Jan. 17, 2010
WASHINGTON - Former Georgetown University men's basketball player Dikembe Mutombo (I'91) will be the recipient of the eighth annual John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award. Mutombo will receive the award in honor of his work to better the lives of others during the annual "Let Freedom Ring" Concert to be held at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 6 p.m.
Every year during the Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration week, Georgetown University presents the "Legacy of a Dream Award" to an individual or organization whose contributions to community service or social justice reflect the values and ideals upheld by Dr. King. The award and activities are part of the University's ongoing "Let Freedom Ring" initiative honoring Dr. King's legacy.
Grammy Award winner India.Arie will perform during Georgetown's weeklong celebration in memory of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mutombo is the president of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which focuses on improving the health, education and quality of life for the people in Mutombo's native Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Georgetown alumnus played 18 seasons in the NBA, but now spends most of his time working to improve the lives of others. His organization is working to provide comprehensive health care at the foundation-built Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital.
The first "Legacy of a Dream Award" was presented in 2003 to John Thompson, Coach Emeritus of Georgetown men's basketball team, in honor of his service to the community and dedication to the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Past awardees include Colin and Alma Powell (2004), William H. Gray III of the United Negro College Fund (2005), Rosa Parks, who received the award posthumously (2006), the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (2007) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) who received the award in 2008.
About Georgetown's Let Freedom Ring Initiative
Georgetown University's annual Let Freedom Ring Initiative honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a series of academic, artistic, and extracurricular programs that examine Dr. King's life and work and address the contemporary challenges our nation faces in order to fulfill his dream of justice and equality for all people. For a complete listing of the week's events, visit http://mlk.georgetown.edu.
