Paying Tribute to a Legend

“We had a dream that one day our fraternity brother would stand on ground that has only been used to memorialize presidents or military personnel,” said  Michael Woodward, who works at and is an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity member.

Woodward and his fraternity spearheaded fundraising throughout the state for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial which was dedicated by President Barack Obama on Sunday, October 16. The dedication was postponed in late August due to Hurricane Irene.

The dedication was rescheduled, and with good weather predicted Woodward and his fellow bus passengers were bound for Washington, D.C. Throughout the weekend, activities were scheduled to memorialize King and his historic accomplishments.

Departing late Friday night, Woodward and his group of 23 made up of students, business leaders and community activists arrived in D.C. early Saturday morning. While there, they visited the monuments on the mall, returning early Monday morning.

During the more than eight-hour bus ride home, Woodward said he had time to reflect on what it took to make the event happen. Woodward contributed to making this dream a reality, he made many cross state trips, organized fundraising events and solicited donations from businesses, corporations and private donors. Other chapters of his fraternity organized and held similar fundraising events, as well.

King’s fraternity helped raise $117 million of the $120 million raised. Woodward, with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, helped to raise $387,000 from donations in the state of Georgia alone in a ten-year period. As direct contributors, the fraternity as a whole raised $3 million worldwide, making them the largest group of direct donors to the King monument.

Fundraising events included galas, church collections, breakfasts and luncheons, golf tournaments, and silent auctions.

Many of those who attended the dedication with Woodward shed tears of joy and relief at witnessing it in person. In fact, some of the bus passengers participated in the civil rights movement with King. They remarked that King’s spirit was in and around the tribute.

Woodward, , is one of the founders and a director of the L.E.A.D. (Leadership Education and Development) Foundation, whose motto is “developing tomorrow’s leaders today."

The foundation works with youth from sixth grade to college in developing and teaching soft skills outside of classrooms, such as public speaking, interviewing skills, test taking skills, college entry process and health and welfare, etiquette and how to dress for success. Participants go on college tours, receive scholarships and laptops.  

Some of these students in LEAD accompanied Woodward and others on the bus ride to the nation’s capital. While there they also witnessed the dedication ceremony that Woodward and his fraternity worked so hard to bring about.

“To actually stand on those sacred grounds and to see all of the efforts and many contributions that went into making this monument of Martin Luther King, Jr. possible is just indescribable,” Woodward said.