• A Call to Action -- Yes Montgomery Can!
• January 19 -- Celebrate Truth, Justice and Equality

A Call to Action -- Yes Montgomery Can!

Just over two years ago, in my Inaugural address, I said: "I believe that our county's greatness comes from our commitment and compassion to reach out to those among us who are most vulnerable. A community is great when it has the commitment to help those with special needs, the homeless, and the elderly.

"But, a great community like Montgomery County should always do what we can reasonably do to assist the truly needy in our midst. In many ways, we really are our brothers' -- and sisters' -- keepers."

This is especially true today when our country and our community have been impacted by a severe recession that has affected us all in one way or another.

The holidays are over, but the need remains. That's why I'm urging you to join me in our new grass-roots campaign called "Yes Montgomery Can!" that is designed to help our neediest families and individuals.

We have designated January 16 – 20 as the Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service & Sacrifice and are asking residents to take any or all of a few simple steps that can bring help and hope to our neighbors in need.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Collect and donate food to restock our local food banks.
• Make a personal commitment to volunteer service this year, starting with MLK Day on January 19 and continuing the commitment with a non-profit organization of your choice for the remainder of 2009.
• Contribute to the Montgomery County Community Foundation's "Neighbors in Need Montgomery" matching fund to provide emergency services for the poor. A generous donor contributed $100,000 to a matching fund, so every dollar you give is worth two.

President-elect Obama has called for a new spirit of service and sacrifice, so there is no better time than in the days leading up to his inauguration to respond and get involved.

Thanks to our Office of Community Partnerships and the Jewish Community Relations Council for taking the lead on this extraordinary campaign to mobilize thousands of Montgomery County residents to take action. Nearly three dozen sponsors from the public and private sectors have signed on to support this effort and we couldn't have gotten this far without their generosity, but now we need you.

To learn more about when, where and how to get involved, visit www.yesmontgomerycan.org. To sign up, call Yes Montgomery Can! at 301-348-7367 or email volunteer@yesmontgomerycan.org.

You can make a difference! Yes, you can! Yes, Montgomery can!

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January 19 -- Celebrate Truth, Justice and Equality

A special celebration and tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda on Monday, January 19, from 4 to 6 p.m.

WUSA TV 9 Anchorwoman J.C. Hayward will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and the world-renowned Howard University Choir is scheduled to perform.

Standby seats may be available the day of the program. It is recommended that those interested in attending this event on a standby, space available basis arrive at the Music Center at Strathmore by 3 p.m. where a standby, wait list line will form. If seats become available, they will be given out around 3:40 p.m. in time to see the entire show. Those without tickets are not guaranteed to see the show, but there is a good chance seats will open up.

To view further information about this event, visit the Strathmore website: http://www.strathmore.org/

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