PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) --
When: Monday, January 19, 2004 / 12:30-2:30pm Where: Blue Cross RiverRink Festival Pier at Penn's Landing Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA What: The Blue Cross RiverRink at Penn's Landing is PROUD to be a part of this region-wide event. A record 40,000 volunteers are expected to participate in school and community improvement projects on Monday, January 19 in what has become the largest King Day service event in the nation. The National Constitution Center and Independence Mall will be the site of this year's signature service project, underscoring Dr. King's still unfinished journey to fulfill the ideals of a just society found in the Constitution. As part of the day's events, Jewish and Muslim students will volunteer together in a project called "Relate and Skate." They will participate in a workshop designed to build better understanding among different faiths and will then go skating at the Blue Cross RiverRink. Following the event at the National Constitution Center, the Blue Cross RiverRink will also host a skating party / fundraiser during the 12:30-2:30pm skating session, to benefit the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service. Participants will receive a flyer at the National Constitution Center regarding this fundraiser. Background: There will be projects at nearly 70 Philadelphia public schools and 200 schools throughout the region. More than two-dozen city recreation centers will be beautified. Hundreds of new Reading Coaches will be trained at more than a dozen area sites and Habitat for Humanity volunteers will renovate houses throughout the region. Other King Day volunteers will prepare food at homeless shelters and distribute meals to homebound seniors, organize health fairs and legal clinics, and perform plays about Dr. King and his principles of nonviolent social change and racial equality. The seven-county Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service includes Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania, Camden County, New Jersey and for the first year, Burlington County, New Jersey. Participants will include students of all ages from public, private, and parochial schools and colleges, senior citizens, members of community, religious civic and non-profit organizations, businesses, elected officials and government agencies, individuals, and families. The Citizenship Project and the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania organize the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. The Penn's Landing Corporation logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=349 The Blue Cross RiverRink logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=354