NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY- JULY 18 REASON TO CELEBRATE

Representative Helen Giddings (D-Dallas) will host Nelson Mandela International Day at St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church located at 5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75223 on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at both the 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services, which is open to the public. This event commemorates one of history’s most revered human rights activists, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his efforts to end South African apartheidNelson Mandela spent much of that time in the Robben Island facility. Following his 1990 release, he was elected President of the new democratic South Africa in the country’s first free election.

In 2009, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 18th as Nelson Mandela International Day.

As Honorary Consul for South Africa to Texas, Ms. Giddings is proud to lead the effort in Texas this year. The day is called, “It’s in Your Hands,” and will encourage a call to service for all Texans. Everyone is asked to volunteer 67 minutes of their day on July 18th, to volunteer and to help others. For 67 years, the Nobel Peace prize winner, Mandela devoted his life to humanitarian service as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker, and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.

Here in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the day will be filled with public service on Nelson Mandela’s actual birthday, July 18th. Ms. Giddings will be dedicating her 67 minutes of service at the North Texas Food Bank starting at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and encourages anyone who is interested to join her. On Sunday, July 19th, there will be a celebration to salute organizations and volunteers at St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas. The celebration will inspire all people to embrace the values of humanity and peace shared by Nelson Mandela.

There was also a screening of the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” which chronicles the life of Nelson Mandela. The screening was held Wednesday, July 15, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., at St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church. This screening was open to the public.

For more information contact Stephani Clark at 972-224-6795 or email Stephani.clark@house.state.tx.us or Morgan Constantino at 512-463-0953 or email morgan.constantino@house.state.tx.us.