Charities Borne From 9/11 Attacks Give Hope During the Holiday Season

At this time of year, many people choose to give back to their communities, understanding that for some, the holidays can prove to be difficult. At the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, we remember the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.

In the spirit of giving back to the 9/11 community and beyond, many 9/11 family members and first responders began charities, providing everything from mental health support to financial assistance.

VOICES Center for Resilience (formerly Voices of September 11th), founded by 9/11 family members Mary Fetchet and Beverly Eckert, began as an organization to help other family members, first responders, and recovery workers navigate complex processes to find health-related and financial resources. Drawing on lessons learned and expertise, VOICES has evolved to assist countless other communities impacted by mass violence and natural disasters.

In similar fashion, HEART 9/11 deploys volunteer teams to areas impacted by manmade and natural disasters. Bill Keegan, a PAPD Lieutenant who served as the night operations commander during the World Trade Center recovery efforts, started HEART 9/11 in 2007. Since then, volunteers from New York City law enforcement agencies and building trades have aided in recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout the world. In recent years, these men and women have responded to Puerto Rico, Texas, the Bahamas, and many other sites affected by disaster.

9/11 Day works to make each September 11 a national day of service and remembrance. The organization was founded shortly after the attacks by David Paine and Jay Winuk, whose brother Glenn, an attorney and volunteer firefighter was killed while responding to the World Trade Center. Fueling their mission is the concept of "taking back" the day and turning the anniversary into a day of "doing good" through unity, kindness, and and charitable service. 

These charities make up a small fraction of the nonprofits inspired by the attacks. In the weeks and months after 9/11, thousands of people from around the world responded to the attack sites, and thousands more provided support to those affected in other ways, including financially. Although this holiday season serves as a reminder of those lost, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the ways we can draw on the lessons learned more than two decades ago and respond to those around us with kindness and generosity.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff