Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 18, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  David Takami, Seattle Parks and Recreation, 206-684-8020 or Karen Daubert, Seattle Parks Foundation, 206-332-9900

Gov. Locke urges ‘a day on, not a day off’ to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

OLYMPIA – Gov. Gary Locke today urged citizens to join the nation in honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday (Jan. 21) by volunteering for a community service project, making the holiday “a day on, not a day off.”

“I will volunteer my time on a community project and I encourage you to use this holiday opportunity to reach out to your communities, too,” the governor said. Suggesting that people collect books for schools, plant trees, volunteer at senior centers, give blood or serve meals to the homeless, Locke said, “No service project is too small.”

Dr. King defined a successful life in terms of service to others. He said, “I am afraid that many among you are more concerned about making a living than making a life. You are prone to judge the success of your profession by the index of your salary and the size of the wheel base on your automobile, rather than the quality of your service to humanity.”

Locke issued a proclamation recognizing Jan. 21 as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and will spend his “day on” constructing a play area at Whitworth Elementary School in Seattle.

The school project will benefit Whitworth Elementary school students and the surrounding neighborhoods. It is made possible through a partnership including the school staff, neighbors and Parent Teacher Student Association, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Parks Foundation, Seattle School District, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, HOPEWorldwide volunteers, and AmeriCorps.

The governor expressed his appreciation of the four Northwest companies – COSTCO, Eddie Bauer Inc., Starbucks Coffee Co. and Frank Russell Co. – that sponsored his call to service by funding radio and television public service announcements, letters accompanying state employees’ paychecks, announcements in several community papers and posters distributed to businesses, schools, elected officials, tribal councils and community action agencies statewide.

The governor also encouraged Washington citizens to learn more about volunteer opportunities by clicking on the Martin Luther King, Jr. icon on his homepage (www.governor.wa.gov).

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Related Links:
- Washington State Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Whitworth Elementary School
- Hope worldwide
- Media Advisory
- Seattle Parks and Recreation, Whitworth Play Area Project
- Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
- Powerful Schools Program
- MLK Day: A day on, not a day off (Gov. Locke's opinion in the Seattle P-I)

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