Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial
By Joyce Moed
Washington D.C.–Credit Unions throughout the country are doing their parts to help make the vision of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial a reality.
Combined, credit unions have pledged "just over $700,000, with half-a-million collected so far," said Hubert Hoosman Jr., president of Vantage Credit Union in St. Louis, and treasurer of the African-American Credit Union Coalition.
Credit unions aren’t the only supporters of the Memorial within the industry. Credit Union Leagues, vendors and individuals have also pledged funds.
"I think it’s a movement-wide project," Hoosman said. The fund-raising initiative within the credit union movement is being led by the African American Credit Union Coalition.
Credit unions supporting the King Memorial include: Vantage CU, 1st Choice CU, St. Louis Community CU, Midwest CU, Gateway Metro CU, Alliance CU, 1st Financial FCU, County CU, Houston Municipal Employees CU, State Employees CU of North America, Andrews FCU, Locoga FCU, Coosa Valley FCU, TIC FCU, Augusta VAH FCU, Atlanta Postal CU, Valdosta Teachers FCU, Savannah FCU, Georgia Florida United Methodist FCU, MidSouth FU, District Government Employees FCU, South DeKalb Church FCU, Scott CU, University Health FCU, Augusta Metro FCU, Georgia Telco CU, Midwest United CU, St. Lukes CU, First Reliance FCU, Water and Power Community CU, Georgia FCU, Citizens Equity First CU, Shreveport FCU, San Mateo CU, Faith Community United CU, Merced School Employees Federal CU, Washington State Employees CU, Elizabeth NJ Firemen’s Federal CU, Keesler FCU, Melrose CU, Municipal CU, Tampa Bay FCU, Orange County Teachers CU and Virginia CU.
The list of credit unions pledging to support the Memorial is impressive, and includes about 65 names so far.
The World Council of Credit Unions is proud to have donated $5,000 in support of the Memorial.
"The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial honors the same people that the World Council often works with–the disenfranchised and those with few economic advantages," said Pete Crear, CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions.
The King Memorial will be located on the National Mall in Washington D.C., on the Tidal Basin, adjacent to the F.D.R. Memorial, and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The site is also near the location of King’s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, which took place more than 40 years ago. The memorial’s design will honor King’s life and work. Quotations from King’s writing, sermons and speeches will be engraved on to the Memorial Wall. President Clinton signed a Joint Congressional Resolution in 1998 to created a four-acre memorial that will be the first on the National Mall to honor a person of color. The total cost of the Memorial will be $100 million, and is expected to be completed by winter 2008.
"It’s going to be a very unique monument," Hoosman said.
Outside of the credit-union movement, artists, musicians, athletes and authors are also contributing. The list includes names such as: Angela Bassett, George Foreman, Morgan Freeman, Whoopie Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson and Martin Sheen. Other supporters include: all living former U.S. presidents, Nancy Reagan, General Motors, NBA/WNBA, State Farm Insurance, the National Ad Council, the ExxonMobil Foundation, FedEx Corp. and Tommy Hilfiger. In addition, in 1995, the Senate voted to provide $10 million in federal funding for the project.
The campaign to attract supporters to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial was created by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and asks all Americans to help "Build the dream."
Of the $100 million needed to complete the monument and create a trust for the grounds and maintenance of the monument, meeting the goal is close. "At last count we were up to $82 million," Hoosman said.
All donations to the Memorial are tax-deductible.
www.buildthedream.org
www.aacuc.org
www.woccu.org
www.vcu.org
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