Over 16,000 college students from 130 campuses in 28 states, plus the District of Columbia, are expected to engage in volunteer service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These projects, which include everything from neighborhood clean-ups to preparing and serving meals to hospice patients, will take place on or during the week of the federal King Holiday, January 19.

Each of the 130 campuses received a grant to support their projects from North Carolina Campus Compact, one of 7 lead agencies to receive funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to mobilize volunteers for the King Day of Service. The other lead agencies are the Points of Light Institute, The Corps Network, Youth Service America, Service for Peace, Campus Kitchens, and the National Alliance of Faith and Justice.

Participation has grown steadily since Congress passed legislation in 1994 encouraging Americans to serve on the King Holiday. The 2009 Day of Service is expected to have record participation across the country as Americans mark the 80th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, one day before the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

In December, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden and their families will participate in service on the King Holiday in the Washington, D.C. area. The President-elect is also urging Americans to serve on the King Holiday. This is a historic opportunity to engage Americans in service to their communities and act on Dr. King’s dream of justice and equality.

For more information about the campus-based service efforts, contact Leslie Garvin, Associate Director of NC Campus Compact at (336) 278-7278 or visit www.nccampuscompact.org for a complete list of participating institutions. To learn about the national MLK Day of Service visit www.MLKDay.gov.

North Carolina Campus Compact is a coalition of 41 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. NC Campus Compact is a member of national campus compact which has over 1,100 presidential members and 34 state offices.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is the nation’s largest grantmaker supporting service and volunteering. Through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and special initiatives such as the MLK Day of Service, they provide opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country by addressing critical community needs. Visit www.nationalservice.gov to learn more.