America has an extraordinary legacy of service – an important reminder as we count up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. This tradition ranges from those who have served in our military to the millions of individuals giving their time, talent, or treasure in service to others.
From Benjamin Franklin’s first volunteer fire brigade in the 1700s to the founding of organizations like the American Red Cross in 1881 to the creation of the Peace Corps, Teach for America, and more well into the 20th century. There are people in communities across America who have always been ready to give back.
Inspired by this spirit of service in all of us, and building on America’s legacy of giving back, I am thrilled to share more with you about an upcoming initiative from America250: America Gives.
America Gives will be a year-round program with the aim of making 2026 the largest year of service in history. It will be anchored around our country’s two federally-recognized days of service, September 11 and Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day in January.
Beginning today, we are previewing America Gives in preparation for the official, full-year launch in January of 2025.
At the heart of America Gives will be three key pillars:
- Charitable Giving – Highlighting the impact of small-dollar donations and encouraging charitable giving.
- Volunteering – Working together to mobilize Americans to set a new record in 2026 for the largest cumulative volunteer hours of any country.
- Public Service – Including Military Service – Helping to educate Americans about the breadth of public service opportunities available, and recognizing the many brave men and women who have proudly served our country in the military.
America250 is already working alongside Walmart, our America Gives Founding Sponsor, and a diverse set of Founding Partners, including AmeriCorps, Blue Star Families, Daughters of the American Revolution, Habitat for Humanity, Keep America Beautiful, 9/11 Day, Peace Corps, Points of Light, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Washington National Cathedral, and more to kick off this initiative.
As part of this preview to the launch in January, America250 will feature service opportunities hosted across the country so all Americans can find ways to give back in their community. For details on how to find opportunities to give back, please visit america250.org/america-gives.
In addition, America250 will be participating in and amplifying efforts hosted by our Founding Partners to fight hunger, support our military families, clean up communities, and more.
We look forward to visiting communities around the country and building up to January 2025 when we will officially launch the full year effort of America Gives.
With Americans from coast to coast giving back in ways large and small, the real and lasting value of America Gives will be the impact this effort has on bringing us all together and carrying this tradition forward for the next 250 years. We take the torch of service from America’s rich history and pass it along to future generations.
I wish everyone a rich and rewarding experience as we light a fire of service for America’s next 250 years.
Sincerely,
Rosie Rios
Chair, America250
America's Field Trip
Engaging students nationwide to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary!
This contest invites students in grades 3–12 to share their perspectives on what America means to them — and earn the opportunity to travel for field trip experiences at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.