Pictured: Steve Fera, EVP of Public Affairs and president of Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross, speaks at the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service launch.
On Wednesday, January 7, Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and President of Government Markets Steve Fera joined Global Citizen, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, organizers, sponsors, and community partners at Temple University to announce plans for the upcoming 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service on the January 19 federal holiday.
The Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service is the oldest and largest event of its kind in the nation and includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The event’s 2026 overarching theme is Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights through equity in education.
“Dr. King believed that a quality education is a fundamental right and essential for breaking cycles of poverty and achieving equality and social change,” said Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service. “His leadership was instrumental in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional and the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination in public schools. But even today, inequities and barriers still exist.”
More than 45 King Day of Service sponsors are led by IBX and IBX affiliate AmeriHealth Caritas.
“Independence Blue Cross is proud to carry Dr. King’s legacy forward. I am also honored to serve as a co-chair for this year’s event. Dr. King’s lifelong commitment to justice and service continues to inspire us. That spirit guides our work as we advance health and well-being, expand access to opportunity, and partner with our communities to build a future where everyone can thrive,” said IBX President and CEO Kelly Munson.
As the regional signature site, Temple University will host dozens of events including an IBX-led volunteer project promoting literacy. IBX Blue Crew volunteers will lead volunteers assembling “Book Arks,” self-standing structures that will offer free books to organizations in local, underserved communities. Literacy kits will also be assembled and distributed to families of young people through Global Citizen’s Reading Captains Program, a partnership with Read By 4th. The Book Arks project is a partnership among Home Depot, Habitat for Humanity, Tree House Books, Book Smiles and the Book Trust.
“Temple University is honored to serve as the host for the 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project,” said Temple President John Fry. “The beliefs and ideals of Dr. King are as resonant today as they were in 1963, and they also align closely with the mission we seek to fulfill as Philadelphia’s public research university and public health system. Among all our community members, we encourage active citizenship and promote the importance of service. I can think of no better way for the Temple community to demonstrate its commitment to civic engagement than by volunteering their time to support this important event.”
The January 19 Day of Service will also feature:
- Rally for Peace & Justice with musical and cultural presentations, organized by the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters
- Workshops promoting year-round civic engagement
- Reading Captains training to connect community volunteers with a citywide movement for early literacy
- Health & Wellness Fair providing information and guidance on community services, including behavioral health
- CPR training led by the Philadelphia Fire Department
- Kids Carnival with educational activities promoting children’s literacy
- Hygiene kit assembly for individuals experiencing homelessness
- Voter education and registration
- 36th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert from the Philadelphia Orchestra and presented by PECO, which will take place at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts and is free to the public
At the Wednesday event, Mayor Parker presented the 28th annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award Pennsylvania to Duane Hershbeger “for your longtime support of Global Citizen, the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, and your lifetime of volunteer service.” Also, Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, unveiled education equity-themed King Day of Service murals created by student artists selected from four area schools.
“In a nation divided, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to Dr. King’s values, principles, and mission, to make his legacy of social justice, diversity, equity, and freedom our mission too, not just on King Day, but every day,” said Bernstein.
The national King Day of Service was created in 1994 through federal legislation co-authored by Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, both veterans of the civil rights movement with Dr. King. Global Citizen organizes the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service and year-round civic engagement programs. For more information, visit info@globalcitizen365.org.