A grassroots movement to turn September 11 into a day of national unity and community service was launched over two decades ago by two founders seeking to honor the anniversary with acts of kindness rather than mourning. The initiative, established shortly after the attacks, frames the date as an opportunity for collective reflection and positive action, shifting focus from loss to shared purpose. While rooted in personal loss—one of the organizers lost a family member in the tragedy—the effort has since grown into an organized effort to inspire volunteerism across the country. Its origins reflect a deliberate choice to channel remembrance into meaningful contributions to others.

The idea to commemorate the anniversary by making Sept. 11 a day of unity and doing good deeds was that of David Paine and Jay Winuk, who founded the organization 9/11 Day in 2002. Jay's brother Glenn ...