Five leaders celebrated at the 33rd International MLK Legacy Breakfast for their contributions to education, diplomacy, philanthropy, and public service.
Washington, DC – In a celebration of leadership and service, five leaders were honored with the Martin Luther King Award for Leadership on January 19, 2025, during the 33rd International MLK Legacy Breakfast. Held at the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, DC, the event served as a tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy and the values he championed.
The honorees represented diverse fields, each embodying Dr. King’s commitment to justice, equality, and service. Shahin D. Mafi received the King Legacy Award for Global Philanthropy and Service; Mary Royce was honored with the King Legacy Award for Leadership in Global Education; Maurice Edington received the King Legacy Award for Leadership in Education; Karen Pierce was recognized with the King Legacy Award for Global Diplomacy and Service; Joanna McClinton was awarded the King Legacy Award for Government and Public Service; and Rosie Allen-Herring received the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Award.
Mafi, Founder and Trustee of the Azar Foundation for Children of the World, reflected on King’s far-reaching influence. “Dr. King was a great man and a true human being who not only had a significant impact on the lives of African Americans in the United States, but his influence extended internationally,” Mafi said. “I am honored to be a recipient of this award.”
Mafi’s foundation has provided vital support to children globally, ensuring they have access to education and healthcare — a mission deeply aligned with Dr. King’s ideals of equality and opportunity.
Pierce, the British Ambassador to the United States, highlighted the resonance of Dr. King’s vision during her diplomatic career. “When I was working on the Balkans, when I was working in Afghanistan and at the UN, Dr. King’s statement about the arc of the moral universe bending towards justice kept us going in some of the darkest moments of conflict,” she shared. “His dream of a society built on justice, equal opportunity, and love for one another is as relevant and necessary today as it was when he first spoke of it.”
Pierce’s recognition underscores the global significance of Dr. King’s message, which transcends national borders and cultural divides.
Both Royce, former Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, and Edington, President of the University of the District of Columbia, spoke passionately about the transformative power of education.
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“Dr. King once said, ‘The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education,’” Royce noted. “Dr. King’s vision was never confined to one nation. It was universal. He believed in the interdependence of all people, famously stating, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ His words challenge us to think globally.”
Edington shared his personal journey, highlighting how education shaped his life and career. “As a little boy growing up in California, raised by my grandparents with no sense of how to get out of my circumstance, I was fortunate enough to realize early on that one of the greatest pathways to upward mobility is through education,” he said. “Every part of my life after the age of 18 has been shaped by my connection to higher education.”
Edington said his story exemplifies Dr. King’s belief in education as a tool for empowerment and equality.
McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, emphasized the importance of perseverance and purpose. “Even in times of uncertainty and darkness, there is a purpose for your path,” McClinton said. “There are so many people who’ve gone before you to give you the privilege, if nothing else, than to be at this breakfast this morning and commemorate the progress that has been made not only in our great nation but around the world because of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”
As the first woman and African American to hold her position, McClinton’s leadership reflects the strides made toward inclusion and equality in government.
McClinton was presented the award by Indian American philanthropist Frank F. Islam, a recipient of the MLK Legacy Award in 2016. The Potomac, Maryland, resident noted that McClinton “is walking in the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr. and has begun to teach classes of her own.”
Islam, a major Democratic Party donor and fundraiser, highlighted McClinton’s achievements during her first term as speaker, including advancing more than 400 bipartisan bills and establishing three new standing committees to support legislative progress. “She is also committed to bridging divides between Democratic and Republican legislators, addressing the needs of both rural and urban communities in Pennsylvania,” Islam said.
“She is truly a worthy recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for Government and Public Service,” he concluded, thanking her for the miles she has walked and the miles she “will walk in the future to carry Dr. King’s good words and work forward.”
The awards ceremony, held a day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, drew dozens of diplomats, educators, and community leaders. The event served as both a celebration and a call to action, urging individuals to continue advancing Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, and service.
Allen-Herring, the Dorothy Height award receipient and a leader in public-private partnerships, philanthropy and business strategy, is the president and CEO of United Way NCA.