The Lake County NAACP announced it is hosting its Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Oct. 19 at LaMalfa Center, 5783 Heisley Road in Mentor. Doors open at 5 p.m. New this year is a Reverse Raffle with a grand prize of $2,500. The money raised will be used for scholarships for Lake County high school students, according to a news release. The Freedom Fund Banquet “Our Past, Our Present and Our Future” is an annual celebration to recognize recipients of five community awards and to acknowledge the organization’s 2024 Lake County High School scholarship winners. Lieutenant Toby Burgett is the recipient of the Robert F. Fountain Award for Public Safety and Service. Christine Margolis is the recipient of the Dr. William J Rucker Medical Award. Fredrick L. Burton is receiving the Humanity and Arts Award for his youth advocacy. Veronica Dahlberg from HOLA is the recipient of the Reverend Vincent R. Miller Award for Community Impact. The Selma C. Hall Award for education, cultural or legal services goes to Pat Brown. The guest speaker will be Danita Harris. She is a motivator, minister, community advocate, WKYC morning  anchorwoman, and an award-winning journalist. The banquet features a band, cash bar, table raffle, 50-50 raffle and basket raffles in addition to the reverse raffle, the release stated. Tickets are $75 each or $140 for two and can be purchased at www.lakecountynaacpohio.org.