I was recently contacted by the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., whose website is buildthedream.org, and asked to help spread the word about their fundraising efforts to build a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall. The Foundation is just $14 million short of their $120 million fundraising goal.

I have written in the past about what an inspiring person Martin Luther King, Jr. is and the tremendous legacy of civil rights and freedom of opportunity he gave to the United States.

Having just visited the National Mall for the cherry blossoms, I can’t think of a more fitting place for a memorial to Dr. King. His “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial is permanently etched in our national memory and the MLK memorial would allow us all to remember this event and others more vividly. The large number of tourists to the Mall from countries all over the world also allows us to share with them the vision of freedom and opportunity for all people we hold so dearly in this country.

You can see the design for the memorial in the video below.

I have made a donation to support the memorial and I encourage you to consider doing so as well. The Foundation has organized many ways to contribute including:

1. Donate any amount you can via their website.  Click here to donate.  Donations of $5 or more qualify you to receive a “Build the Dream” wristband and lapel pin.
2. Text MLK on your cell phone to 20222 to donate $5.
3. Download the Yahoo! MLK Memorial Search Toolbar for Internet Explorer or Firefox.  You can download the toolbar for free by clicking here. Each time you search using the toolbar, $.05 will be contributed to the Foundation. I just installed the search toolbar on Firefox and it goes quickly in one click. You can choose various privacy options once it is installed.

Help remember one of the United States’ modern Founding Fathers and please help spread the word! You can fan the MLK Memorial Foundation on Facebook as well.

Thanks!