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Washington, DC – Dozens of national service participants volunteered this morning at groundbreaking ceremonies for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, an event that featured President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. More than 2,000 national corporate and nonprofit leaders attended.
"Honoring Dr. King's legacy requires more than building a monument; it requires the ongoing commitment of every American," President Bush said.
For 12 years, the Corporation for National and Community Service has worked with nonprofit and faith-based organizations, public agencies, and education institutions across the country to continue the commitment to Dr. King's legacy by encouraging Americans to mark the King Holiday as a day of community service.
“It was so fitting that participants in our programs played key roles in today’s event,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Just as the King National Memorial will be a physical reminder of King’s legacy, service is a living memorial to an American hero. Service on the King Holiday not only is an appropriate recognition of Dr. King's life and legacy but it also helps local communities achieve their goals.”
The volunteers for the day included 40 City Year AmeriCorps members and 105 Howard University students who are participating in the university’s service-learning program.
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The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering, providing service opportunities for millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds. Corporation programs include Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov. Through its programs, the Corporation is spearheading an effort to increase the number of volunteers nationally by 10 million by 2010. National days of service are an integral part of increasing the number of volunteers. In addition to its involvement in Make A Difference Day, the Corporation is charged by Congress with encouraging service on Martin Luther King Day each January.
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