The Corporation for National and Community Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jacqueline Aker
January 3, 2002 jaker@cns.gov
    202-606-5000 ext. 304

NFL Coaches Urge Americans to Serve on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Coaches Record TV and Radio PSAs to Challenge Others
to Make the Holiday "A Day ON, Not a Day Off"

(Washington, D.C.) - Three National Football League head coaches have recorded television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) that urge Americans young and old to serve their communities on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 21, 2002.

The PSAs - "NFL Coaches: Serve on MLK Day" - feature Tony Dungy, head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Dennis Green, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings; and Herm Edwards, head coach of the New York Jets. In addition to their coaching duties, all three coaches are active volunteers in their communities.

"NFL Coaches: Serve on MLK Day" encourages viewers and listeners to log on to www.nationalservice.org to find opportunities to serve on the King holiday.

"On January 21, Americans celebrate the national holiday honoring Dr. King. I encourage everyone to make Dr. King's holiday a day ON, not a day off, by dedicating time to community service projects," said Coach Edwards. Edwards is a volunteer with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

"Dr. King said, 'Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve,' " Coach Green said. "I'm proud to be part of a project that encourages everyone to celebrate this spirit." Green volunteers with the Special Olympics.

"Helping others on Dr. King's holiday gives us a way to remember his teachings and, at the same time, help solve our community's problems," Coach Dungy said. Dungy volunteers with Family First, a non-profit research and communications organization dedicated to strengthening the family.

Last year tens of thousands of volunteers paid homage to the slain civil rights leader by serving in local community projects. These volunteers built playgrounds, delivered meals to homebound neighbors, read to children, and served meals at homeless shelters.

"Anyone can be a part of the King Day of service. You can join an organized service project in your area or help fill a need yourself," said Leslie Lenkowsky, chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which promotes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day of service. "Our Web site, www.nationalservice.org, can help connect Americans with service projects on the holiday and throughout the year."

During his lifetime, Dr. King sought to forge the common ground on which people from all walks of life could join together as equals to address important community issues. In recognition of that spirit, Congress in 1994 passed the King Holiday and Service Act.

Since then, the Corporation for National and Community Service, in partnership with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., has taken the lead in helping to transform the King holiday into a day of service to meet community needs. AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers lead and serve in King Day service projects across the nation.

"The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others," said Coretta Scott King, founder of the King Center.

Head coaches Green, Dungy, and Edwards each donated their time to create the Dr. King public service announcements. The three coaches are represented by Octagon, a global sports marketing group. Virginia-based Braun Film and Video Inc. produced the PSAs.

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Note to Editors:

- Television and radio PSAs are available. PSAs can be listened to and viewed at www.nationalservice.org/news/psa.html.

- To arrange an interview with Coach Edwards, Dungy, and Green, please contact Jacqueline Aker, Corporation for National and Community Service, 202-606-5000, ext. 304, or jaker@cns.gov.

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