FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (For more information, call Jackie Tolbert at 281-355-8189.)

"Keeping the Dream Alive" is the theme for the First Annual MLK Gala, sponsored by the MLK Parade Foundation, Inc. The black tie event, scheduled for Friday, January 12, 2007 at 7:00 PM in Houston's Downtown Aquarium, will honor a group of Houston-area individuals who, through their accomplishments and community service, are helping to keep Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream alive. Tickets for the gala are $75.00 each, and proceeds will provide scholarships to deserving Houston-area students, according to Jacquelyn Tolbert, event chairman.

"The Gala will kick off the MLK Parade Foundation's 2007 celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King," said Charles Stamps, CEO and chairman of the Foundation.

The other events will include a Youth Parade, Saturday, January 13 at 10:00 A.M. in downtown Houston; The Battle of the Bands is also on tap for January 13 at the Reliant Astrodome at 2:00 PM. and, of course, the Thirteenth Annual MLK Grande Parade-Houston , the largest of its kind in the nation, slated for Monday, January 15 in downtown Houston, beginning at 10:00 A.M.

According to Tolbert, honorees for the Gala come from a wide range of fields, including business, entertainment, government, religion and education. 2007 honorees are:
Lauren Anderson, the first African American principal dancer for the Houston Ballet;
Ron Jemison and Sean Jemison, fourth generation owners of the Franklin Beauty School which was founded in 1915 by their great-grandmother; their community involvement includes providing hair services to disadvantaged women;
the honorable Shelia Jackson-Lee, a member of Congress, District 18, who has a long and distinguished career in politics;
Dr. Michelle Anderson Lyn, a Houston pediatrician and assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, who actively involved in the community, including in efforts to fight child abuse;
Jaspreet (Rick) Pal, a Houston businessman whose community service efforts range from assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina to providing cellular phones to military personnel overseas and from providing free tax preparation to police, firemen and emergency workers to teaching inner-city children about finance;
Houston attorney Ron Reynolds who is president of the Missouri City and Fort Bend Vicinity NAACP; Reynolds has volunteered countless hours of pro bono legal work for the economically disadvantaged;
Dr. Carrol Thomas, superintendent of the Beaumont Independent School District, an
esteemed educator with an illustrious career, whose honors include selection as the Texas Superintendent of the Year; he has helped thousands of students realize their dreams by helping provide them excellent educational opportunities;
and Dr. Michael P. Williams, a Houston religious leader and educator who is a member of the board of trustees of Houston Community College. He is founder of HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Excellence).

Tolbert said that the keynote speech is certain to be dynamic and inspiring as it will be delivered by Ralph Draper, superintendent of the Spring Independent School District, an outstanding educator and much sought-after speaker.