Chevrolet Announces 'Table of Brotherhood Project'

Four-city tour celebrates lasting influence of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Jun 29, 2011, 01:32 ET

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Chevrolet is sponsoring the "Table of Brotherhood Project," a four-city tour honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. that culminates with the Aug. 28 dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C.

"We admire and respect Dr. King's eternal legacy and all that he represents," said GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson. "This is an important moment in our nation's history and we hope this memorial will inspire others to turn their own dreams into action".

The dedication will mark the 48th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech following tour stops in Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington, where diverse community leaders will evoke King's spirit though dialogue on topical social issues

Tour stops will feature a table designed by Scott Tucker of Raunjiba furniture, where people of all backgrounds and opinions are invited to participate in culturally and socially relevant conversations around King's vision. The discussions will be moderated by Roland Martin, a CNN News contributor and commentator for TV One Cable Network.

The Table of Brotherhood Project is highlighted in a TV ad that aired during the recent BET Awards. The ad features Americans from all walks of life taking their seats at an endless table weaving its way through beaches, schools, streets and restaurants to Washington, D.C. The ad was created for Chevrolet by SpikeDDB, its African-American advertising agency of record.

To date, General Motors and the General Motors Foundation are among the largest sponsors of the King memorial, having donated more than $10 million to the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Both are committed to raising public awareness of the Memorial in the nation's capital.

The Memorial will be positioned in a direct line between the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials on the National Mall, where King delivered his most famous speech on Aug. 28, 1963. The centerpiece of the Memorial, the "Stone of Hope," will feature a 30-foot likeness of King made of natural elements. It will contain excerpts of his sermons and public addresses to serve as living testaments of his vision of America. It will be the first memorial on the National Mall to honor someone other than a U.S. President.

"We are deeply grateful to General Motors and the General Motors Foundation for their consistent and steadfast support, which has helped build the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in our nation's capital," said Harry E. Johnson, Sr., president and CEO of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. "We look forward to the conversations the Table of Brotherhood project tour will create and are certain they will be a meaningful prelude to the August 28 dedication of our nation's memorial to Dr. King, one of the world's most influential leaders."

The Chevrolet.com/MLK site is the hub for all information related to the Table of Brotherhood Project. The site also has space for visitors to join a virtual Table of Brotherhood conversation by posting thoughts through video and photos around a number of topics inspired by King.

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 120 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Volt. Cruze Eco offers EPA-est. 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of gas-powered extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com

About the GM Foundation

Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM), one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 202,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 30 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall, and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

About the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc.

A Memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is being built on the National Mall, situated adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and in a direct line between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Congress passed a Joint Resolution in 1996 authorizing Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to establish a Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring Dr. King. The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on November 13, 2006. McKissack & McKissack / Turner Construction Company / Tompkins Builders, Inc. / Gilford Corporation Joint Venture serves as the Design-Build Team. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.buildthedream.org.

About SpikeDDB

SpikeDDB, a joint partnership between filmmaker Spike Lee and Omnicom Group's DDB Worldwide, opened its doors in 1997. Now headquartered in the creatively burgeoning D.U.M.B.O. area of Brooklyn, the agency focuses on fully integrated communications targeted at trendsetter, transcultural and millennial audiences. Its mission is to help evolve brands by activating their cultural connections. SpikeDDB is the African-American market agency of record for General Motors' largest automaker, Chevrolet. More information can be found by emailing [email protected]

SOURCE General Motors