Preservation of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is something we’ve discussed on DCist a number of times before — usually in reference to the library and street that share his name. One thing the city’s still missing is a memorial to the civil rights hero. The memorial’s design was approved in 2005, with the remaining hurdle that plagues so many projects of this nature: money.

Fundraisers have been hard at work on the matter, thus far having gathered $79 million of the $100 million needed to construct and maintain the memorial. One upcoming event is in the works that hopes to add another $3 million to that tally. Russel Simmons, Tommy Hilfiger and Quincy Jones are teaming up to stage The Dream Concert, a fall benefit concert to raise money for a memorial. No news yet on the lineup, but the concert – scheduled for September 18 – will take place at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

Yes, you read that correctly. A benefit for a memorial to honor MLK in the city where he gave his most famous speech, is being held in New York. We don’t really get it either. Do the deeper pockets tend to gather further north? Regardless of the location, we’re glad to know that efforts to bring the memorial to life are still underway. But hey, we like high profile benefits too! People raise tons of money here! All the time! So, sometimes Congress gums up the works on where said high profile gatherings can be held. I’m sure we could work something out. Just as long as it’s not at DAR.

The King memorial, to be completed in 2008, will be located on a space on the Tidal Basin between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.

Photo by Blacknell. Sriram Gopal contributed to this post.