Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Honors the Legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the 40th Anniversary of His Death with National Call to Service

PHILADELPHIA, April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., one of the oldest Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations in the United States, honored the life and legacy of Civil Rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by calling its thousands of members and supporters to continue King's enormous work by committing to an aggressive nationwide Call to Service.

In encouraging its more than 125,000 members to serve in the country's greater good, Grand Polemarch Dwayne M. Murray said, "Martin Luther King, Jr. outlined a dream that is a blue print to a higher calling, one that requires each of us to see our hopes embedded within the aspirations of the least of us. There is no greater way to live up to King's legacy than through providing service to others."

Since its founding at Indiana University in 1911 Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has been a leader and enthusiastic participant in the struggle to give a hand-up to those who need it most. Murray said, "On this day, while we pause and reflect upon the commitment Dr. King gave to that struggle, it is important we do more than just think. We must also act."

Murray encouraged the more than 700 Undergraduate and Alumni Chapters of the fraternity to recommit themselves to the fraternity's major initiatives such as its Guide Right programs, which train and mentor young disadvantaged students and its Social Action Programs, which provide opportunities for members to get involved in the achievements of their campuses and communities. Murray recalled, "Our Founders thought the fraternity to be born out of the need for social change and we should always seek to provide positive social change."

As part of the Fraternity's Call to Service, Murray reiterated the organizations commitment to its "Sunday of Hope" Initiative which was launched in January of this year to raise $500,000 to support the efforts of St. Jude Children's Hospital. "Chronic illness among children is a heavy burden we must try to eradicate" Murray said, "and unless we take care of them in times of sickness, we are not living up to the message Dr. King preached, marched on behalf of, and ultimately gave his life for forty years ago."