Washington, DC - The Corporation for National and Community Service today announced six grants totaling $500,000 to support projects across the country on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

This year marks the 20th year that Americans have observed the King Federal Holiday, and the 11th year they have observed it as a day of service. In 1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging Americans to celebrate the King Holiday as a day of service reflecting Dr. King's life and teachings, and participation has grown steadily over the past decade.

"Dr. King once said, ‘Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.’ On the King Holiday and every day, we hope all Americans will honor the legacy of this great leader by following his example to serve together to make a better nation," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

In a change from previous years, five of this year’s grants were issued for a three-year term. "Our goal is to make the King Day of Service an event that engages more and more people across the country each year," said Eisner. "To help make that a reality, we’re awarding grants to organizations with a proven track record of serving on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, engaging volunteers, and developing innovative responses to community needs." Previously, the Corporation issued annual grants to support such projects.

For more information about the King Day of Service, project organizing tips, and other useful resources, visit http://www.mlkday.gov/. The 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service grantees and their projects are:

• Hands on Network received a $100,000 grant for a proposal to connect local nonprofit and public agencies across the country, designed to generate tens of thousands of volunteers. The organization will subgrant to its affiliates and other groups.
  
• The National Alliance of Faith and Justice received a $90,000 grant that will support "Justice Sunday," held each year on the Sunday preceding the King Holiday. The organization assists prisoners with re-entry into communities and reaches out to children of prisoners. NAJF will make subgrants to organizations and will recruit thousands of volunteers to serve in Justice Sunday mentoring initiatives.
  
• The Points of Light Foundation was awarded a $90,000 grant that will support numerous subgrants to organizations that focus on disadvantaged youth. With its network of 370 volunteer centers across the county, the foundation has engaged as many as 90,000 volunteers in the MLK Day of Service in the past. The subgranting process in the first year of the grant will focus on serving hurricane victims.
  
• Service for Peace, Inc. plans to use its $80,000 grant to make subgrants in several states. The organization plans to have up to 70 project sites a year, with between 100 and 2,000 volunteers at each site on community-focused projects.
  
• The National Association of Service and Conservation Corps plans to use its $80,000 grant to focus on engaging disadvantaged youth from impoverished communities in service projects sponsored by their corps, by making subgrants to member corps and other service organizations.
  
• The Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism received a $60,000 grant that it will use to support the launch of the Arizona Civil Rights Project, providing juvenile probationers with the new challenge of partnering with community leaders.

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 USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

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