The banquet will serve as a fundraiser to complete a
commitment from the ministers to raise $100,000 for FAMU. To date, the group
has raised $64,356 thanks to last year’s banquet and additional efforts.
Additionally, the coalition plans to support the university’s efforts to generate an additional $600,000 for Athletics by raising 10 percent of that amount.
The coalition also announced that the following Rattlers
will be honored at the March 2017 event: Former Faculty Senate presidents – Narayan
Persaud and Mary Diallo; former Student Government Association presidents –
Monique Gillum, Tonnette Graham, and James Mathews; former FAMU National Alumni
Association presidents – Tommy Mitchell, Sr. and Carolyn Collins; former members of the Board
of Trustees – Rufus Montgomery and Spurgeon McWilliams; FAMU Boosters – Eddie
Jackson, Elaine Bryant, and Stephanie L. Clarke; and former Miss FAMUs –
Trenice Seniors and Denise Barrett.
The press conference was held at Bethel Missionary Baptist
Church and attended by Interim President Larry Robinson, Athletics Director
Milton Overton, and Vice President of Advancement George Cotton.