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To Commemorate The Third Anniversary Of 9/11, Hundreds Of Thousands Nationwide Expected To Engage In Acts Of Kindness And Service Honoring Victims, Survivors And Volunteers Starting September 8
To Commemorate The Third Anniversary Of 9/11, Hundreds Of Thousands Nationwide Expected To Engage In Acts Of Kindness And Service Honoring Victims, Survivors And Volunteers Starting September 8
Published 09-11-04
Submitted by One Day's Pay
During the next few days leading up to the 9/11 anniversary, these individuals, and thousands of other people and businesses across the nation, will participate in an emerging grassroots movement called One Day's Pay ("a day's payment of service"), started by relatives and friends of 9/11 victims who hope to help establish September 11 as a national day of voluntary service, charity and compassion.
"September 11, 2001, was a day when all of America selflessly came together as one nation to help our fellow citizens deal with a terrible and almost unimaginable tragedy of historic proportions," said David Paine, president and co-founder of One Day's Pay (www.onedayspay.org). "We cannot think of a better way to remember those who sacrificed so much than for all of us to rekindle that spirit of unity each year on the anniversary of 9/11, by voluntarily pledging to take time out of our busy lives to help others in need.
"Transforming 9/11 into a national day of voluntary service, charity and compassion will leave a lasting and positive legacy that pays tribute to the victims, survivors and volunteers, and passes on to our children memories not of fear and hate, but of generosity and compassion."
Actor Gary Sinise has pledged his support to the One Day's Pay initiative as part of his continued support to Operation Iraqi Children (www.operationiraqichildren.org), a nonprofit organization he co-founded that provides needed school supplies and other resources to the children of Iraq.
"9/11 will forever be a reminder of the terrible consequences of hatred in the world," said Mr. Sinise. "Operation Iraqi Children and One Day's Pay share a common vision that human beings are inherently good at heart and that we all must find ways to work with each other in a spirit of understanding and tolerance and voluntarily give of ourselves to help others in need in the United States and other nations. I am delighted to participate in the wonderful One Day's Pay initiative, as part of my continuing support of Operation Iraqi Children, by pledging to set aside time on September 10th by assembling school kits for children in war torn Iraq."
In its second year, One Day's Pay is supported by an unprecedented and growing coalition, including major nonprofits, Fortune 500 corporations, federal and local legislators, and virtually all of the leading 9/11 organizations representing victims and their families, survivors, volunteers and rescue and recovery workers (a copy of the formal statement of support from 9/11 family members is available on the Web site at http://www.onedayspay.org/news/article.php?id=2). Among the prominent national and regional nonprofits participating in One Day's Pay are the American Red Cross, Points of Light Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Industries, Citizen Corps, Youth Service America and NY Cares. JPMorgan Chase, CitiGroup, KPMG, Bank of America, AT&T, and Cisco Systems are some the leading companies promoting One Day's Pay among employees this year.
In 2003, more than one million people nationwide participated in One Day's Pay. Organizers anticipate even greater participation in 2004.
Group Seeks Passage of Congressional Resolutions
Leading members of Congress also have added their voice to the campaign. Today, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging the President of the United States to designate September 11 as an annually recognized day of voluntary service, charity, and compassion. It its is still pending in the House. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York), and Rep. Peter King (R-New York) together introduced concurrent resolutions in July 2004 calling upon the President to designate 9/11 as a national day of service, charity and compassion. These bi-partisan measures are co-sponsored by many other legislators, including Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), as well as U.S. Representatives John McHugh (R-NY 23), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY 14), Ed Towns (D-NY 10), Dan Burton (R-IN 5) and Mike Castle (R-DE At Large). Organizers hope for passage of the resolutions this year.
How To Participate
The concept of One Day's Pay is simple: Organizers are encouraging individuals, businesses and organizations to visit the One Day's Pay Web site at www.onedayspay.org and voluntarily "take the pledge" to observe 9/11 in some fashion through service, charity or compassion.
Registering on the group's site is free, non-binding and completely confidential. Participants decide for themselves what do to, and how they want to personally observe 9/11, although the One Day's Pay Web site offers many helpful suggestions and links to nonprofit organizations.
Via the One Day's Pay web site, participating businesses and individuals can schedule appointments to give blood, locate volunteer centers, donate money to more than 850,000 listed charities, find Goodwill organizations if they want to donate personal property, sign up to participate in local disaster preparedness programs and much more.
"One Day's Pay is about people making their own choices about how best to observe 9/11 through service to others," said Jay S. Winuk, vice president of One Day's Pay and brother of attorney and volunteer fireman Glenn J. Winuk, who lost his life in the World Trade Center attack. "Glenn was a brave hero who raced from his nearby law office into the South Tower while others wisely ran out. But people don't have to run into burning buildings to be heroic or to make a real difference for people and communities in need. They can help an elderly neighbor buy groceries, donate school supplies, clean up a local park or volunteer in a soup kitchen. "
About One Day's Pay
One Day's Pay, Inc., a New York-based 501c3 nonprofit organization established to encourage the observance of September 11 as a national day of voluntary service, charity and compassion, was founded in 2002 by David Paine, Jay Winuk and Alice Hoglan, along with other friends and colleagues. David, Jay and Alice came together soon after the terrorist attacks with the common vision that something positive needed to arise from the destruction and despair of 9/11. Jay lost his brother Glenn during the attack on the World Trade Center. Alice lost her son Mark, one of the heroic passengers of United Flight #93 who battled terrorists for control of the plane. David, president of the organization, was raised and has an office in New York and is a long-time friend of Jay Winuk.
One Day's Pay is supported by representatives of virtually all of the major 9/11 organizations, including: the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, Coalition of 9/11 Families, Doyle 9/11 Support Group, Families of September 11, Pentagon Families, September 11th Widows and Victims' Families Association, September's Mission, September Space, Skyscraper Safety Campaign, Tuesday's Children, Voices of September 11th, Where To Turn, Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund, World Trade Center United Family Group and WTC Survivors Network. One Day's Pay receives financial support from generous contributions of private citizens, companies and foundations, including the JPMorgan Chase Corporation. Additional information about the organization and its nonprofit partners and sponsors is available at www.onedayspay.org.
