9/11 is a day of remembrance and service. It is a day that resonates differently for different people. For some, memories of the day evoke conversations of 'where were you when'; for others, it is a day in history that is remembered without being lived. This year is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and is particularly fresh in many minds, given the recent withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.
Regardless of how you connect to 9/11—the truth is, it isn't an easy day—we grieve, we remember, we reflect, we talk, and then we put all of that into action in service. However, that service, like our experience of the day, differs. Some focus their work on helping those who lost loved ones. Other service efforts are borne out of the many repercussions of the day, including the deployment of US troops to Afghanistan and the negative stereotypes that arose about Muslims in the aftermath of the attacks.
In serving on 9/11, we acknowledge our fears but prioritize our hope that in working together for the common good—in doing whatever it is that makes us feel most hopeful about the future—we play a role in making that brighter future come true. On 9/11, we celebrate Jefferson Award winners and Multiplying Good community members who serve or have served in relation to the legacy of 9/11 and offer ways for all of us to do our part to multiply good.
Supporting Victims of 9/11
In 2019, Multiplying Good recognized Edie Lutnick and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charity established on September 11th, 2001, to address the short and long-term needs of victims of terrorism. Under Ms. Lutnick's leadership as Co-Founder & President, The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund has raised and distributed approximately $336 million and implemented numerous programs to assist victims and their families.
Ms. Lutnick facilitates the annual Charity Day events at Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners, where 100% of the firms’ revenues on September 11th are donated to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which in turn assists hundreds of deserving not-for-profits around the world. Since its inception, Charity Day has raised approximately $159 million. Multiplying Good has twice been the recipient of funds on this day.
Service Inspired by Deployment
In 2021, Multiplying Good and the Delaware News Journal recognized Jeremy Moore with the Jefferson Award for "Outstanding Service Benefitting Local Communities." Just eight years ago, Jeremey, an army veteran from the 82nd Airborne Division, fell down a dry well nearly 60 feet deep during a night patrol in Afghanistan. The fall left him with multiple body injuries to his back and legs, including serious injuries to his head. He lost his ability to walk and had to learn to walk again while battling depression and self-doubt. He was in pain all the time. He was physically, mentally, and spiritually broken. After six years, he rebuilt himself, and today he is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of More Than Fitness. In its third year, the mission of his non-profit is to not only teach high school students self-confidence and trust through physical fitness but also help them manage negative emotions and mental stress by practicing mindfulness and meditation.
Service to Combat Sterotypes
Safia Khattak is a sophomore at Middlesex County College, and a Multiplying Good Think Big Team member. She attended high school in New Jersey, where she was a member of Students In Action for many years.
As a tenth grader, Safia witnessed the harsh impact of the 9/11 attacks on her community. Her Students In Action (SIA) team went to Penn Station in Newark to pass out meals to people experiencing homelessness. While distributing the food, the team's adult advisor was attacked for being Muslim. A person tried to pull off the advisor's headscarf and directed hateful words towards the whole group. Safia noted, "That attack against our SIA advisor became my team's biggest inspiration to continue doing service more than ever before. We wanted to show the world that 9/11 doesn't define Muslims. What defines Muslims is our actions. Community service changes many lives, not just the people who directly benefit from it. When Muslims do community service, it helps removes the stigma that was created by 9/11." Read more of Safia's story here.
These stories, borne in very different ways out of the tragedy of 9/11, remind us that while we come to this work from various places and spaces, we are united in our goal—to multiply good. So, on 9/11, we hope that you, too, will find a way to serve from your unique place of being and, in doing so, will change yourself and your community in positive ways.
Not sure how or where to serve, find an opportunity here!
