Over 500 Cities Prepare to Honor Local Community Volunteers

Founded in 2009 by motivational speaker Shawn Anderson, the initiative has expanded significantly from its original 23 participating cities. Anderson argues that modern society prioritizes celebrity culture, while the true heartbeat of a town relies on those who contribute despite being stretched thin. By issuing official proclamations, municipalities intend to acknowledge the teachers, animal shelter volunteers, and local business owners who provide the essential labor that keeps communities functioning.

From Kodiak, Alaska, to Birmingham, Alabama, the day serves as a formal "thank you" to residents who perform unprompted acts of kindness. Anderson, who has spent years promoting the message of extraordinary living through his own cross-country travels and writing, views the observance as a necessary corrective to the invisibility of service-oriented citizens. For these volunteers, the recognition offers a rare moment of visibility for the work they perform throughout the year without expectation of reward.