Washington, DC – Greater DC Cares, in partnership with Target, has mobilized more than 500 regional residents and inauguration visitors to volunteer in beautifying 6 DC Public Schools in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday January 19, 2009.

The service projects will be held at Emery Elementary, Hart Middle, Malcolm X Elementary, River Terrace Elementary, Simon Elementary and Truesdell Elementary schools. Volunteers will be engaged in a variety of beautification projects including: painting of classrooms and lockers, creating murals with inspirational quotes, setting up library and reading corners, organizing and shelving books, and other tasks as needed.

“We are excited about the growing enthusiasm the community is expressing about volunteering to serve. Dr. King dedicated his life to social justice and helping people advance. The MLK Holiday and this historic inaugural period is an opportunity for each of us to reignite Dr. King’s legacy and continue to make a difference by impacting key issues in our community,” said Dr. Madye Henson, President and CEO of Greater DC Cares.

The event will be kicked off at Hart Middle School in Anacostia with various speakers including DC council members, Ms. Teen DC, and inspirational singing by local performers. The day will end with a reflection piece at each school which will give volunteers the opportunity to more fully understand their impact as well as present opportunities for volunteers to get more involved in their communities.

Simon Elementary has been selected as a signature site. At that site many VIPs and dignitaries will join in as volunteers to support a collaborative effort where Greater DC Cares has partnered with Heart of America Foundation, ServiceNation and City Year to have a transformative impact on Simon Elementary, including a library makeover, building of a science lab, and painting of every classroom in the school.

About Greater DC Cares

Celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Greater DC Cares is the leading and largest coordinator of volunteerism in the region with over 12,000 volunteers. Greater DC Cares comprehensively mobilizes volunteers and strengthens its network of 500 nonprofit partners to better impact communities and the key issues in the Greater DC Region. To learn more, visit http://www.greaterdccares.org.

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