MLK Dream Weekend Celebrates 10 Years Stronger

January 12, 2015

GREENVILLE, SC – MLK Dream Weekend will be celebrating their 10th anniversary and final year during the event, January 15 – 19, 2015. 10 years of strengthening communities, 10 years of giving back, 10 years of making a difference by honoring the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“After 10 strong years of enjoying the incredible support of our community, 10 years of enjoying our collaborative successes, and 10 years of seeing our students eagerly embrace the scholarships that were proudly afforded them; the time has finally come to say “Thank You, Greenville, for 10 wonderful years!” We never envisioned we would continue as long as we have, but due to increasing professional and personal responsibilities, it is now time for us to step aside and allow new creativity and passion to take ownership of coordinating a community celebration to honor Dr. King,” said Pastor Curtis Johnson, MLK Dream Weekend Chairman.

MLK Dream Weekend is honored to announce the 2015 Diversity Banquet speaker is Greenville native and civil activist, Reverend Jesse Jackson. The Banquet will be held on Friday, January 16th, at 7pm at the TD Convention Center. This evening is inspirational for all who attend, and youth groups, colleges, churches, and organizations are encouraged to show their support by purchasing a table. An official farewell statement will be provided at the Diversity Banquet, along with a call to action from the “Dream Team” to the community at large. Tickets are $60 individually and $550 for a table of 10.

The Diversity Banquet will feature a night of dining, entertainment, awards and recognitions, culminating with an inspiring keynote address. Hundreds of business leaders and organizations attend this event to pay honor to Martin Luther King, Jr., and to celebrate diversity in our community. Again this year 11 scholarships, totaling more than $100,000, will be awarded during the Diversity Banquet, showing the commitment to young dreamers in the Upstate.

Tickets are available online at www.mlkdreamweekend.com or at the following locations:

* BJ’s Music

* Bethlehem Baptist Church

* Greenville County Human Relations Commission

* Valley Brook Outreach Baptist Church

The Prayer Vigil will be held at the Peace Center Graham Plaza, Downtown Greenville, Thursday, January 15th at 7pm. The MLK Prayer Vigil kicks off MLK Dream Weekend and will feature prayers from diverse persons, a unity litany and candlelight. The weekend concludes with the Community Day of Service, taking place January 17th from 10am to 12pm at various project sites throughout Greenville. MLK Community Day of Service is being coordinated by United Way Hands on Greenville.

The 10th anniversary of MLK Dream Weekend is lovingly dedicated to the Upstate community for the collective effort established to appropriately honor Dr. King’s legacy. Greenville Health System is the presenting Sponsor of the MLK Dream Weekend celebration.

MLK Dream Weekend is an organization of civic and business leaders committed to the cause of Dr. King and the citizens of Greenville County. Initiated in 2006 to establish an annual community-wide celebration of the MLK Holiday for the Greenville, South Carolina area, MLK Dream Weekend is based on Dr. King’s dreams of diversity with equality and peace. For more information, please visit www.mlkdreamweekend.com.