Celebrating the Dream: 7 Interesting Facts About MLK Jr. Day
A Day of Community Service
In addition to being a federal holiday, the King observance is known as a date set aside for volunteer activities and community service.
"In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort," explained the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
"Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service — a 'day on, not a day off.'"