Todd Bernstein

Bernstein holds a B.A. in Politics and American History from Ithaca College and a M.G.A. from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Center of Government.{{cite web |date=1983-11-02 |title=History |url=http://www.mlkdayofservice.org/history.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305211534/http://www.mlkdayofservice.org/history.aspx |archive-date=2012-03-05 |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=Mlkdayofservice.org}}

In 1994, Bernstein collaborated with Harris Wofford and Congressman John Lewis to launch the King Day of Service, an initiative to encourage volunteer participation in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. that first took place in 1996. In 1999, the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service was recognized as a national Point of Light by the Points of Light Foundation.{{Cite web |last=jaytennier |title=Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service |url=https://www.pointsoflight.org/awards/greater-philadelphia-martin-luther-king-day-of-service/?utm_source= |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Points of Light |language=en-US}} In 2012, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden participated.{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-17/news/30635481_1_vice-president-biden-volunteers-girard-college |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224020755/http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-17/news/30635481_1_vice-president-biden-volunteers-girard-college |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |title=A day of service to honor a life of service - Philly.com |publisher=Articles.philly.com |date=2012-01-17 |access-date=2012-08-23}}

Bernstein also founded MLK365, which aimed at extending the King Day of Service into a year-round civic engagement initiative in the Greater Philadelphia region.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/champions/martin-luther-king-jr/todd-bernstein |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220160925/https://www.whitehouse.gov/champions/martin-luther-king-jr/todd-bernstein |url-status=dead |archive-date=2016-12-20 |title=Todd Bernstein |publisher=White House |date= |access-date=2012-08-05}}

In 1997, Bernstein served as national planner for the Presidents' Summit for America's Future. The five-day summit that brought U.S. presidents and community leaders to address civic engagement and opportunities for young citizens, The summit led to the creation of America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth.{{cite web |date= |title=Americas Promise Alliance – Our History |url=http://www.americaspromise.org/About-the-Alliance/APA-History.aspx |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=Americaspromise.org}}

In 2000, Bernstein served as director of the National Shadow Convention (a bipartisan event held concurrently with the Republican and Democrat national conventions).{{cite web |date= |title=LEAD – A Get HandsOn Summit: Speakers |url=http://www.handsonnetwork.org/LEAD/speakers |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=HandsOn Network}} From 2006 to 2008, he served as director of the King Day of Service National Expansion Initiative.

In 2012, Bernstein was honored as a ‘Champion of Change’ by the Obama administration for his contributions to civic engagement.{{cite web |date=2012-01-16 |title=Local King Day organizer wins over the skeptics - Philly.com |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-16/news/30632180_1_civil-rights-service-americorps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231003/http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-16/news/30632180_1_civil-rights-service-americorps |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |access-date=2012-08-23 |publisher=Articles.philly.com}} He also received recognitions such as the Points of Light Foundation’s National Award (2000) and the Jewish Social Policy Action Network Social Justice Award (2009).{{cite web |author= |date=2006-01-16 |title=Creating a central organizing system for a city-wide day of service event | Resource Center |url=http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/practices/17356 |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=Nationalserviceresources.org}} In 2013, he was honored by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C., with the inaugural Public Service Award.{{cite web |title=Snaps of Service Winners {{!}} Bipartisan Policy Center |url=http://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/2013/07/18/snaps-service-winners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719013243/http://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/2013/07/18/snaps-service-winners |archive-date=2013-07-19 |website=bipartisanpolicy.org}}{{cite web |title=MLK Day founder honored with award » Chestnut Hill Local Philadelphia PA |url=http://chestnuthilllocal.com/blog/2013/07/31/mlk-day-founder-honored-with-award/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142203/http://chestnuthilllocal.com/blog/2013/07/31/mlk-day-founder-honored-with-award/ |archive-date=2014-02-22 |website=chestnuthilllocal.com}} In 2012, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists recognized him with the organization's Community Service Award.{{Cite web |title=- YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVSr2BWrJyI |website=YouTube}} In 2009, Bernstein was awarded the Jewish Social Policy Action Network Social Justice Award{{cite web |date=2009-10-15 |title=2009 JAPAN Social Justice Award to Todd Bernstein | Jewish Social Policy Action Network |url=http://www.japan.org/news/2009-jspan-social-justice-award-todd-bernstein |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=Japan.org}} and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Legacy Award. In 2003, the Philadelphia Inquirer presented Bernstein with its Citizen Hero Award.{{cite web |date=2003-01-20 |title=How to honor King Todd Bernstein doesn't want this holiday to ever become just another day off. |url=http://articles.philly.com/2003-01-20/news/25466951_1_king-holiday-idea-of-community-service-federal-holiday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224020800/http://articles.philly.com/2003-01-20/news/25466951_1_king-holiday-idea-of-community-service-federal-holiday |archive-date=2014-02-24 |access-date=2012-08-05 |publisher=Philly.com}}

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Category:Living people

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Category:Ithaca College alumni

Category:Fels Institute of Government alumni