Martin Luther King Dinners
Living the Dream
For twenty-five years, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) has hosted an annual Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner in New York City. This event has grown to become one of the largest events in the country honoring Dr. King. In some years more than 2,000 people from all walks of life have attended. Occasionally, we bring together fractious and diverse elements from the domestic and international community under Dr. King’s umbrella, to reflect on how far we have come and to commit to even greater progress in the areas of world peace, justice and brotherhood. We also use these occasions to recognize individuals who, through their words and actions, have helped to further equality.
The Act creating the holiday was passed after more than sixteen years of efforts by countless friends and supporters of Dr. King’s ideas. Support for the legislation came from Members of Congress, the White House, business and labor, from civil rights and religious groups.
The Act creating the holiday was passed after more than sixteen years of efforts by countless friends and supporters of Dr. King’s ideas. Support for the legislation came from Members of Congress, the White House, business and labor, from civil rights and religious groups.
Congress set aside every third Monday of January as the official Federal Holiday. Dr. King’s actual birthday is January 15. According to the Act, “the holiday should serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Dr. King. The King Holiday Commission has recommended Living The Dream as the official theme for celebrating the holiday. This theme reminds us of the continuing role that his dream played in the awakening of America.
CORE’s first King Holiday Celebration was held in 1984—one year before the official holiday went into effect. Over the years, CORE’s King Holiday Celebration has attracted the support and participation of leaders from business, diplomatic, civic, entertainment, religious, philanthropic, and political communities. In January 2002, the organization dedicated the event to the victims and heroes of the September 11 terrorist Attack on America. We honored the Policemen, Firefighters and EMS workers who lost their lives in the World Trade Center while trying to save others. We also honored the crew members of the fourth airplane that was hijacked by the terrorists. This award was accepted by Ms. Melonie Homer, widow of Captain J. Homer, co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Howard Lutnick, President of Cantor Fitzgerald, Inc., who lost more than 400 employees, accepted an award on behalf of those who perished when the World Trade Center collapsed, and Nino Vendome, owner of Nino’s restaurant in lower Manhattan, who opened his kitchen to feed thousands of rescue workers involved in the recovery effort for free, accepted an award on behalf of the thousands of volunteers. The NYPD Pipes & Drums band performed Amazing Grace in a special tribute to the victims and heroes of that tragic event. Mayor Bloomberg presented CORE Chairman, Roy Innis with a special Proclamation.
Prominent individuals who have Chaired or participated: First Lady Laura Bush; Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist; Michael Armstrong, Chairman & C.E.O. of A T & T; John Chalsty, Chairman & C.E.O. of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; Michael Jordan, Former Chairman of Westinghouse/CBS and Chairman of the United Negro College Fund; Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug; William Lavin, Chairman of Woolworth Corporation; Richard Jalkut, President of NYNEX-NY; Danny Burke, Former President of Capital Cities/ABC; Robert Wright, President & C.E.O. of NBC, Inc.; Roger Werner, former Chairman of ESPN; Paola Costa, Chairman of Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Bob Dubrish, President & C.E.O., Option One Mortgage Corp; Ray Gilmartin, Chairman of Merck & Company, Inc.; Hugh Grant, Chairman & C.E.O. of Monsanto; Rich Bagger, Vice-President of Pfizer, Inc.; Jonathan Bush, chairman, united Negro College Fund; and H.E. John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the UN.
From the diplomatic community: H.E. Thomas Pickering, U.S. Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Maxwell Rabb, U.S. Ambassador to Italy; H.E. David Peleg, Israel Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Hisashi Owada, Japan Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Sergei Lavrov, Russian Ambassador to the UN.
From the music, film, sports and entertainment industries: Jerry Lewis; Alan King; Tony Randall; Norman Brokow, Chairman & C.E.O. of the William Morris Agency; Sol Kerzner, Chairman & C.E.O. of Sun International; Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of Miramax Films; Director Martin Scorsese; TV personality, Florence Henderson; Frank Sinatra; Kirk Douglas; Charlton Heston; Gregory Peck; Paul Sorvino; Roger E. Mosley; Anthony Quinn; Clive Davis, Chairman & C.E.O. of Arista Records; Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & the Gang; Actress Clarice Taylor from the Cosby Show; Recording Group, Blue Magic; World Famous Latino Group, Projecto Uno; Boxer Roberto Duran; Francis Preston, President of BMI, Inc.; Recording artist Regina Belle; WWOR News Anchor Brenda Blackmon; Actress Jane Fonda; Boxing promoter Don King; Former Miss America Suzette Charles; Morton Gould, Chairman of ASCAP; Tony LoBianco; Actress Eartha Kitt; Legendary sportscaster Howard Kossell; Burt Sugar; Henny Youngman; Boxing great, Sugar Ray Leonard; Football Hall-of-Famer, Lawrence “LT” Taylor; Comedian/actor George Wallace; American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard; R & B.
CORE’s first King Holiday Celebration was held in 1984—one year before the official holiday went into effect. Over the years, CORE’s King Holiday Celebration has attracted the support and participation of leaders from business, diplomatic, civic, entertainment, religious, philanthropic, and political communities. In January 2002, the organization dedicated the event to the victims and heroes of the September 11 terrorist Attack on America. We honored the Policemen, Firefighters and EMS workers who lost their lives in the World Trade Center while trying to save others. We also honored the crew members of the fourth airplane that was hijacked by the terrorists. This award was accepted by Ms. Melonie Homer, widow of Captain J. Homer, co-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. Howard Lutnick, President of Cantor Fitzgerald, Inc., who lost more than 400 employees, accepted an award on behalf of those who perished when the World Trade Center collapsed, and Nino Vendome, owner of Nino’s restaurant in lower Manhattan, who opened his kitchen to feed thousands of rescue workers involved in the recovery effort for free, accepted an award on behalf of the thousands of volunteers. The NYPD Pipes & Drums band performed Amazing Grace in a special tribute to the victims and heroes of that tragic event. Mayor Bloomberg presented CORE Chairman, Roy Innis with a special Proclamation.
Prominent individuals who have Chaired or participated: First Lady Laura Bush; Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist; Michael Armstrong, Chairman & C.E.O. of A T & T; John Chalsty, Chairman & C.E.O. of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette; Michael Jordan, Former Chairman of Westinghouse/CBS and Chairman of the United Negro College Fund; Nobel Peace Prize winner, Norman Borlaug; William Lavin, Chairman of Woolworth Corporation; Richard Jalkut, President of NYNEX-NY; Danny Burke, Former President of Capital Cities/ABC; Robert Wright, President & C.E.O. of NBC, Inc.; Roger Werner, former Chairman of ESPN; Paola Costa, Chairman of Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Bob Dubrish, President & C.E.O., Option One Mortgage Corp; Ray Gilmartin, Chairman of Merck & Company, Inc.; Hugh Grant, Chairman & C.E.O. of Monsanto; Rich Bagger, Vice-President of Pfizer, Inc.; Jonathan Bush, chairman, united Negro College Fund; and H.E. John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the UN.
From the diplomatic community: H.E. Thomas Pickering, U.S. Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Maxwell Rabb, U.S. Ambassador to Italy; H.E. David Peleg, Israel Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Hisashi Owada, Japan Ambassador to the UN; H.E. Sergei Lavrov, Russian Ambassador to the UN.
From the music, film, sports and entertainment industries: Jerry Lewis; Alan King; Tony Randall; Norman Brokow, Chairman & C.E.O. of the William Morris Agency; Sol Kerzner, Chairman & C.E.O. of Sun International; Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of Miramax Films; Director Martin Scorsese; TV personality, Florence Henderson; Frank Sinatra; Kirk Douglas; Charlton Heston; Gregory Peck; Paul Sorvino; Roger E. Mosley; Anthony Quinn; Clive Davis, Chairman & C.E.O. of Arista Records; Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & the Gang; Actress Clarice Taylor from the Cosby Show; Recording Group, Blue Magic; World Famous Latino Group, Projecto Uno; Boxer Roberto Duran; Francis Preston, President of BMI, Inc.; Recording artist Regina Belle; WWOR News Anchor Brenda Blackmon; Actress Jane Fonda; Boxing promoter Don King; Former Miss America Suzette Charles; Morton Gould, Chairman of ASCAP; Tony LoBianco; Actress Eartha Kitt; Legendary sportscaster Howard Kossell; Burt Sugar; Henny Youngman; Boxing great, Sugar Ray Leonard; Football Hall-of-Famer, Lawrence “LT” Taylor; Comedian/actor George Wallace; American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard; R & B.