Rathbun Insurance takes pride in supporting events and initiatives that unite our community and uphold values of equality, justice, and hope. This year, we were honored to contribute to the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration through our Quote for a Cause Campaign. This landmark event, hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan, continues to serve as a beacon of Dr. King's enduring legacy.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a commemorative holiday celebrated nationwide, but our Lansing community holds a special place in its observance. For 40 years, we have had the privilege of hosting the nation’s largest MLK Day luncheon, a signature tribute to Dr. King’s vision of equality and unity. The Mid-Michigan MLK Commission, the nation’s longest-running, continuously operating commission of its kind, has spent decades bringing people together to honor Dr. King’s life and work.
As Elaine Hardy, Chairperson of the MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan, shared, “The commission was first established to push for federal legislation for a national King holiday, and when it was signed into law in 1986, our commission didn’t disband.” In the decades since, the commission has provided invaluable resources to Lansing neighbors, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial support for local agencies.
This year’s MLK Day luncheon on January 20, 2025, was attended by 1,500 community members at the Lansing Center, including members of the Rathbun Insurance team. Our CEO Ben
Rathbun, COO Laura Stoken, account manager Kenwon Simpson, and Laura’s kids proudly represented our agency at this historic event. The atmosphere was electrified as the Detroit Youth Choir took the stage during the ceremony, delivering an incredible performance that had the entire room captivated. Their talent and energy added a powerful, uplifting dimension to the event.
The luncheon also featured an inspiring keynote speech by Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr., a trailblazer of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. LaFayette, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a pivotal figure in the Freedom Rides and Selma Voting Rights Movement, shared a brief but powerful message.
We are grateful to the MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan for their unwavering commitment to our community and their efforts to keep Dr. King’s vision alive. Through our Quote for a Cause Campaign, Rathbun Insurance is proud to have contributed to the event and the broader impact it has on our region.
At Rathbun Insurance, we believe in the power of community and the importance of being there when it matters most. Thank you to everyone who joined us in honoring this significant milestone, and we look forward to continuing to support initiatives that reflect our shared values. Together, we can keep the dream alive.
