By Will Fairless
Associate Editor
The Dream Day Foundation, with its partners (Kroger, Inc.; McDonald’s of Auburn, Opelika, Shorter and Tuskegee’ Harris Funeral H, Inc.; and Opelika City Council) hosted its 22nd Annual Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Celebration, titled “URMYHERO,” on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at 11 a.m. via YouTube.
The celebration was dedicated, according to the Foundation, “to those affected by COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter.”
Demond Moore was the master of ceremonies, and he introduced every portion of the celebration, which portions included students identifying their heroes (other than parents and grandparents, Lebron James and the Obamas were among the most popular mentions) and sponsor-advertisement skits recorded by the students.
There were also several musical performances, such as of the Black National Anthem and “Grateful” by Demitriace “Chee Chee” Jordan.
Dr. Camille Floyd announced the recipients of the Dream Day Scholarship, which was created in 2014 for local high school students. They are: Benét Harris (Opelika High School), Kendarius Spencer (Smiths Station High School), Taylor Smith (Opelika High School), Nathaniel Cornell Davis (Beauregard High School), Taylor Davis (Opelika High School), Carmen Nunn (Opelika High School), Ariel Wilson (Opelika High School) and Braylon Prince (Opelika High School).
Dr. Karen Anderson introduce Rev. Clifford Jones and Barbara Patton, who presented the 2021 Dream Achiever Award. “The Dream Achiever Award is a highly respected and prestigious award presented to an individual or group in Lee County who exemplifies the character and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the community,” Anderson said.
The winner of the 2021 Dream Achiever Award is the Boys and Girls Club of greater Lee County. “This organization has been around for a long time providing support for the young men and women of Lee County, and they’ve done an outstanding job,” Jones said.
Marion A. Sankey, the Dream Day Foundation’s founder and executive director, closed the celebration by saying, “Remember, you too can celebrate a hero every day.”
The celebration is available in its entirety at youtu.be/1FH_a6pnM94.
