Book Trust proudly partners with Global Citizen, a nonprofit organization promoting, leading, and advancing social justice efforts through ongoing civic engagement, to bring 3,000 books to children in Philadelphia. On January 20, 2025, Global Citizen hosts the 30th Martin Luther King Day of Service with a signature event at the Girard College Armory in Philadelphia. The Day of Service is the largest in the country honoring the legacy of the civil rights leader.
Attendees will find Reading Captains, a group of community-based literacy advocates, and Book Trust, a nonprofit early literacy organization, at the event with opportunities for children to choose and own books that explore their interests and curiosity. Volunteers will assemble Literacy Kits that will include donated books to be distributed to families throughout the area.
For 24 years, Book Trust and the global children’s publisher Scholastic have been literacy partners; in support of Book Trust’s philanthropic network, Scholastic donated the books for Global Citizen’s day of service to help further their shared mission of increased book access, choice, ownership, and joy for children.
Since 2018, Book Trust has partnered with the School District of Philadelphia to support more than 52,000 students in choosing and owning 887,246 books! The partnership continues this year with more than 50 schools participating.
Some 45 King Day of Service sponsors are led by Independence Blue Cross. Other sponsors include Keystone First, the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, Jefferson, Highmark, Vanguard, Comcast Spectacor, FS Investments, Urban Affairs Coalition, Philadelphia Foundation, Giant Company, M&T Bank, PECO, Target, DTLR, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Girard College, Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters, Black Doctors Consortium, Liberty Coca Cola, Hazzouri and Associates, School District of Philadelphia, Greenberg Traurig, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Youth Service America, Committee of Seventy, iHeart Media, Cozen O’Connor, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Ready Willing and Able, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, High Point Café, WURD Radio, Spikes, City of Philadelphia and PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office of Citizen Service.
The 2025 King Day of Service is co-chaired by Mayor Cherelle Parker; Gregory E. Deavens, President & CEO, Independence Blue Cross; Bill Golderer, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey; Rev. Dr. Alyn Waller, Senior Pastor, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church; Dr. Joe Cacchione, CEO, Jefferson, Ken Lawrence, Senior Vice President, Highmark Blue Shield, Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia; Pedro Ramos, President and CEO, the Philadelphia Foundation; David Hardy, President, Girard College; Judge Ida Chen, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; Ed Hazzouri, Chairman, Hazzouri & Associates; David Brown, Assistant Dean, Temple University and Rev. Bonnie Camarda, President, Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia.
Global Citizen organizes the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service and year-round civic engagement programs. Anyone interested in volunteering or hosting a service project should register at mlkdayofservice.org or call 215-259-8374.
Global Citizen expects more than 50 organizations and several thousand people to attend the 30th MLK Day of Service.
