The King Center will honor Mr. Jesse Hill, Jr., former Chairman of the Atlanta Life Insurance company and will also salute corporate honoree Delta Airlines and its C.E.O. Mr. Richard H. Anderson at the annual “Salute to Greatness Dinner” at the Hyatt-Regency Downtown Atlanta on Saturday, January 19, 2008, at 6:30 p.m., it was announced today. There will also be a reception at 5:30 p.m.

“The King Center is honoring Mr. Hill in recognition of his distinguished leadership in support of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mr. Hill’s tireless efforts to carry forward Dr. King’s unfinished work,” said Mr. Isaac Newton Farris, Jr., President and C.E.O. of The King Center. “As chairman of The King Center’s Board of Directors for many years and as one of Atlanta’s most energetic and dedicated civic leaders, Mr. Hill’s numerous creative contributions to our city and nation have made a tremendous difference for the better.”

The King Center will also salute corporate honoree, Delta Airlines C.E.O. Richard H. Anderson for Delta’s “continuing support of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and visionary leadership as a corporate citizen.” Mr. Farris said the award also marks Delta’s “impressive track record of community service in our city, including its commitment to protect its employees from mandatory layoffs.”

As The King Center’s major annual fund-raising event, the Salute to Greatness Dinner is a highlight of the annual observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. The 2008 Birthday Observance also marks the 79th birthday of Dr. King and the 39th annual King Center program celebrating his birthday, as well as the 23rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday. The theme for the 2008 observance, “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off” promotes community service as a vital component of the King Holiday, as well as educational and commemorative activities.

To purchase tickets for the Salute to Greatness Dinner (Tables: $5,000 & $2,500; Tickets $200), please contact (404) 526-8911 or visit The King Center’s website www.thekingcenter.org.

In addition to the Salute to Greatness Dinner, The King Center is co-sponsoring a number of other events during the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance. Some of the highlights include:

Saturday, January 12th, 2008

The King Center and AETNA co-sponsor and co-host “A Town Hall Meeting.”
From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The King Center Freedom Hall Auditorium. Moderated by Art Franklin, Anchor, FOX 5. The Town Hall Meeting includes a panel discussion with an audience question and answer segment focusing on Childhood Obesity in the Minority Community. Celebrity Chef Marvin Woods will demonstrate healthy cooking techniques and provide samples to the audience. Also included on the panel are a pediatrician, CDC physician, a dietician, and representative of the Andrew and Walter Young YMCA. The Town Hall meeting concludes with a BMI (Body Mass Index) Screening given free of charge. Additional literature, brochures and pamphlets will be available during and after the Town Hall Meeting. Prior to the meeting the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Brass Quintet will perform.

Monday, January 14, 2008

A film screening of “An American Idealist: The Life and Legacy of Sargent Shriver,”
Hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver in The King Center’s Freedom Hall Auditorium. There will be a pre-screening reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., the screening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., followed by a panel discussion from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. This film, which is presented by The Sargent Shriver Peace Institute and the Shriver family, highlights Sargent Shriver’s commitment to public service, his leadership of some of the most significant social programs in our nation’s history and Shriver’s role in persuading John Kennedy to take a stand on Dr. King’s imprisonment at a time in the 1960 campaign when it was considered a major political risk. The film will air on PBS on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, January 21, 2008.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Screening of ‘February One’
5:00 p. m. – Film of the inspiring story of the 1960 Greensboro Lunch Counter sit-ins. Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA. 2220 Campbellton Rd., S.W. Atlanta, GA

Screening of ‘Our Friend Martin’
6:00 p. m. Animated time-travel; adventure in which a young boy meets Dr. King and acquires a deeper understanding. Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library. 9560 Spruill Rd., Johns Creek, GA

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Human Rights Symposium 9:00 A.M. at The King Center Auditorium, a discussion of how Dr. King’s philosophy can be used to address key issues in Africa - U.S. relations. The guest speaker is Dr. Susan Kelly, President and CEO, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. For more information, please contact the Martin Luther King, Jr. March Committee at 404.755.9756
A King Celebration with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 8:00 p.m. at The Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the Campus of Morehouse College. Presented in partnership with The King Center, American Public Media, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Target, The 16th anniversary of ‘A King Celebration,’ is the annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., commemorating the life and work of the celebrated civil rights leader. This year, the program features Andrew Young providing narration on the work Lincoln Portrait by Copland, along with spirituals featuring the Glee Clubs from Morehouse and Spelman Colleges.

Tickets for the January 17th performance are priced at $25 or buy one get one free, thanks to Target and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office located at 15th and Peachtree – in advance and until 3:00 p.m. the day of the concert. They can also be charged to major credit cards by calling 404-733-5000 or by visiting the ASO website at www.atlantasymphony.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College starting at 6:30 p.m. the day of the concert. All seats are general admission. Student tickets, priced at $10 or buy one get one free, courtesy of Target, are also available for purchase in person at the Woodruff Arts Center. A valid Student ID is required for purchase.

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
6:00pm – Dekalb County Covington Library. 3500 Covington Hwy. Decatur, GA 404.979.2800

America Behind the Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans and the Future of the Race
Henry Louis Gates discusses his recent anthology. 7:00 p.m. - Auburn Ave. Research Library. 101 Auburn Ave., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30303. 404.979.2800

Friday, January 18, 2009

The State of Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Program
10:00 a.m. at the State Capitol, North Wing, Atlanta, GA – featuring top GA elected officials. A reception will follow the program in the South Wing of the Capitol. For more information contact The Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr., King Holiday Commission at 404.463.7780

Technology as a Tool for Social Change
Exploring the role of text messages, smart mobs, facebooks and other tools of new communications in social change education and action. 12:30pm - Java-ol-o-gy. 466 Edgewood Ave., N.E. Atlanta, GA. 404.979.2800

Sports and Civil Rights
Join SCLC/SCOPE veteran and author Willy Leventhal, who will share excerpts from his latest book “Brothers, Bats & Balls…and Other Life Lessons.” 2:00 p.m. - Java-ol-o-gy. 404.979.2800.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Youth Summit: What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?
10:00 am - noon Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Keynote address by activist/actor Hill Harper, star of the hit CBS drama series, “CSI: NY.” and author of “Letters to a Young Brother.” 404.979.2800

Workshop Session I Economic Justice – The BeltLine: Can it connect Atlanta’s people, places and opportunities?
12:30pm - The King Center, Freedom Hall. 404.979.2800

Poor Peoples Campaign 40 Years Later
With Lynn Huntley, President of Southern Education Foundation and Julianne Malveaux, President of Bennett College for Women. 12:30pm- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. 404.979.2800

Writing in the Circle of Life – Writers Workshop
Join nationally renowned literary artist and poet Ralph Cheo Thurmon as he guides newly emerging writers in a workshop. 2:00 pm Auburn Ave. Research Library. 404.979.2800

Workshop Session II Sanctuary!- The Faith Community’s Role in Immigration and Economic Justice
With Rev. Alexia Salvatierra of the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and Manuel Vasquez, and associate professor of sociology and religion at the University of Florida. 2:00pm - The King Center’s APA Building. 404.979.2800

Of God and Country: A Look at Faith and Social Justice
A conversation between Dr. Clayborne Carson, professor of history and founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute and Morehouse President and former president of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Dr. Robert Franklin. 2:00 p.m. - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.. 25 Boulevard, N.E. Atlanta, GA. 404.979.2800

The Jena 6: A Contemporary Civil Rights Case
Briefing and update on the controversial case with James Rucker, executive director of the online citizens’ lobby Color of Change, The Reverend Samuel Mosteller, director of the Georgia State Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Captain Charles Alphin, Sr. expert on Kingian nonviolence. 2:00pm - The King Center, Freedom Hall. 404.979.2800

Literary Interview with Unita Blackwell by Gloria Wade Gayles ‘Barefootin’: Life Lessons from the Road to Freedom

5:00 p.m. Screening of film “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders” at 7:00 p.m. Auburn Ave. Research Library. 404.979.2800

Banished: An investigation into ethnic cleansing in post-reconstruction America
Join filmmaker Marco Williams, as he shares how he traveled to some of the whitest counties in the country to confront the legacy of “banishment.” 5:00 p.m. MLK National Historic Site Screening Room. 450 Auburn Ave, N.E. Atlanta, GA. 404.979.2800

The Annual ‘Salute to Greatness’ Awards Dinner
Reception 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m. Hyatt-Regency, 265 Peachtree St., N.E. Atlanta, GA
(see below for more information).

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Literary Interview with Tom Houck, author of “Driving Dr. King: Chasing the Dream,” by Valerie Jackson
2:00 p.m. Memoir of Dr. King’s driver and personal assistant and now Atlanta journalist. Auburn Ave. Research Library. 404.979.2800

MLK Boulevard: The Concrete Dream
The film takes a look at lives lived along some of the numerous Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevards throughout the U.S. 3:00 p.m. Auburn Ave. Research Library. 404.979.2800

A Book Signing at 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, The King Center’s Freedom Hall Auditorium, One Freedom Plaza, 449 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA. Participants in the Book Signing include Dr. Christine King Farris & Elder Bernice King. Available for purchase will be tapes in Dr. King’s voice, copies of his speeches, and books including, “A Call To Conscience” which is a collection of Dr. King’s historic speeches, a book of Dr. King’s Sermons entitled “A Knock At Midnight”, and “The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. edited by Dr. Clayborne Carson, as well as the King Papers Project (Volume I-IV), edited by Dr. Clayborne Carson. For More Information Contact: Communications at (404) 526-8944.

A Literary Interview with Screenwriter, Producer, Will Packer
Join host Ralph Cheo Thurmon as he interviews noted artist Will Packer, producer of the Sony/Screen Gems box office hits, Stomp The Yard (2007), The Gospel (2005) and This Christmas. 5:00pm – Auburn Ave. Research Library. 404.979.2800

Monday, January 21, 2008

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Commemorative Service
Held at Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary, 407 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA on January 21st, at 10:00 a.m. The spiritual hallmark of the King Holiday Observance, the Commemorative Service features tributes to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from national and international leaders. The keynote speaker for the 2008 Commemorative Service is Dr. Vashti McKenzie, Bishop, Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first woman elected Bishop in the A.M.E. Church.

There will also be a 12’ x 19’ “JumboTron,” -- a new feature of Commemorative Service -- positioned in front of the Martin Luther King Historic Site Rose Garden for visitors in the Historic District. The Commemorative Service is open to the public, but limited seating is available in Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary. FOX5 WAGA-TV will broadcast the service. For more information about the Commemorative Service, please contact Barbara Harrison at (404) 526-8911.

Most events of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance are free of charge, except where otherwise noted.