America250's Rosie Rios on 'America Gives' Initiative for 2026 Volunteer Service

The Semiquincentennial Celebration

• 🇺🇸 The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday in July, a milestone known as the semiquincentennial.
• 💡 To honor this historic occasion, America250 has launched the 'America Gives' initiative.

'America Gives' National Service Initiative

• 🎯 The primary goal of 'America Gives' is to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever recorded in the U.S.
• 🤝 This initiative mobilizes a wide range of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, schools, and faith-based groups.
• 🗓️ It aims to leverage the two federally recognized days of service—Martin Luther King Jr. Day and 9/11—to promote year-round giving back.

Engaging Americans in Service

• 💖 The initiative seeks to recognize the fundamental values of service upon which the country was founded.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The ambition is to engage all 350 million Americans in this effort, with a target of '350 for 250'.
• 💻 A dedicated portal on the america250.org website allows individuals, families, and organizations to register and track volunteer hours.

Commemorative Elements

• 🪙 In addition to service, new coins are being released specifically for the semiquincentennial, featuring designs related to the celebration.
• 🌟 This follows the 'Women on Quarters' program and will transition to youth sports on quarters in 2027.

Sparking a Lasting Movement

• ✨ 'America Gives' was proposed as a key initiative three and a half years ago and launched on January 1st.
• 🚀 The hope is that this moment will spark a movement of service that continues long after 2026.