WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yesterday, the Washington DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. acknowledged BAE Systems for its $1 million donation during a formal check presentation ceremony held at the recently dedicated Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
D. Michael Bennett, senior vice president of Information Management and CIO for BAE Systems presented the gift to Harry E. Johnson, Sr., the Foundation’s president and CEO and additional key staff members of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. The $1 million donation continues to push the Memorial Foundation toward its final fundraising goal of $120 million. “We are incredibly grateful to BAE Systems for their million dollar gift, which helps to support the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial,” said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. “BAE Systems’ special gift brings us one step closer to raising the necessary funds to complete this historical project. To date, we have secured $118 of the $120 million needed and feel very confident that others will join BAE Systems in helping complete this dream and honor Dr. King.”
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is the first on the National Mall to honor a man of peace, hope, and color and has welcomed thousands of visitors since its August opening. Located on the Tidal Basin, the Memorial creates a visual line of leadership between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. The Memorial is an engaging landscape experience conveying four fundamental and recurring themes throughout Dr. King’s life – democracy, hope, justice, and love – and features the use of natural elements including water, stone, and trees.
A 450-foot inscription wall showcases 14 quotations from Dr. King’s speeches, sermons, and writings, to serve as a lasting testament and reminder of Dr. King’s humanitarian vision. The Memorial includes the “Mountain of Despair” and the “Stone of Hope,” which features a 30-foot sculpture of Dr. King.
“BAE Systems is proud to support the building and maintenance of the national memorial honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Bennett. “As a global company, we understand that promoting a culture of diversity is not just the right thing to do, it's also good for business. Educating future generations of Americans on Dr. King's legacy and the principles he championed is critical to building a society of equity and justice for all.”
About the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.
A Memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was dedicated on October 16, 2011. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is on the National Mall, situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Congress passed a Joint Resolution in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. King. McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company / Tompkins Builders, Inc. / Gilford Corporation Joint Venture served as the Design-Build Team. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.buildthedream.org.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defense and security company with approximately 100,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and support services. In 2010 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 34.6 billion).
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