(Washington, D.C.) – This year, corporations will lend a helping hand in making Martin Luther King Day of Service more successful than ever before by sponsoring, organizing, and participating in volunteer projects across the nation.

“Dr. Martin Luther King made such a remarkable impact on our nation through his service, it is only fitting that we honor his legacy by continuing his life’s work with service of our own,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency charged by Congress with overseeing the annual service effort. “Corporations across the country are making it possible for more Americans to have opportunity to do this by providing much-needed project funding, organizing projects for employees, and allowing time off to take part in activities.”

The companies supporting employee volunteer activities on the Martin Luther King holiday include:

• Cargill has put together projects that will take place in 20 locations around the country, and will involve some of its international locations. Shelley Long, coordinator of community involvement for Cargill and organizer of the company’s MLK Day ON activities reports that “each year, Cargill employees around the world give thousands of hours of volunteer service to their communities, and Cargill’s commitment to MLK Day ON is a wonderful way for us to enrich the communities in which Cargill operates, engage our employees in meaningful volunteer work and make a positive difference in the lives of many, many people.”

• The Ballard, Spahr, Andrews, and Ingersoll, LLP law firm is granting, for the second year in a row, all of its approximately 1,000 employees the day off and has organized three different projects for each of 10 sites nationwide. “I encourage every member of the firm to make an effort to participate in this year’s Day of Service in honor of Dr. King, who so eloquently reminded us that ─ ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,’” said Chairman Arthur Makadon.

• About 135 Verizon Business volunteers will give 780 volunteer service hours several cities across the country. In Chicago, employees will be sprucing up a school, and employees from Englewood and Highlands, CO will volunteer at the Denver Mission.

• In Houston, nearly 250 Shell Oil Company and Motiva Enterprises LLC employees will spend their workday honoring the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. by sorting and packing food at the Houston Food Bank, helping in a neighborhood beautification program, and teaching youth about Dr. King.

• Best Buy associates will paint a homeless shelter for men and remove debris in Washington D.C. and other cities. “It’s an honor to serve our community on this significant day. Service seems a fitting way to celebrate the life of a man so instrumental in human rights reform, both here in America and around the world,” said Herschel Herndon, Vice President, Multi-Cultural Relations & Diversity for Best Buy Co., Inc.

In addition to supporting employee volunteer efforts, many companies provide financial support to volunteer projects. The UPS Foundation provided $36,000 to support service projects in Los Angeles and Atlanta. “Working to improve our communities is one of the most appropriate ways to honor the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Evern Cooper Epps, President of The UPS Foundation and a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. “Thousands of people across the country are choosing to spend some part of their day making their communities better places, which is a living testament to Dr. King’s love for his community. Our community is not just where we live, but who we touch, and UPS employees are committed to honoring Dr. King by participating in neighborhood service events throughout the year. ”

A number of corporations and organizations, including Clear Channel, Comcast, Bank of America, Wachovia, Target, Staples, Vanguard, and the American Red Cross, have joined UPS in donating to bring national and local projects to fruition.

The King Holiday is still a day at work for many Americans. But number of companies giving employees leave for the holiday is growing. In 2006, 31 percent of Americans were not required to work, which is up from 20-25 percent in the 1990s, and from below 20 percent in the 1980s, according to the Bureau of National Affairs.

The growing corporate involvement in the King Day of Service reflects a larger trend of private sector support for volunteering and civic engagement initiatives. Workplace volunteering helps companies attract and retain employees, strengthens teamwork and morale, and demonstrates to customers and shareholders that the company cares about the community.

To get involved in Martin Luther King Day of Service with your corporation or individually, please log onto http://www.mlkday.gov/, or to find volunteer opportunities year-round, visit www.volunteer.gov.

The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, the Corporation provides opportunities for more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. The Corporation honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. every year by spearheading the national Day of Service for all Americans. For more information, go to http://www.nationalservice.gov/.

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