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