John xxxxxx --

In his Inaugural Address, which I attended when I was 7 years old, President John F. Kennedy encouraged Americans to “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”  On September 11th this year, I am asking all of us the same question. 

September 11th is recognized each year as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, I’m asking all of those who support my campaign to honor the memory of those lost on this day by doing their best to participate in a National Day of Service.

I believe campaigns shouldn’t just be about collecting donations and doing television advertising.  This campaign is a part of a broader purpose to recommit our country to community service.  We should all consider what we can do for our country, right now, today. I want to see change happen now – not in some distant future. 

That’s why I am calling on all those who support my campaign to engage in service projects on or around September 11th this year. I am asking you to consider what your community needs most, and then to design a project that addresses that need.  This could be anything from a beach clean up to spending time fixing up a school. You could read to children or distribute food to people in need. Once you decide how you’re going to serve or if you want to organize a project in your area, post about it on the website.

Once you post your service project, others in your area can find it on the website and RSVP to join you in service. But you don’t have to be the one to organize a project. You can simply visit our Day of Service Events page to search and find service projects in your area and sign up to attend.

Regardless of your political standing, we can all come together for the common human value of service. A way we can heal the divide in the Nation is to come together as a community to help others in need. Let’s use the strong momentum of this campaign to begin repairing our country, and bring people together for a day of helping your community. I’ll be out there, by your side.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. 

P.S. Team Kennedy has designed an elegant commemorative t-shirt for this initiative, which is available in our merchandise store, which you may choose to wear on your Day of Service and beyond!