“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr., January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs.
King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. With the SCLC, King led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia (the Albany Movement), and helped organize the 1963 nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama. King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history.
On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. In 1965, he helped to organize the Selma to Montgomery marches, and the following year he and SCLC took the movement north to Chicago to work on segregated housing. In the final years of his life, King expanded his focus to include opposition towards poverty and the Vietnam War.
For many children living in poverty their birthdays are just another day. You can change that! Every child deserves a memorable birthday and you can help to make it happen. Be the change that you want to see in the world! Details and “how to” here
GiftsToGive Happy Birthday Program
With over 40,000 South Coast children living in poverty, the need is truly overwhelming. Over 4,000 local children are homeless!
Make a difference in a child’s life! Join us in celebrating your birthday or the birthday of a child you love; by giving birthday presents to local children in-need. One celebration can help dozens of children.
Be bold – host a huge birthday celebration party – ask your guests to bring gifts for a GiftsToGive child. Organize a celebration for your child or grandchild, niece or nephew. Through this process help the “Birthday Child” understand that their birthday can make a real difference and then arrange a visit to the factory to drop off their gifts, and for you to “show this special child” in the most tangible of ways, the power of giving!
The real gift for this child that you love? – learning the power of giving, to help others. The gift for you? – well actually it is priceless!