America’s 250th Birthday Sparks Nationwide Volunteer Movement/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026 will include a national call for year-round community service through the “America Gives” campaign. With declining volunteer rates, organizers hope to inspire a revival in civic participation. Major partners include Girl Scouts, JustServe, and Keep America Beautiful.
America250 Volunteering Campaign Quick Looks
- The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is launching “America Gives” to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with a call to volunteerism.
- The initiative aims to make 2026 the biggest year of volunteering in U.S. history.
- Organizers want to reignite civic engagement amid declining national volunteer rates.
- Just 28% of Americans reported volunteering in 2025, still below pre-pandemic levels.
- Youth involvement is a priority, with support from schools and Gen Z outreach efforts.
- Girl Scouts will award badges for completed service projects as part of the program.
- Keep America Beautiful is leading a cleanup of 250 million pieces of trash.
- JustServe will deliver food via 250 semitrucks to food banks nationwide.
- A sweepstakes will reward 250 volunteers with $4,000 each to donate to nonprofits.
- Events will extend beyond July 4th, including MLK Day and 9/11 service observances.
America’s 250th Birthday Sparks Nationwide Volunteer Movement
Deep Look
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is launching “America Gives,” a nationwide initiative that aims to ignite a powerful wave of community service. The goal is not just to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but to foster a renewed culture of giving back—making 2026 the most volunteer-driven year in American history.
America Gives, announced just before the New Year, will encourage people from all walks of life to commit to service. The campaign doesn’t set a specific target number of hours but hopes the momentum of the historic anniversary will inspire widespread participation. Organizers are especially focused on reigniting interest after years of declining volunteer rates. According to a December AP-NORC poll, only 28% of Americans volunteered with religious or secular nonprofits in 2025, a sharp drop from pre-pandemic levels.
Participation will be tracked via an online pledge system where individuals can log service hours. Corporate sponsors like Walmart and Coca-Cola are providing financial backing, alongside congressional appropriations. Nonprofits are stepping up with unique contributions: Keep America Beautiful aims to remove 250 million pieces of litter by July 4th; the Girl Scouts are introducing a special service badge; and JustServe, supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will distribute food donations through 250 semitrucks across all 50 states.
Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, said the initiative is as much about looking forward as honoring the past. “Especially this next generation, we want them to give them something to believe in,” she said.
Reaching younger Americans will be key. Just 25% of adults under 30 volunteered in 2025, compared to 36% of those over 60. To close that gap, America Gives is partnering with high schools to count service hours toward graduation and hopes to create lifelong giving habits.
“They’re very passionate. They’re very purpose driven,” Rios said of Gen Z. “Inspiring them to fuel their own future is a big priority.”
Sofia Alvarez of the Youth250 Bureau emphasized the importance of creating “third spaces”—safe, welcoming environments outside of home, school, or work where young people can gather without spending money. Service events that offer hands-on engagement and social connection, she noted, could be especially attractive to this demographic.
Sarah Keating of the Girl Scouts explained how the nonprofit has adapted to accommodate young people’s busy schedules.
“Someone might not have time to lead an entire troop, but they can help lead a badge program,” she said. The broader message is that volunteering can be flexible and still meaningful.
But for all its modern touches, the campaign also seeks to restore national unity at a time of deep political division. Organizers believe the act of service can transcend ideological divides.
“It is about one country,” Rios said. “Now, more than ever, we all need to stand up.”
Jennifer Lawson, CEO of Keep America Beautiful, believes litter cleanup can act as a unifying issue. Her network’s goal is to rally 4 million volunteers through local beautification efforts.
“Patriotism in this country is an act of giving into community,” she said.
America Gives will also feature a sweepstakes: 250 volunteers will be selected at random to donate $4,000 each to nonprofit partners of their choice. While July 4 will be a central focus, the campaign will promote action throughout the year, especially on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and 9/11.
For Rios and her team, the end goal is to create a cultural shift where service becomes routine.
“It should be on people’s minds all the time, not just the day that they’re doing service,” she said. “How do they plan ahead to keep it going?”
By tying patriotism to participation, America Gives hopes to leave a legacy of civic renewal long after the fireworks fade.
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