STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Staten Island Branch of the NAACP will mark a major milestone this fall with its 100th anniversary Freedom Fund Luncheon — a centennial celebration of leadership, advocacy and the ongoing fight for racial and social justice.
The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Nicotra’s Ballroom at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield.
The luncheon will honor individuals and institutions that have helped shape Staten Island’s civil rights legacy while setting the stage for the next century of progress.
“This is more than a celebration of our history — it’s a recommitment to the work ahead,” said Nicole Meyers, president of the Staten Island NAACP. “We’re proud to reflect on 100 years of advocacy while continuing to build a more equitable future for the next generation.”
Centennial highlights
Guests will enjoy a catered luncheon with open bar, live performances from the Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth Orchestra and The Mighty Kamm Band, and presentations honoring longtime community leaders and institutions.
Among the 2025 honorees are Rossville AME Zion Church, Sandy Ground Historical Society, and Frederick Douglass Memorial Park — each recognized for their enduring contributions to Staten Island’s Black heritage and community life. Also being honored is NaiLah Simmons, celebrated for her impactful work in youth leadership and community advocacy.
Tickets are $150 for adults and $70 for youth under age 13. Each ticket includes annual NAACP membership, event admission, and access to all food and beverage offerings.
The event is expected to draw civic, faith and business leaders from across the borough. Organizers say it is both a tribute to the branch’s historic role in advancing civil rights and a fundraiser to support its continued work in education, economic equity and political engagement.
ADVANCE FILE PHOTO/NAACP’s annual Freedom Fund luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bloomfield. (Staten Island Advance/Kristin Dalton)NAACPTicket information
Tickets can be purchased online at SINAACP100.eventbrite.com or via Zelle using the email president@StatenIslandNAACP.org.
Founded in 1925, the Staten Island NAACP has spent the past century working to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of all people — and remains committed to eliminating race-based discrimination in all forms.
About the NAACP
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), founded in 1909, is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization.
Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights for all people and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Guided by its Constitution, the NAACP works to remove racial barriers through democratic processes, secure civil rights through legislation, and educate the public on the harmful effects of discrimination.
The organization empowers individuals to know and exercise their constitutional rights and takes lawful action to advance equity and justice nationwide.
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