MyGoodDeed.org Calls Plan by Obama and McCain to Appear Together at Ground Zero on 9/11 in a Show of Unity 'Remarkable, Refreshing and Welcome'
Organizers Urge the DNC and RNC to Respect and Honor the 9/11 Campaign Moratorium
NEW YORK, Sept. 6 -- MyGoodDeed.org, the nonprofit group that wants September 11 to be proclaimed a national day of service, issued a statement today expressing appreciation for the decision by both Presidential candidates to appear together at Ground Zero in New York City on 9/11 in a show of unity and compassion. MyGoodDeed.org, which earlier in August had urged both Presidential candidates to observe a moratorium on campaigning on 9/11, a request that both candidates said they would agree to honor, also announced that it has sent letters to the leaders of both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, asking that they honor the campaign moratorium as well and urge Federal, state and local candidates from their respective parties to do the same.
"It is a wonderful show of unity and support for 9/11 as a day of service that Senators McCain and Obama have agreed to appear together at Ground Zero on 9/11," said David Paine, president and co-founder of MyGoodDeed.org. "American politics can at times be a contact sport and for both candidates to work together to put aside their differences for the day is remarkable, refreshing and welcome. We hope both parties and other candidates for public office will follow the terrific example being set by their standard-bearers. We hope that all candidates will not utilize 9/11 for political purposes, but encourage all people regardless of party or candidate preference to come together in the spirit of unity for the benefit of the families who lost loved ones and for the good of the nation overall."
MyGoodDeed.org said that it is organizing volunteer service projects in New York City on 9/11, with ServiceNation, New York Cares and CityYear, and has invited both Presidential candidates to attend. The candidates have not indicated if they plan to attend.
Millions Inspired to Observe 9/11 Through Service
Each year since the 9/11 attacks, the MyGoodDeed.org movement has grown to inspire millions of people from around the nation and world to perform good deeds, volunteer and engage in other charitable and civic activities on the anniversary of the attacks, in honor of the victims, volunteers and rescue and recovery workers. In 2007, more than 300,000 good deeds were posted on the MyGoodDeed.org Website (www.MyGoodDeed.org), encompassing all 50 U.S. states and 150 different countries and territories. A Yahoo feature story about the organization that appeared on 9/11 in 2007 generated more than 500,000 clicks in just six hours.
Founded in 2003 by two close friends, David Paine and Jay Winuk, following the death of Jay's brother, attorney and volunteer firefighter Glenn Winuk, who perished in the line of duty on 9/11, MyGoodDeed.org has gained widespread bipartisan and bicameral support. Organizations that have provided financial support this year to MyGoodDeed.org include American Express, Ambac Corporation, Keefe Bruyette and Woods, Sony Corporation, AOL, Google and Yahoo. For more information, visit www.MyGoodDeed.org, or send an e-mail to info at myGoodDeed.org.
Contact: Susan Roth, prsue at RothPR.com, 202-997-5672 or 301-530-3539 and David Paine, MyGoodDeed.org, david.paine at MyGoodDeed.org, 949-233-0050
