September 20, 2007

Greetings:

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Sharing the Dream” Celebration will be held January 18-21, 2008. This celebratory event begins with our traditional Sharing the Dream Banquet and ends with a Youth Extravaganza that honors Dr. King’s legacy in song, dance and other performing arts. As one of the largest celebrations in Texas, this four-day event has consistently attracted over 4,000 Arlington area residents each year. We are entering the nineteenth year of this celebration and the planning committee is heavily involved in preparing another spectacular program of events. However, our planning efforts are predicated on the support received from donors like you. The effectiveness of our programming depends on the generous contributions from local businesses, individuals, volunteers and other nonprofit organizations. Your tax deductible contribution assures the success of the celebration and funds college scholarships for young men and women in the City of Arlington.

Your generous financial support as a sponsor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration for 2008 is crucial to our success. Although every dollar donated is needed and appreciated, official sponsorship packages range from $100 to $5,000. Sponsorship at the $1,000 level or higher will receive a special gift, official recognition, and four tickets reserved in your name at the banquet on Friday, January 18, 2008. These sponsorships provide scholarship opportunities for Arlington area students who attend college upon graduation from high school. The scholarship recipients are winners of the Art and Essay contests sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee. The art contest targets Arlington ISD Middle School students and these contest winners receive savings bonds that are placed in their name for educational purposes.

Our hope is that you will commit (or recommit) to supporting this year’s celebration, which emphasizes the dream and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are many outstanding activities planned for 2008. The Sharing the Dream Banquet, Junior Art Reach, Step Competition, Spoken Word Slam Poetry, Ecumenical Service and Youth Extravaganza have received a great deal of support from the citizens of the Arlington community. Many of these activities will occur on the UTA Campus, Bowie High School, and Tarrant County College Southeast Campus. This year's ecumenical service will be hosted by Arlington's Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Please join us. For more information, call me at 817-515-3584 or contact me via e-mail at curtis.hill@tccd.edu. A very special thanks to our Fundraising Committee members: Dr. Theron Bowman, Chief of Police City of Arlington; James Rose, Director Student Services Arlington ISD; the Honorable Elzie Odom, former Mayor City of Arlington; and Ms. Grace McDermott, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce – SW. Thank you for your generous support and commitment to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2008 “Sharing the Dream” celebration.

Sincerely,

Curtis O. Hill, Ed.D.
2008 MLK Celebration Committee Chair

Thank You! … For Sharing the Dream

Photos by Wayne Pollard Photography

During the 19th Annual Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the Arlington community celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The four-day celebration began with the “Sharing the Dream” Awards Banquet on Jan. 18 at UT-Arlington’s Bluebonnet Ballroom. More than 400 special guests attended.

Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington inspired Arlington’s youth as the keynote banquet speaker. U.S. Savings Bonds and scholarships were presented to the student winners of the MLK “Sharing the Dream” art and essay competitions.

During the banquet, the 2008 MLK “Sharing the Dream” Award winners were announced.

This year, the Arlington MLK Committee was proud to present New Orleans' jazz percussionist Adonis Rose and the Fort Worth Jazz Orchestra.

The banquet preceded four days of celebrations, which included a step show, multicultural festival, spoken word performances and worship service hosted at Arlington’s Cornerstone Baptist Church.

Other MLK events in Arlington included a financial planning workshop for youth and a holiday music/drama performance held on the official Dr. King holiday.

The Arlington MLK “Sharing the Dream” Celebration was organized in 1989 by representatives of the Arlington Independent School District, City of Arlington, Tarrant County College, Arlington Ministerial Association and University of Texas at Arlington.

Since 1989, supporters of the celebration have expanded to include the Arlington Star-Telegram, JP Morgan Chase, United States Postal Service, TXU Energy, and a growing list of local businesses, individuals and nonprofit organizations whose tax deductible contributions build the success of the celebration and fund college scholarships for deserving youth in the Arlington community.

In 2008, the Arlington MLK Celebration received a neighborhood matching grant from the Arlington Arts Alliance, and welcomed the following Gold sponsors: Citi and Community Financial Services Association of America.

Congratulations 2008 “Sharing the Dream” Award Winners!

Sharing the Dream Award in Education
Dr. Mac Bernd, AISD Superintendent 1998-2007
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Sharing the Dream Award in Government
James Turner, City of Arlington
Parks and Recreation Department
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Sharing the Dream Award in Community
Xi Theta Omega Chapter
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
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