Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

The 2024 Day of Service Projects will either be in-person or presented via a video conferencing service.  Check the calendar under "Events" for how to access each listed program. The list of projects include:

• Day of Service Kick-Off Breakfast for Volunteers with Keynote Address
• A Pocketbook Full of Toiletries and Sock Stuffing Projects
• Beautification Service Project
• City-Wide Donation Project
• Penn Reads Literacy & Children's Project 
• The College Admissions Process
• Class of '80/Sayre Mentoring Program
• The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Vigil

History of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

The first national King holiday was observed in 1986, eighteen years after Dr. King’s death. In 1988, appalled by the lack of commitment and understanding of Dr. Kings’ lifetime of service to others, Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry Harris Wofford, and his executive assistant, Todd Bernstein realized the national observance was becoming for millions just another day off. These two men decided to organize a day of service—a day with the theme, “A Day On not A Day Off.”

In 1996, in conjunction with the Greater Philadelphia Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the University of Pennsylvania added this Annual Day of Service to the celebrations already being coordinated by the African-American Resource Center throughout campus.

In 2001, the University’s then president, Dr Judith Rodin made the King holiday an official University day off to allow students and staff to participate in service activities. 

Initially, the Day of Service activity, consisted of a group of volunteers cleaning and painting at a community site. Typical sites were schools, social service agencies and recreational facilities in West Philadelphia. After several years, plans were made by the Day of Service Planning Committee to expand the number and type of service projects to include indoor activities suitable to families with young children, seasoned citizens and the physically challenged.

Through radio, television and print media knowledge about the breath and variety of service projects sponsored by the University became widespread. Community members beyond the University and the West Philadelphia community began to join the projects.