In the wake of the September 11 attacks, what began as a day of profound tragedy has evolved into a powerful force for good across the nation. 9/11 Day, a national day of service, was co-founded by David Paine and Jay Winuk as a way to honor those lost—especially Jay’s younger brother Glenn, a volunteer firefighter and attorney who died responding to the World Trade Center.

Their vision was simple yet profound: transform the anniversary of 9/11 into a day of unity and positive action. Rather than dwell solely on the pain of loss, they sought to reclaim the day by inspiring Americans to serve others. Today, 9/11 Day has grown into the largest single day of service in the United States, with millions participating, including right here in Chicago.

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