TMJ4 STUDIO - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Milwaukee Branch will host its annual fundraising event. It's called The Freedom Fund Dinner. The dinner takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Milwaukee. Jerry Ann Hamilton, the president of the NAACP Milwaukee Branch spoke about the event on Live at 12:30. Here is the rest of the Press Release sent to TODAY'S TMJ4: This year’s event features the same theme as NAACP’s Annual Convention: Power, Justice, Freedom, VOTE! The evening will feature speaker, consultant and Colgate University Vice President and Dean of Diversity, Dr. Keenan Grenell. Dr. Grenell will address an anticipated crowd of more than 800 business and community leaders on the important role the NAACP plays in the community. Mrs. Jerry Ann Hamilton, president of the NAACP Milwaukee Branch, will emcee the event. “The Freedom Fund Dinner is the signature event for the NAACP Milwaukee Branch,” said Hamilton, who has served as president since 1998 and has been a member of the local branch since the 1960s. “This event helps us to raise the dollars needed to continue to help people throughout the community in the struggle for equality, civil rights and ongoing education.” - more - Hamilton noted that Dr. Grenell is an ideal speaker for the event. “Dr. Grenell brings a wealth of knowledge on diversity and has a great understanding on the role the NAACP plays in the community. We’re honored to have him as our keynote speaker.” In addition to being Vice President and Dean of Diversity at Colgate University, Dr. Grenell is president of Keenan D. Grenell's African-American Entrepreneurship Summit, Inc., an organization dedicated to empowering African-Americans through entrepreneurship. He also serves as President of the Grenell Development Group, an entrepreneurship literacy, leadership and community/economic development-consulting firm. He previously served as Associate Provost of Diversity at Marquette University. The annual Freedom Fund Dinner is the primary fundraising vehicle for the Milwaukee branch, which has served the Greater Milwaukee community since 1919. Dollars raised through the event are used to support the branch’s ongoing mission to ensure the political, education, social and economic civil rights of all minority persons living in the city of Milwaukee. This year’s event will also begin momentum for 2009, when the national NAACP will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Each year, the branch provides ten or more scholarships to worthy local students, and is a community advocate to individuals, families and businesses on issues ranging from housing and workplace discrimination to economic development. Individual tickets and corporate tickets are available. For more information on the event or the Milwaukee Branch NAACP, call 414-562-1000.