Tickets now available for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast in DuPage

In 1996, William Carroll, then president of Benedictine University, organized the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast.

Over time, it became an annual event that drew over 1,000 attendees and raised money for scholarships.

Sadly, because of Dr. Carroll’s retirement, this important uplifting community event went away.

Recognizing the great need to bring diverse communities together, the Inland Real Estate Group decided to bring back this annual event by working in partnership with 244 community leaders from all walks of life and backgrounds.

With a founding gift from Inland, the DuPage Foundation has created the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund, which will aid the underserved populations of DuPage County in a variety of ways.

Martin Luther King Jr. often spoke of beloved community as a way of transforming people and relationships and creating communities grounded in reconciliation, friendship, and human dignity.

It is in this spirit, they invite you to join the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 15, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Art Norman, the retired NBC News anchorman, will be the master of ceremonies.

Carroll will discuss the history of the breakfast, and Naomi King, the widow of Rev. Alfred Daniel King and sister-in-law to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will give virtual remarks.

Bob Zellner, a Freedom Rider and member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, will give in-person remarks.

The gospel singer Rev. Darius Brooks will be joined by a blended choir of DuPage AME and Cathedral of Grace St. John AME Church.

Register early as they are expecting a sold-out crowd. Tickets are $75, and available at www.dupagefoundation.org/MLKDay.

Sponsorships also are available.

The Impact Sponsor ($10,000) includes two prime tables of 10 and eight tickets to the VIP Roundtable, premier logo placement in print and digital materials, and full-page logo placement in the program slideshow.

The Community Sponsor ($5,000) includes one prime table of 10, prominent logo placement in print and digital materials, and half-page logo placement in the program slideshow.

The Social Sponsor ($2,500) includes one prominent table of 10, listing in print and digital materials, and quarter-page logo placement in the program slideshow.

The Friend Sponsor ($1,000) includes one table of 10, listing in digital materials and listing in the program slideshow.

Proceeds go toward the DuPage Community Foundation’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund.