Americans Urged to Honor King by Serving on Holiday

“American can best honor Dr. King by answering his call and serving -- on the holiday and over the rest of the year as well,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency charged by Congress with making the King Holiday a national day of service. “Dr. King understood that making America what it ought to be means Americans doing what they ought to do. On January 21st and throughout the year, we need more people working side by side, with idealism and passion, to realize Dr. King’s dream of a better America.”

In 1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging Americans to observe the King Holiday as a day of service that brings people together from different backgrounds to meet needs in their community. Participation has grown every year and 2008 promises to be a historic year.

National nonprofit partners in the King Day of Service include the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Red Cross, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, America's Promise, Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Breakthrough Collaborative, City Year, The Corps Network, Do Something, First Book, Habitat for Humanity International, HOPE worldwide, The King Memorial Foundation, MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership, National Marrow Donor Program, National Alliance of Faith and Justice, Points of Light & Hands On Network, Service for Peace, Student Conservation Association, United Way of America, Volunteer Match, YouthBuild USA, Youth Service America. Corporate partners include Cargill, Clear Channel, Comcast, Shell Oil Company, and UPS.

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster 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. For more information, go to http://www.nationalservice.gov.