METLIFE FOUNDATION DONATES $2 MILLION TO HELP BUILD THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL MEMORIAL
Washington, DC, February 29, 2008
The Washington, DC, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. announced today a $2 million donation from MetLife Foundation. Harry E. Johnson, Sr, President and CEO of the Memorial Foundation and C. Robert Henrikson Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetLife, Inc., joined together for the announcement in Washington, DC.
"I am proud that MetLife has joined our family of supporters which includes corporations, foundations, and citizens worldwide," said Johnson. "Now is the time to make history – now is the time for others to follow the lead of MetLife Foundation and to make a contribution of any amount to this lasting memorial to Dr. King and the ideals of hope, democracy, justice, and love for which he stood."
"Dr King helped us achieve a more inclusive world and inspired generations of Americans to live his dream," said C. Robert Henrikson, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetLife, Inc. "As a company committed to creating opportunities and helping families build legacies, we are honored to support the Memorial, a fitting tribute to this great American and visionary leader."
The donation from MetLife Foundation brings the Memorial Foundation’s total to $93 million. MetLife Foundation joins the following major donors to the Memorial: General Motors, Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation, NBA/WNBA, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Walt Disney Company Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation, The Ford Motor Fund, Toyota, AARP, AFLAC, BP America, Inc., CIGNA, DuPont, ExxonMobil Foundation, Fannie Mae Corporation, FedEx Corporation, GE, Ann and Joel Horowitz Family Foundation, Sheila C. Johnson-Newman, Lehman Brothers, George Lucas, MacFarlane Partners, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, McDonald’s Corporation, National Association of Realtors (NAR), National Education Association (NEA), PepsiCo Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pfizer Foundation, Prudential Financial, Inc., Shell Oil Company, State Farm Insurance, Verizon, Verizon Foundation, Viacom, Wal-Mart and Morehouse College, among others.
"MetLife Foundation is honored to be a part of this historic initiative," said Sibyl Jacobson, President and Chief Executive Officer of MetLife Foundation. "We believe the ideals espoused by Dr. King are relevant for today and tomorrow."
Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.
A Memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will be built 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 Joint Resolutions in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial honoring Dr. King to be built in Washington, DC. The Ceremonial Groundbreaking took place on November 13, 2006 and the Memorial is scheduled to be completed in 2009. McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company/ Gilford Corporation / Tompkins Builders, Inc. Joint Venture will serve as the Design-Build Team. McKissack & McKissack is the oldest minority-owned architectural firm in the United States. For more information, please visit www.buildthedream.org.
MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife in 1976 to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.