September 11 National Day of Service
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Charitable service |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | David Paine, Jay Winuk |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | David Paine (co-founder) |
| Products | September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance |
| Website | 911day |
The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance', also known as 9/11 Day, is a nationally recognized day of service in the United States, observed each year on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Established by the nonprofit organization MyGoodDeed (operating as 9/11 Day), it gained federal recognition through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which was enacted by a bipartisan U.S. Congress in 2009. In that same year, President Barack Obama revised the Patriot Day Presidential Proclamation—originally issued by President George W. Bush—formally declaring September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.’ According to surveys conducted by MyGoodDeed, roughly 35 million Americans engage in activities on this day annually, making it the largest charitable service day in the country. Alongside Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, it is one of only two federally designated Days of Service.
Purpose
MyGoodDeed states that the goal of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance is to shift the focus of the anniversary from sorrow to acts of kindness and community involvement. Co-founder David Paine highlighted that this day honors both victims and first responders by perpetuating the spirit of solidarity and service that arose immediately following the attacks.
History
The idea for this observance began in early 2002 with David Paine, a public relations professional based in New York City at the time. Later that year, he joined forces with Jay Winuk to establish One Day’s Pay, a nonprofit named in memory of Jay’s brother Glenn J. Winuk—an attorney and volunteer firefighter who lost his life during rescue operations when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed. Glenn’s remains were found six months afterward near the South Tower lobby along with those of other emergency personnel.
In 2007, One Day’s Pay underwent rebranding to become MyGoodDeed. For the tenth anniversary in 2011, MyGoodDeed partnered with national service organizations to orchestrate what was then the largest charitable service event in U.S. history, involving over 30 million Americans through volunteering, donations, and goodwill initiatives. Presently, 9/11 Day continues to inspire millions each year to participate in a wide range of charitable activities.
Activities
On this federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance, volunteer initiatives predominantly take place at the community level across the nation, driven by local nonprofits, employers, faith-based groups, and other organizations. Many participants promote their involvement and share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #911Day. Schools are increasingly integrating service projects related to 9/11 into their educational programs. Since 2016, MyGoodDeed has hosted large-scale service events called 9/11 Day Meal Packs in major metropolitan areas, where volunteers from corporations and organizations assemble non-perishable food packages for individuals facing food insecurity. Each year, more than 20,000 volunteers help produce upwards of six million meals.
See also
- Global Youth Service Day
- Good Deeds Day
- Mandela Day
- MLK Day of Service
- Mitzvah Day
- National Volunteer Week (USA)