Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Serving Others

This weekend, we celebrate the work of an extraordinary man, Martin Luther King, Jr., whose commitment to human dignity changed the course of history.?I can’t help but think about his legacy of service to others. He inspired the hopeless and lifted up those who needed him most. He once said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”

Standing with him throughout his entire crusade was his confidante, inspiration, best friend and truth-teller – his wife, Coretta Scott King.?She not only fought for the rights of African Americans, but also led the charge against bigotry towards other disenfranchised groups at the time, including women and the LGBT community.?A prolific author, one of Mrs. King’s quoted phrases, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members,” is even more relevant today than when she wrote it decades ago.

To follow their example in serving others, millions of people around the country—and many of my Bristol Myers Squibb colleagues—set aside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day for working with family and friends to help their communities. ?Days of Service, such as these, are not only an honor, but empowers each of us to connect with our better selves.

Supporting people with cancer is my job and my purpose. When my parents were fighting cancer, so many people demonstrated acts of kindness that I will never forget. ?While we make the time to serve on this day, this kind of outreach should be considered every day.