18th Annual Ford Freedom Award

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By Andscape @andscape

May 25, 2016

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Athletes reunited for a great cause. Pictured seated (L-R): Dave Bing, Ford Freedom Scholar; and Lem Barney, NFL Hall of Famer. Pictured standing (L-R): Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons player; Lomas Brown, former Detroit Lions player; Kerlin Blaise, former Detroit Lions and Ford Courage Award honoree; and Jerome Bettis, NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst.

Athletes reunited for a great cause. Pictured seated (L-R): Dave Bing, Ford Freedom Scholar; and Lem Barney, NFL Hall of Famer. Pictured standing (L-R): Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons player; Lomas Brown, former Detroit Lions player; Kerlin Blaise, former Detroit Lions and Ford Courage Award honoree; and Jerome Bettis, NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst.
DETROIT, MI., May 17, 2016-- Grammy award-winning artist, activist Usher Raymond IV, Detroit Pistons Center Andre Drummond, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Ford Motor Company group vice president of government and community relations, Ziad Ojakli, group vice president, government and community relations, Ford Motor Company were among more than 1,500 people at the 2016 Ford Freedom Award in Detroit on May 17. A beholden Dave Bing, who is an NBA Hall of Famer and founder of The Bing Institute, was honored with the Ford Freedom Scholar award.

DETROIT, MI., May 17, 2016-- Grammy award-winning artist, activist Usher Raymond IV, Detroit Pistons Center Andre Drummond, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Ford Motor Company group vice president of government and community relations, Ziad Ojakli, group vice president, government and community relations, Ford Motor Company were among more than 1,500 people at the 2016 Ford Freedom Award in Detroit on May 17. A beholden Dave Bing, who is an NBA Hall of Famer and founder of The Bing Institute, was honored with the Ford Freedom Scholar award.
NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Jerome Bettis and Grammy award-winning music artist and activist Usher Raymond IV.

NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Jerome Bettis and Grammy award-winning music artist and activist Usher Raymond IV.
Shawn Wilson, manager, Multicultural Community Engagement, Ford Motor Company Fund and Usher Raymond IV, Grammy award-winning music artist and activist join for a photo opportunity.

Shawn Wilson, manager, Multicultural Community Engagement, Ford Motor Company Fund and Usher Raymond IV, Grammy award-winning music artist and activist join for a photo opportunity.
Hip Hop Icon Doug E. Fresh closed the show and rocked the crowd with a variety of his greatest hits for everyone to enjoy.

Hip Hop Icon Doug E. Fresh closed the show and rocked the crowd with a variety of his greatest hits for everyone to enjoy.
Grammy-nominated songstress Angie Stone set the tone by opening the program with her hit song “Brotha” at the 18th Annual Ford Freedom Award.

Grammy-nominated songstress Angie Stone set the tone by opening the program with her hit song “Brotha” at the 18th Annual Ford Freedom Award.
Yvette Bing seated alongside husband and Ford Freedom Scholar Dave Bing.

Yvette Bing seated alongside husband and Ford Freedom Scholar Dave Bing.
Jerome Bettis, Ford Freedom Award presenter takes advantage of a photo opportunity with his loving mother, Gladys Bettis.

Jerome Bettis, Ford Freedom Award presenter takes advantage of a photo opportunity with his loving mother, Gladys Bettis.
DETROIT, MI., May 17, 2016— Three of the first-ever Ford Freedom Courage honorees stand holding their awards along with Ford Freedom Award Presenters. Pictured (L-R): Calvin Butler, CEO, Baltimore Gas and Electric and Ford Freedom Award presenter; Ford Courage Awardee, Jonathan Butler (no relation), University of Missouri graduate student, activist; Ford Courage Awardee Kerlin Blaise, former Detroit Lions player turned successful businessman and president and owner of Blaze Contracting; Ford Courage Awardee Shaka Senghor (pictured with son), criminal justice reform advocate, TED Talks presenter and New York Times best-selling author; and Ford Freedom award presenter Jerome Bettis, Detroit native, NFL Hall of Famer and football analyst.

DETROIT, MI., May 17, 2016— Three of the first-ever Ford Freedom Courage honorees stand holding their awards along with Ford Freedom Award Presenters. Pictured (L-R): Calvin Butler, CEO, Baltimore Gas and Electric and Ford Freedom Award presenter; Ford Courage Awardee, Jonathan Butler (no relation), University of Missouri graduate student, activist; Ford Courage Awardee Kerlin Blaise, former Detroit Lions player turned successful businessman and president and owner of Blaze Contracting; Ford Courage Awardee Shaka Senghor (pictured with son), criminal justice reform advocate, TED Talks presenter and New York Times best-selling author; and Ford Freedom award presenter Jerome Bettis, Detroit native, NFL Hall of Famer and football analyst.