NAACP HONORS COMMUNITY LEADERS AT FREEDOM AWARDS BANQUET
The Sarasota County Branch NAACP hosted the 37th Annual Freedom Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 17 at the Sarasota Hyatt, recognizing individuals and organizations in the Sarasota community. The 2022 honorees were Leah DuBose, Kenya Woodard, Neil D. McCurry, Jr., Seacoast Bank, Jamie Kahns, Bank of America; Luz Corcuera, UnidowNow, Dr. Manuel Gordillo, Katrina K. Ward and Helen James.
DuBose received the Rising Star award, given to a high school student for his or her academic excellence and community service. Woodard received the Go Forth and Prosper Award, given to a college student/young adult who excelled academically during his/her college career and actively pursuing their career goals. The President’s Award was presented to Neil D. McCurry, Jr., president of Seacoast Bank, who has consistently shown commitment to improving the quality of life for others in the community.
Jamie Kahns, Senior Vice President, Market Executive for Sarasota/Manatee Bank of America Local Markets Organization, received the Business and Industry Award, which recognizes an individual or business organization that has worked to provide economic, training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged individuals or groups. Corcuera, Executive Director of UnidosNow, was recipient of the Community Service award for the organization’s work with improving the quality of life for all humanity.
Dr. Gordillo joined Infectious Diseases Associates and the staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 1992 and diagnosed the first Covid case in Florida in February 2020, working with such organizations and groups as Shots in Arms. Ward has worked for the School District of Sarasota County as a classroom teacher, special education teacher and at the District level as a Student Services Program Specialist. James received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her history of community service and civic activism focused on the preservation and protection of civil and human rights.
Trevor D. Harvey is NAACP President and Cynthia S. Howard served as banquet chairperson.
Picture:
The 2022 recipients of the Sarasota County Branch NAACP Freedom Awards. Left to right: Trevor D. Harvey, NAACP president; Dr. Manuel Gordillo, Jamie Kahns, Luz Corcuera, Helen James, Leah DuBose, Kenya Woodard, Katrina Ward and Neil McCurry, Jr.
