Several SGRV staff gathered on January 15, 2024 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a day of service. Executive Director of Administration Mark Tarasiewicz, Communications Associate Michael Vinci, IT Director Stan Tyszka, Paralegal Alex Caramuche, and Receptionist Oliver Trout came together on a frigid January morning to joyously serve their community.

The group partook in a cleanup of the Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia, a vital watershed and recreational space for the city. The activity was sponsored by the nonprofit Friends of the Wissahickon, which is committed to the maintenance and upkeep of the park. There, they took up their clippers and saws and went to work clearing out some overgrowth of invasive plant species. It was a valiant effort indeed, and everyone was pleasantly surprised at the amount of overgrowth that managed to be cleared out and the profound difference it made in the park’s appearance.

In addition to those that went to help clean up the park, a number of SGRV staff participated in MLK Day through their own service activities in addition to educational discussions and program viewings with friends and family regarding Dr. King’s legacy.

The SGRV Florida office held an MLK service activity working with the Ali Spears Foundation to raise money for pediatric cancer by hosting a luminary fundraiser. Participants honored loved ones with a personalized message that was displayed on a luminary bag in St. Petersburg’s First Central Tower lobby.

The MLK Day of Service is a nationwide effort taken up by Americans annually to give back to their communities in the spirit of Dr. King’s commitment to service. As Dr. King once stated, “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service.”

Instead of a day off, Many companies and firms across America, including SGRV, approach MLK day as a “day on,” allowing employees to give back to their communities for a day in lieu of just coming into the office.

As we reflect on the importance of days like this, we remember to continue teaching the lessons of Dr. King through our words and actions for not just one day, but throughout the year.