.
A retired U.S. Marine and lifelong public servant, Bailey brings discipline, compassion, and strategic vision to his work. His keynote will speak to the theme “Moving Forward”—challenging us to confront injustice with courage and to build communities rooted in liberation, where all persons can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination.
In alignment with the NAACP’s mission – “to achieve equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminate discrimination, and accelerate the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color” – the banquet will honor individuals who embody this vision in their daily work and service.
The evening will include the presentation of the Nannie B. Hairston Community Service Award, recognizing a local leader whose contributions reflect the spirit of justice and community care. Additional recognitions will celebrate Samuel H. Clark Scholarship award recipients, our Sponsors members, and partners whose dedication continues to move our region forward.
“This banquet is a celebration of legacy and a recommitment to our shared vision,” said Deborah H. Travis, President, NAACP MRF Branch. “As we honor those who have shaped our path, we recommit to building an inclusive community, where everyone can exercise their civil and human rights without discrimination.”
The 49th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet is both a celebration of legacy and a recommitment to that vision.
Tickets and Sponsorships
For those who wish to support the NAACP MRF branch’s vital work in civil rights advocacy, racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people, individual dinner tickets are $75 are still available at mrfnaacp.com/49thFreedomFund.
NAACP MRF
