(Washington, DC) -- From building homes and delivering meals to refurbishing schools and reading to children, hundreds of thousands of Americans honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today by volunteering in their communities.

Service projects were held in all fifty states and ranged from massive efforts such as the approximately 50,000 volunteers who turned out in Philadelphia to smaller events in rural areas and small towns.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the national holiday in his honor, and the 11th year that it has been observed as a day of community service. Participation in the day of service has grown steadily since 1994 when Congress passed legislation encouraging Americans to celebrate the King Holiday as a day of service reflecting Dr. King’s life and teachings.

In Washington D.C., more than 400 volunteers arranged a variety of services for 170 homeless families from the District. The project, organized by AmeriCorps*NCCC, was called “Bus Stops for Services” in honor of King and the late Rosa Parks. Barbers and hairstylists volunteered their services; the schools corridors, typically filled with students, were crowded with people eagerly awaiting haircuts, facials, manicures and hand massages. In the school’s computer lab, employment experts offered dozens of people guidance in resume writing and interviewing skills. Dozens of children, meanwhile, participated in activities run by AmeriCorps*NCCC and students from Howard University. As they left, homeless families were provided with a bag of personal care items and gift cards courtesy of CVS, McDonalds, and Best Buy Inc.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, speaking at the opening ceremonies, said that King “galvanized change in the relentless pursuit of nonviolence.” The important part of celebrating his life, he added, “is not simply honoring him, but pledging within our hearts to build” on King’s legacy.

David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, spoke of Dr. King’s legacy as an obligation to future generations to carry on with his work. He read a letter from President Bush that said “Dr. King’s life reminds us that great causes often involve great sacrifices and that we must never relent in working to achieve the goal of equal justice for all Americans.”

The DC project was made possible by a donation from the Best Buy Children’s Foundation and was hosted by AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), The Coalition for the Homeless, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Washington DC Jewish Community Center, the Department of Human Services, Howard University, the National Coalition for the Homeless, The Points of Light Foundation and Serve DC.

With some 50,000 volunteers and 600 service projects, the Philadelphia region hosted the largest King Day of Service event. The signature project at Martin Luther King High School drew 2,500 volunteers, including Mayor John Street. Volunteers constructed a house that will be trucked to Lafayette, Louisiana and presented to a family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. The House in a Box project has been coordinated by Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School and AmeriCorps Program, and funded by Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors and The Trident Group.

More than 560 projects across the country were registered through the King Day of Service website www.mlkday.gov. Organizers will build on the momentum to make next year’s project even bigger.

"Dr. King once said, 'Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,' and we hope over time this idea will catch on so that everyone will serve on the King Holiday,” commented Corporation CEO David Eisner. “The King Holiday affords the ideal opportunity to remember the legacy of a great American by being one yourself."

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

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