Chevrolet Honors Martin Luther King, Jr. with 'Table of Brotherhood Project'
 |
WASHINGTON--June 29, 2011: Chevrolet is sponsoring the "Table of Brotherhood Project," a four-city tour honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. that culminates with the Aug. 28 dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.
"We admire and respect Dr. King's eternal legacy and all that he represents," said GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson. "This is an important moment in our nation's history and we hope this memorial will inspire others to turn their own dreams into action".
The dedication will mark the 48th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech following tour stops in Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington, where diverse community leaders will evoke King's spirit though dialogue on topical social issues
Tour stops will feature a table designed by Scott Tucker of Raunjiba furniture, where people of all backgrounds and opinions are invited to participate in culturally and socially relevant conversations around King's vision. The discussions will be moderated by Roland Martin, a CNN News contributor and commentator for TV One Cable Network.
The Table of Brotherhood Project is highlighted in a TV ad that aired during the recent BET Awards. The ad features Americans from all walks of life taking their seats at an endless table weaving its way through beaches, schools, streets and restaurants to Washington, D.C. The ad was created for Chevrolet by SpikeDDB, its African-American advertising agency of record.
To date, General Motors and the General Motors Foundation are among the largest sponsors of the King memorial, having donated more than $10 million to the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Both are committed to raising public awareness of the Memorial in the nation's capital.
The Memorial will be positioned in a direct line between the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials on the National Mall, where King delivered his most famous speech on Aug. 28, 1963. The centerpiece of the Memorial, the "Stone of Hope," will feature a 30-foot likeness of King made of natural elements. It will contain excerpts of his sermons and public addresses to serve as living testaments of his vision of America. It will be the first memorial on the National Mall to honor someone other than a U.S. President.
"We are deeply grateful to General Motors and the General Motors Foundation for their consistent and steadfast support, which has helped build the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in our nation's capital," said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. "We look forward to the conversations the Table of Brotherhood project tour will create and are certain they will be a meaningful prelude to the August 28 dedication of our nation's memorial to Dr. King, one of the world's most influential leaders."
The Chevrolet.com/MLK site is the hub for all information related to the Table of Brotherhood Project. The site also has space for visitors to join a virtual Table of Brotherhood conversation by posting thoughts through video and photos around a number of topics inspired by King.
About Chevrolet
Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Volt. Cruze Eco offers EPA-est. 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of gas-powered extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com
About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001.
