Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service

First observed in 1986, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday honoring America’s preeminent civil rights leader, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy of equality, justice, and nonviolence. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act of 1994 designating the holiday as a day of community service, to be marked by citizen-driven, voluntary efforts in recognition of King’s legacy. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is part of United We Serve, the national initiative calling Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to pressing challenges. To learn more about King's legacy, visit The King Center.