Frederick Douglass Museum Commemorates the Birthday of Great Leader

WASHINGTON , D.C. (February 28, 2011) – February marks the birthday of the great leader of the abolitionist movement and advocate for human rights, Frederick Douglass. The Frederick Douglass Museum and Caring Hall of Fame, located in the heart of Capitol Hill was the first Washington, DC, home of the famed statesman in the mid-1870s.

In celebration of the caring spirit embodied by Frederick Douglass, the Caring Institute recognizes the historical figure’s birth month during February. This year marks Douglass’ 193rd birthday.

“Mr. Douglass was the nation's most eloquent voice for equal rights for all,” said Val J. Halamandaris, the founder of the Caring Institute and the Frederick Douglass Museum and Hall of Fame for Caring Americans. “He fought tirelessly against discrimination on the basis of race, color and gender.”

Halamandaris added that Douglass was without peer as an advocate for human rights. He inspired so many men and women, both contemporaries and those who lived after him including: Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Booker T. Washington, Mahatma Gandhi, Hubert H. Humphrey, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mary McLeod Bethune and Dorothy Height.

Today, the historic property has been restored to its original splendor and reopened as a tribute to caring past and present. It is now home to exhibits honoring its former occupant and the very special people of his spirit who have received a Caring Award. This honor is given each year to the world’s most caring adults and young adults. Like Douglass, they’re committed to doing the right thing on behalf of justice, equality, and human rights.

The Museum is available for special events; please call 202-547-4273 or gb@nahc.org.

About the Caring Institute

The Caring Institute was inspired by Mother Teresa in 1985 when she told Halamandaris there was a poverty of the spirit in the U.S. and the developed world that is far worse than the poverty of the body that is seen in the Third World. She directed him to "do something about this using the power of caring" which she called "the one word summary of the Golden Rule which runs through all the great religions of the world." The Caring Institute is a non profit 501(c)3 organization which promotes the values of caring, integrity and public service. Among its programs is the National Caring Awards which involves the selection by secret ballot by its trustees of the most caring men and women in America and their induction into the Frederick Douglass Museum and Hall of Fame for Caring Americans. The Caring Institute for the past 20 years has every year celebrated February 14 as the birthday of Mr. Douglass.

About NAHC

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is a non-profit organization that represents the nation’s 25,000 home care and hospice organizations. NAHC also advocates for the more than two million nurses, therapists, aides and other caregivers employed by such organizations to provide in-home services to some 10 million Americans each year who are infirm, chronically ill, disabled and dying. Along with its advocacy, NAHC provides information to help its members provide the highest quality of care and is committed to excellence in every respect. To learn more about NAHC visit www.nahc.org.