Jay Bailey, president and CEO of the H.J. Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), will give the keynote address at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast, to be held at 8 a.m. on Jan. 16, 2026.
In his role, he leads the world’s largest entrepreneurial hub dedicated to growing, scaling and developing businesses. In just five years, under Bailey’s leadership, RICE supports over 600 entrepreneurs full time, sustaining 4,125 jobs in the community and sparking $557 million in new economic impact in the Metro Atlanta area.
An Atlanta native, three-time TED Talker, and die-hard Georgia Bulldog, Bailey’s leadership and commitment to the community have been recognized by three U.S. presidents. In 2012, he was one of eight Americans honored at the White House as a “Champion of Change: Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” In 2016, President Barack Obama bestowed upon him the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his dedicated volunteer service.
Focused on education, he serves on the University of Georgia Board of Visitors, as an Agnes Scott College Trustee, a board director for the Atlanta Speech School, and board member for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. Additionally, he serves as a trustee for the Georgia Forestry Foundation.
A graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Atlanta and the Regional Leadership Institute, Bailey has earned several accolades. Among them are the Whitney M. Young National Community Service Medallion, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Service Award, the Maynard Jackson Community Impact Award, a 2023 Atlanta Business League Man of Influence, the Startup Atlanta Lifetime Achievement Award and the Bernie Marcus Downtown Economic Impact Award.
Tickets to the Freedom Breakfast are $25 for individuals or $250 for a table of eight and are available for purchase online. Tickets will not be sold the day of the event, and initial ticket sales are limited to one table.
The MLK Freedom Breakfast is sponsored by UGA, the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and the Clarke County School District. The event honors the legacy of the late civil rights leader and recognizes members of the Athens and UGA communities who carry forward King’s enduring vision.
