UNCF Celebrates the Life and Achievements of Civil Rights Icon and HBCU Alum Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- UNCF (United Negro College Fund) encourages the community to celebrate the life and achievements of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a day of service, benefiting deserving students and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

"On this holiday, we cannot help but recall the extraordinary and historic moments of the civil rights movement and the hard-fought battle for equality," said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO. "UNCF and our HBCUs continue the fight, as we work to provide a quality education for the next generation of leaders, who ultimately will produce a better future for us all."

Various celebrations are planned in Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Anderson, S.C. to recognize the contributions of Dr. King, a graduate of UNCF-member institution Morehouse College, and to invest in the community through acts of service. Several community influencers such as awarding-winning journalist Don Lemon and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer will be in attendance.

Minneapolis
Theme: Doing for Others: A Call to Social Action
Don Lemon, an Emmy award-winning news anchor and journalist, and current host of CNN Tonight will serve as keynote speaker at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday breakfast on Monday, January 21, 2019 at The Armory at 7 a.m. CST. Organized in partnership by General Mills and UNCF, the 29th annual holiday breakfast began when UNCF and General Mills joined together to host a community celebration to honor the legacy of Dr. King. Over 2,000 corporate, civic and community leaders including Minnesota elected officials, Governor Tim Walz; Senator Amy Klobuchar; Senator Tina Smith; Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan; Senator Bobby Joe Champion; Rep. Ilhan Omar; Senator Jeff Hayden; Melvin Carter III, mayor of St. Paul; and Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis. The event will be broadcast live on Twin Cities Public Television at 8 a.m. CST. http://www.UNCF.org/MinnMLKBreakfast

New York
Theme: As We Rise: We Give back
The Greater New York Inter-Alumni Council of New York will host the 29th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast on Monday, January 21, 2019 at Antun's, 96-43 Springfield Blvd.; Queens Village, NY. Beginning at 9 a.m., close to 700 people are scheduled to attend, including UNCF friend and supporter Sen. Chuck Schumer. Minister Bianca Faith Johnson serves as keynote speaker. This year's honorees include Bennie L. Denson and Rev. Dr. Henry Simmons. http://www.UNCF.org/NYMLKBreakfast

Anderson, S.C.
Theme: We are living together in unity
For over two decades the Anderson County Ministers Organization, along with the Atlanta regional office of UNCF, have celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join UNCF on Monday, January 21, 2019, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Anderson County Civic Center with the honorable Terence Roberts, mayor, city of Anderson, S.C.; event keynote speaker and actor from the award-winning movie Black Panther, Cyrus Birch, and a host of community leaders for a day of giving back. Entertainment will be provided by the Voice of Hope youth community choir and Anderson University's gospel ensemble, and West African dance ensemble. The emcee for the evening is Pastor Lenny Gaines, host of Midday Praise on Rejoice Radio 96.9. Event is open and free to the public. http://www.UNCF.org/MLKAnderson

Detroit
Theme: Lighting the Way to Better Futures
Join the UNCF Michigan office and the Detroit Inter-Alumni Council, on January 19, 2019 for the 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday celebration brunch. Taking place at the Whitter starting at 11:00 a.m., this year's honorees include Edwina S. King, JD, policy analyst for the Hon. James E. Tate, Jr.; Detroit City Council-District 1, Paula T. Ross, Ph.D. , director of the research, innovation, scholarship, education unit at the University of Michigan Medical School; and LaShell R. Warner, co-owner/business manager of Wonder Years Child Development Center in Detroit. Award-winning journalist Ed Gordon serves as the keynote speaker. http://www.UNCF.org/DetroitMLKBrunch

Los Angeles
Hosted by UNCF Los Angeles and the UNCF Los Angeles Inter-Alumni Council (IAC), the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration will take place on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. at the Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald Community Center in Carson, CA. More than 600 local leaders, supporters and HBCU alumni will come together to provide a quality education to students of color and inspire change for us all. Michael Thurmond, chief executive officer of DeKalb County, Georgia, will serve as keynote speaker. http://www.UNCF.org/LAMLKBreakfast

Washington, D.C.
UNCF and the Washington Inter-Alumni Council (WIAC) will host a thought-provoking panel discussion on the importance of a quality education at the 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 21st at 8:30 a.m. at The Hotel at the University of Maryland. Moderated by TV One's Fatal Attraction Ashlei Stevens, panelists include Dr. Aminta Breaux, president, Bowie State University; Dr. Charlene Dukes, president, Prince George's Community College and Sekou Biddle, vice president, Advocacy, UNCF. More than 500 community influencers will attend, including keynote speaker and fellow Morehouse alum Rev. Dr. Delman L. Coates of Mt. Ennon Baptist church. http://www.UNCF.org/MLKEvents

Follow these events on social @UNCF #UNCF

About UNCF
UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37-member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.

SOURCE United Negro College Fund