The Cleveland NAACP’s 52nd Freedom Fund Dinner will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Cleveland, on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The 2011 theme is NAACP: “Affirming America’s Promise.”

The Cleveland NAACP announceed Supreme Court of Ohio Justice Yvette McGee Brown will serve as the keynote speaker at this year’s Freedom Fund Dinner.

The Cleveland NAACP’s 52nd Freedom Fund Dinner will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Cleveland, on Saturday, June 18, 2011. The event will begin at 6 p.m. The 2011 theme is NAACP: “Affirming America’s Promise.”

“We are honored to have Justice Brown as our speaker. She is a distinguished public official but that is only part of the story. She has always been a tireless advocate for the welfare of children and families in Ohio. Her sincerity and integrity have earned her the respect and admiration of all of us. ” said George Forbes, Esq., President of the Cleveland NAACP.

A series of firsts defines the judicial career of Justice Yvette McGee Brown. She is the first African-American woman to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio and was the first African-American elected to the Franklin County Domestic Relations/Juvenile Court.

A common theme in Justice McGee Brown’s professional and community work is her advocacy for children and families. After leaving the Franklin County bench, she created the Center for Child and family Advocacy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, and served as Founding President. In the news release announcing her Supreme Court appointment, Justice McGee Brown said her service to Ohio’s children and families would continue on the Court: “I have been fortunate to have a life and career that has allowed me to pour my heart into helping others and expanding opportunities for vulnerable Ohioans. I look forward to bringing my diverse experiences and thoughtful perspectives to my work on the Ohio Supreme Court.”

Justice McGee Brown graduated from Ohio University in 1982 with a degree in journalism/public relations. She continued her education at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, earning her Juris Doctorate in 1985.

Individuals and organizations can still participate in this special evening. Tables can be arranged and individuals can attend by contacting the Cleveland NAACP by telephone at 216-231-6260 or by email at freedomfunddinner@clevelanddnaacp.org.