David Paine

David Paine is the CEO and co-founder of 9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization he launched with Jay Winuk to transform the anniversary of September 11 into the largest annual day of charitable engagement in the United States. Over the past two decades, David has become one of the nation’s foremost leaders in service-driven philanthropy, shaping how millions of Americans honor the legacy of 9/11 through acts of kindness, unity, and community service. His work has helped shift the meaning of one of the nation’s darkest days toward something profoundly hopeful: a nationwide commitment to doing good.

David’s journey began in the months following the attacks, when he and Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn at the World Trade Center, recognized a striking truth—ordinary people had responded to 9/11 with extraordinary compassion. In the face of tragedy, Americans reached out to strangers, volunteered, donated blood, and helped neighbors in countless ways. David believed that this spirit deserved a permanent place in the American story. With deep expertise in communications, public affairs, and large-scale campaigns, he set out to build a movement that would allow future generations to mark 9/11 not only with remembrance, but also with action.

That vision became 9/11 Day, the nation’s official September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. Under David’s leadership, it has grown into a powerful civic tradition embraced by individuals, schools, faith groups, nonprofits, corporations, and communities across the country. Today, more than 30 million Americans participate each year—making 9/11 Day the country’s largest single day of service, with engagement continuing to expand across all demographics and regions.

David now leads the effort to take that impact to an entirely new level. In observance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2026, 9/11 Day has been charged with organizing the largest day of service ever staged in U.S. history. Working alongside its national partners—including the NFL, Major League Baseball, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, AmeriCorps, America 250, leading corporations, and hundreds of nonprofits across the nation—David and his team are building a once-in-a-generation initiative designed to inspire more than 50 million Americans to join together in unity, compassion, and service.

To achieve this, David is overseeing an ambitious national plan that includes hosting major volunteer events in 50 cities and supporting service activities in all 50 states. These large-scale meal-packing, community support, and engagement projects will mobilize millions of volunteers, engage thousands of corporate and community partners, and serve people in need across the country. Through these efforts, David aims to show what is possible when Americans put aside differences and come together to help one another—a message that is especially vital in today’s divided world.

Throughout his career with 9/11 Day, David has been recognized for his ability to build broad, bipartisan coalitions and forge innovative partnerships. He has brought together leaders in government, business, sports, education, and philanthropy to scale the organization’s impact year after year. Under his guidance, 9/11 Day has produced some of the nation’s largest annual service events, including massive meal-packing programs that have provided tens of millions of meals for food-insecure individuals and families. His approach blends strategic vision with hands-on collaboration, enabling 9/11 Day to grow from a small start-up nonprofit into a nationwide force for good.

David’s leadership is defined by optimism, empathy, and a steadfast belief that service has the power to heal, unite, and transform communities. He has helped shift the cultural narrative of the 9/11 anniversary toward a focus on shared humanity—reminding Americans each year that the most meaningful way to honor those lost is to care for one another. His work continues to influence public service movements, inspire young people to volunteer, and demonstrate that national unity is not only possible but achievable through simple acts of kindness.

As the 25th anniversary approaches, David Paine remains driven by the same purpose that guided him in the earliest days of 9/11 Day: to ensure that the legacy of September 11 is one of hope, generosity, and service. With a mission poised to engage tens of millions of Americans and create the largest day of service in the country’s history, he is leading a movement that proves the enduring strength of the American spirit—and the power of individuals, working together, to make a lasting difference.

Feel free to contact David by email at: david.paine@911day.org