Four smiling children wearing blue t-shirts with an educational center logo pose together against an orange background with the word 'support' in large letters.

SUPPORT KING CENTER KIDS

THROUGH BIRDIES FOR CHARITY

Birdies for Charity season is here! When you give to the MLK Center through Birdies, your donation goes directly to our After-School Program and Summer Day Camp—both free for families in our community.

Even better, we receive 100% of your donation, plus a bonus match of at least 5% from the Birdies program. That extra support helps us create safe, enriching spaces where kids can learn, grow, and have fun.

Here's how to give:

  1. Visit Birdies for Charity Donation Page

  2. Click the green “Donate Now” button

  3. Enter Martin Luther King Jr Community Center or Bird number 1775

  4. Choose your donation amount and complete the form

You can also mail a check to the MLK Center: 630 9th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201
Please make checks payable to Birdies for Charity. Checks must be received by July 1st to count.

Thank you to the John Deere Classic and Birdies for Charity for making this possible, and thank you for believing in our King Center Kids.

Show Your Support for the MLK Center

Donate

While some of our programs are fully grant-funded, all of our youth programs are made possible 100% through the generosity of individual and corporate donations, and local foundation grants.

When you give to the MLK Center, you support a strengths-based approach to youth development; you invest in tomorrow’s leaders.

Thank you!

3% Cover the Fee

Online Recurring Donations Now Available

Just simply select a Weekly or Monthly Recurring Donation and set up a Customer Account when you process your donation.

If you have questions about recurring donations, please contact Shaniece Payne, Resource Development Coordinator at (309) 732-2993 or email.

Need to adjust your recurring donation?

Login Here

Giving via a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)? You’ll need this information:

  • Legal name: Martin Luther King Jr Center Inc

  • Mailing address: 630 9th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201 USA

  • EIN: 36-3100490

A group of five people wearing blue "Quad Cities" T-shirts standing and sitting outside by a building, next to a set of raised garden beds. They appear to be engaged in a community or volunteer event.

Want to volunteer?

Contact Us

Program Needs

The people and families we work with are in continual need of some essential items. If you're able to donate any of the following, please bring them to the MLK Center Mon-Fri between 8am-5pm.

  • menstrual hygiene products

  • diapers of all sizes

  • laundry detergent

  • household cleaning supplies

  • deodorant and body wash

Have you ever wondered how the MLK Center is funded? 

The Martin Luther King Center is both a Department of the City of Rock Island, and also a registered 501(c)3 non-profit.

The City of Rock Island owns the building and the land it sits on. Roughly 8% of our annual budget comes from city funds, and is for building operations and maintenance. 

The MLK Center must fundraise for ALL of the programs and services we provide.

Some of our programs are fully grant-funded, such as Prevention Education, and our Family Advocacy Center. 

Others rely on a combination of grants and community support. This includes Youth Programs, West End Revitalization, and events. 

Our work is only possible because of contributions from generous individuals, families, businesses, community organizations, and foundations.

A group of young people and an adult wearing matching orange T-shirts with "MLK Martin Luther King Center" printed on them, posing together and smiling against a white background.