Proceeds support local schools through the Adopt-A-Classroom initiative

DETROIT, Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former U.S. representative and NBC news analyst Harold Ford Jr. will deliver the keynote address during Wayne State University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Luncheon. The event, which brings together the metro Detroit community to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of King, kicks off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, located at 3711 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

Ford served Tennessee in the U.S. Congress for 10 years on both the financial services and budget committees. He is the managing director and senior client relationship manager at Morgan Stanley, a news analyst for NBC and MSNBC, and a professor of public policy at the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

"Wayne State's tribute to Dr. King is our way of amplifying his call for citizens to demonstrate brotherly love and to selflessly serve those in need," said WSU Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Patrick Lindsey. "The program also affords us the opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations who exemplify these characteristics."

Net proceeds from the event will support Adopt-A-Classroom, a nationally recognized organization that raises funds to help teachers purchase resources for their classrooms. The university, in partnership with its sponsors, has donated more than $33,000 to support the organization's local giving efforts.

The tribute also includes a presentation of the Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Community Leadership Awards.This year's recipients are WSU Associate Professor of Urban Planning Kami Pothukuchi, the WSU Student Veterans Organization and Raising Our Community's Knowledge.The awards, named after late civil rights leader and Wayne State administrator Arthur L. Johnson, honor individuals and organizations — nominated by the public — whose contributions positively affect the community.

Tickets are $10 for the program only, or $65 for the program with strolling luncheon. Parking is free. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.wayne.edu/communityengagement/mlk or call 313-577-5284.

About Wayne State University's Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute
Wayne State University makes the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday a month-long celebration. In addition to a day of service on the designated holiday, the university hosts a program and luncheon commemorating King's legacy while promoting community engagement.  

Established in the late 1990s, the tribute has featured prominent civil rights leaders and advocates, including author and activist C. T. Vivian, world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Benjamin Carson, Essence magazine editor emeritus Susan Taylor, prominent Detroit minister Rev. Charles G. Adams, NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and political strategist and syndicated columnist Donna Brazile.

A comprehensive digital press kit is available at:
https://docs.wayne.edu/50ec41df19c04.pdf

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 29,000 students.

SOURCE Wayne State University