Samaritan’s Feet to Bless 10,000 on MLK Day!

For More Information Contact:

Todd Melloh, 317-417-3525
tmelloh@samaritansfeet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Samaritan’s Feet Will Wash The Feet of and Bless 10,000 Children and Homeless in 12 Cities across America on MLK Day.

Dr Maya Angelou, Big Kenny, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Clark Kellogg, and Jay Hein Former White House Director of Faith Based Initiative Team up with
Samaritan’s Feet to serve as Honorary “Shoes of Hope” Ambassadors for MLK Day of Service to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(CHARLOTTE, NC) – January 11, 2011 – Samaritan’s Feet is proud to announce its National Day of Service event in 12 cities across the country. These efforts are to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

More than 2,00 volunteers across the country will wash the feet of the children and place a new pair of shoes on their feet. The volunteers will wash the feet of the children and share a special message of hope. As Dr. King stood for more than just marches and rallies, his concept of “somebodiness,” which symbolized the celebration of human worth and the conquest of subjugation, gave the impoverished hope and a sense of dignity. His courage inspired a nation to service, which will be lived out on this National Day of Service.

“It is our goal to help communities reach deeper into their neighborhoods by; demonstrating this act of servant-leadership and humility, provide for a basic need, and to share a message of hope to those in need,” said Manny Ohonme, founder and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet. “Each year the Corporation for National and Community Service honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by asking Americans to serve others and on January 17th over 2,000 volunteers will do so in a very profound way”.

In cities including: Springdale, AR; Cincinnati; Charlotte; Indianapolis; Memphis; Kansas City; Washington DC; San Bernardino; Houston; Atlanta; New Orleans; and Miami people of diverse backgrounds will join together to symbolize a unified effort and spread a message of hope.

“Every MLK Holiday, I get a chance to witness the incredible spirit of servant-hood that permeates America,” said Dr. Maya Angelou. “My friend Dr. King was an incredibly passionate, humble, courageous, righteous and fair man. His efforts of creating equality are being lived out on the National Day of Service as Samaritan’s Feet volunteers from different economic, social and ethnic backgrounds wash the feet of impoverished families and give them a new pair of shoes. My spirit is full of joy as I reflect on the vision that Dr. King laid out for all who followed and served alongside him. His dreams are being fulfilled as Americans demonstrate servant-leadership by compassionately and lovingly sharing hope and love with each other by the simple act of providing a new pair of shoes.”

This day of service will be led and supported by Samaritan’s Feet Honorary Ambassadors; Martin Luther King III; Dr. Bernice A. King (children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr); author and activist, Dr. Maya Angelou; country music artist Big Kenny, who is also known as half of the Warner Brothers duo Big and Rich; the International Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Bishop Paul S. Morton; former Director of White House Office of Faith-based Initiatives and President of the Sagamore Institute, Jay Hein; and CBS Sports College Basketball Analyst and former professional NBA star, Clark Kellogg.

“I met Manny and his team at the 2009 Final Four and I knew right away that I had to get
involved with Samaritan’s Feet,” said Clark Kellogg, CBS Sports College Basketball Analyst. “I can’t think of a better way to spend MLK Day than washing the feet of impoverished children and sharing a message of hope. It’s my hope that everyone who serves alongside each other and everyone who is served would feel the love of God. I want to honor “Dr King” by emulating what he stood for by demonstrating compassion and humility. I am so honored to be a part of this endeavor and I am humbled by the list of thousands of volunteers who are following the example of a great leader.”

“Touching those in need with Divine Love changes the world. In the spirit of Dr. King, the MLK National Day of Service will continue his legacy of compassion. I am honored to serve and support this cause,” said Bishop Paul Morton.

From Jay Hein, “As a former government official, I have advocated for faith-based solutions to poverty. As a think tank researcher, I have studied faith-based best practices. In all of this experience, I have seen few other organizations worldwide that match Samaritan’s Feet’s model of mutual transformation for those being served as well as those doing the service.”

“I support the goals of Samaritan’s Feet, which is to help children in need. When a child is the recipient of an act of kindness it can have a transformational effect on them. Through receiving a pair of shoes, these children feel that they matter, that someone cares. This empowering memory can last a lifetime,” said Big Kenny.

About Samaritan’s Feet
Samaritan’s Feet is a 501(c) 3, humanitarian aid organization that shares a message of hope and love through washing the feet of impoverished children around the world and adorning them with new shoes. There are an estimated 300 million children who go without shoes every day and more than 1 million that die each year from foot borne disease. Our goal is to provide 10 million pairs of shoes for 10 million impoverished children in the next 10 years, and since 2003 Samaritan’s Feet and its team of 70,000 ambassadors have blessed nearly 3 million children in over 40 nations.

Samaritan’s Feet was started in 2003 by Manny Ohonme who received his first pair of shoes at the age of 9 from a missionary. Those shoes allowed him to learn and play the game of basketball which ultimately earned him a scholarship to the University of North Dakota (Lake Region). Manny went on to receive his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees and pursued and successful career in supply chain software industries. From a simple pair of shoes and the kindness and compassion shared by this missionary changed the course of Manny’s life.

Samaritan’s Feet is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and has facilities in Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., San Bernardino, as well as Cape Town, South Africa where they employ 30 staff members who coordinate the distribution of shoes on 3 continents.

Contact:
To learn more about our National Day of Service (www.samaritansfeet.org) events across the country or to schedule an interview, please contact Todd Melloh at 317-417-3525 or by email at tmelloh@samaritansfeet.org. As well, please join Samaritan’s Feet on Facebook and become a part of this movement to bring hope to those in need around the world.

Samaritan’s Feet International
1900 Associates Lane
Charlotte, NC 28217
866-833-7463