MyGoodDeed Inc., was founded to promote a non-partisan and productive way for Americans and others to remember the victims, survivors, volunteers and heroes of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. Each year we encourage all Americans and others to voluntarily support charitable causes, perform good deeds or engage in another service activities in observance of the anniversary of 9/11 each year. We seek further to inspire everyone to carry forward everyday in their lives, through their actions toward others, the remarkable spirit of unity, understanding, and service that brought America and the world together in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
About MyGoodDeed: MyGoodDeed Inc., was originally formed and incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in 2002 under the name One Day's Pay Inc., and received its federal and state (New York State and California) tax-exemptions in 2003. The group officially changed its name to MyGoodDeed in 2006 to better reflect its mission to promote self-directed and affiliated service not just on 9/11, but throughout the year. Co-founders are David M.Paine, president, and Jay Winuk, vice president, who came together soon after the death of Jay's younger brother Glenn, a volunteer EMT, who was killed on 9/11 in the collapse of the World Trade Center south tower. National advisors of MyGoodDeed include many prominent individuals such as actor Gary Sinise; U.S. Senator Charles Schumer; U.S. Representative Peter King; Michael Brown, CEO, City Year; Alan Khazei, founder, BeTheChange; John Bridgeland, CEO, Civic Enterprises, and former domestic policy advisor to President George W. Bush; AnnMaura Connolly, chief external affairs officer, City Year; Joe Daniels, president of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and Michelle Nunn, CEO of the Points of Light Institute. Members of the MyGoodDeed 9/11 Advisory Board include more than 15 leaders of prominent organizations representing 9/11 families, union members, first responders, and other impacted by the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Major donors in 2009 included: GlaxoSmithKline, Jim Fassel Foundation, Ambac Corporation, and Keefe Bruyette and Woods. Additionally all members of the Board of Directors contribute funding to the organization each year.
History of the Initiative: MyGoodDeed, which represents the interests of many 9/11 organizations, was the first group to formally call for September 11 to be designated as a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance. Progress was made early when, in 2002, President George W. Bush declared September 11 "Patriot Day" to honor both the victims and heroes of the September 11 attacks, and highlighted the spirit of service by issuing a Call to Service and launching USA Freedom Corps. In 2008, President Bush amended the Patriot Day proclamation to specifically include "volunteering" as an appropriate form of remembrance. A year later, the U.S. Congress, in a bi-partisan action, passed the Edward M. Kennedy "ServeAmerica" Act, which for the first time authorized the President of the United States to formally designate 9/11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. President Barack Obama subsequently launched United We Serve, a national service initiative that culminated on September 11, 2009. President Obama amended the Patriot Day proclamation on September 10, 2009, to officially and permanently make 9/11 a National Day of Service and Remembrance, as requested by Congress and the 9/11 community.