PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTES
$1 MILLION TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL MEMORIAL PROJECT

At a Washington, DC press conference, Art Ryan, (center) Chairman/CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc., announced a $1 million contribution to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Project. Joining Ryan at the press conference were Harry E. Johnson, Sr. (left), President/CEO, Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., and Congressman Donald Payne, of Newark, Jersey.

(AANEWSWIRE)Washington, DC ----The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project moved another step closer to the needed $100 million for its completion as a result of a $1 million contribution by Prudential Financial, Inc.

Art Ryan, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc., announced at a Washington, DC press conference the $ 1 million contribution because of the company's commitment to the ideals and dreams of Dr. King for social justice and equal opportunity for all Americans.

Joining in the press conference were Congressman Donald Payne, who represents Newark , New Jersey , the national headquarters for Prudential, and Harry E. Johnson , Sr. , President and CEO of the Washington, Dc Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.

In his comments, Ryan said. "The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial-depicting the mountain of despair and the stone of hope---will remind us of our obligations to one another and our duty as citizens of the United States to defend our country's founding ideals of freedom and democracy for all."

Rep. Payne recalled how Prudential had invited Dr. King to Newark in l965 to speak and commended the company for "stepping up to the plate" to support the King Memorial.

Johnson reported that the King Memorial Project has raised $79 million toward its $100 million goal and indicated that an announcement would be made soon on awarding a contract for construction of the memorial site.

Rep. John Lewis, who co-authored the legislation authorizing the memorial, issued a statement thanking Ryan and Prudential for "the generous contribution to help bring the MLK, Jr. Memorial Foundation closer to the building of a moving memorial to a great American, Dr. Martin Luther , King, Jr."

The memorial honoring Dr. King will be built on the National Mall, situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials.

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