Organizers for annual MLK Day holiday alter program

Organizers of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund are hoping to at least match last year’s fundraising total of four $1,000 scholarships for area students.

They will have to do so without the annual All People’s Breakfast event to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Monday.

Instead, organizers are hosting the inaugural All People’s Musical Celebration at the Pahrump Nugget Events Center beginning at 3:30 p.m., on Sunday. Tickets are $10.

Lead organizer Delores Joyner said the group was forced to alter its regular program for the first time this year.

“Unfortunately, we had a very bad year last year, with a lot of sickness and deaths within the organization,” she said. “Initially, we were not going to do anything this year in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but we got a lot of calls, so we figured the fastest thing we could do was to hold the musical celebration. Next year, we will go back to the All People’s Breakfast.”

Joyner said she and other organizers were pleased to attract area singers, performers and musicians for the 90-minute program.

“We have quite a few local entertainers lined up from Pahrump and we also have a men’s choir coming in from Las Vegas,” she said. “We have the Pahrump Valley High School band and choir. Even our Pahrump Community Choir will perform.”

While noting that raising thousands of dollars exclusively by way of ticket sales is a tall order, Joyner said the organization is anticipating additional donations from the community.

“We are hoping to raise a lot of donations for our next scholarship cycle because selling tickets at $10 apiece, sadly, does not generate near enough money,” she said. “We will also have a 50/50 raffle on Sunday, so our goal is to get a lot of donations. We will also have refreshments like cookies, punch and coffee.”

Since its beginning in 2002, the Pahrump MLK Scholarship Foundation has contributed more than $40,000 in scholarships to area students looking to advance their education. Aside from providing scholarships to students each year, the foundation also makes regular donations to area nonprofit organizations.

For advance tickets, call Delores Joyner at 404 432-3709.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes