Kindness Charity | Pay it Forward 9/11

We said we would "never forget" those who perished on 9/11 and the compassionate heroes who helped us restore faith in humanity.

To honor them, we need your help to perform at least 23,000 good deeds for 2023 Pay it Forward 9/11. Please join us for 11 Days of Kindness and Unity (Sept 1st-11th).

Inspired by compassionate Canadians on 9/11, our tradition began more than 20 years ago, on the first anniversary of the attacks. This year, our aim is to restore the kindness and unity the world witnessed in 2002.

Will you encourage schools and businesses and others to join "11 Days of Kindness and Unity"(Sept 1-11)? Tookits are available here.

Register your commitment on our hearts map (below) and receive tips and for updates.
#payitforward911 #NeverForget

20K

Paying It Forward

Our vision is to help develop communities where harmony grows through individual "pay it forward" actions and the ripple effect they cause. You're invited to perform 3 good deeds to strangers each September 11th, then ask recipients of good deeds to do the same to create a ripple effect.

Learn about one of the 9/11 victims and dedicate your "pay it forward" in their memory.

We need your help to organize teams to work together on Pay it Forward 9/11 where you live. See our tips and toolkits for volunteers.

13-yo old Jacob holds a sign reading "Pay it Forward 9/11" in front of a doorway entrance to his school, sign reads "Prescott South Middle School Bulldogs"

Middle School student Jacob recruited 500 acts of kindness

Three elementary school students stand outside on a home's front yard. Table is decorated with sign "Free Pay it Forward" and "911 Lemon Aid"

Pay it Forward 9/11 Lemon Aid stand staffed by children from St. Matthews School in Tennessee

A woman holds open a box with a dozen donuts, each decorated with "pay it forward 9/11"

Free Pay it Forward 9/11 donuts in Florida

A man and two women on a city street, all smiling. Woman in center is wearing USPS sweatshirt, holding cash and pay it forward 9/11 smile card.

Thanking USPS worker-NYC

Two smiling women on a city sidewalk, holding four umbrellas and another holding cash and pay it forward 9/11 smile cards.

Free umbrellas on rainy day-NYC

A woman and man on a city sidewalk. Woman carries a large bag on her shoulder and in other hand gives a lunch bag to a man wearing a construction helmet and yellow vest. Both are smiling, giving a 'thumbs up' sign.

Free lunch-construction worker-NYC

A large bin holds more than a dozen lunch bags decorated by children with messages like "Thank you firefighters" and "Pay it Forward 9/11"

Student-made lunches for firefighters-Nashville

A dollar bill is taped to a vending machine with snacks, along with a printed message on paper.

Got a buck? Free snacks for stranger in Austin

Middle School student Jacob recruited 500 acts of kindness

Pay it Forward 9/11 Lemon Aid stand staffed by children from St. Matthews School in Tennessee

Free Pay it Forward 9/11 donuts in Florida

Thanking USPS worker-NYC

Free umbrellas on rainy day-NYC

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Our Mission

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Click the
fact sheet to download, then Save As/print.

Our mission is to promote random acts of kindness and compassion every September 11th to honor lives lost in the 9/11 attacks.

In 2002, American Kevin Tuerff began this annual tradition so we never forget the tragedy, and also to pay tribute to the heroes of Newfoundland, Canada, who showed him and the world their kindness in 2001. The town of Gander, population 9,000, took care of him and nearly 7,000 other stranded airline passengers from 90 countries for five days when US airspace was closed.

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