Michael R. Bloomberg is putting serious money on the line to make sure a generation that did not live through Sept. 11 still understands it. On Wednesday, he pledged to match the next $25 million in donations to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum as part of a new $75 million push to expand exhibits, classroom materials and free access for students, first responders and veterans ahead of the 25th anniversary in September 2026.
According to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, The Never Forget Fund has already secured $25 million in initial gifts and launched a $75 million campaign, with Bloomberg pledging through Bloomberg Philanthropies to match the next $25 million that comes in. The museum says the money will fund a landmark exhibition called "In Their Honor," expand classroom materials and support long-term programming aimed at reaching roughly 100 million Americans who were born after Sept. 11, 2001.
Beth Hillman, the memorial's president and CEO, told the Associated Press that "the ongoing importance of remembering 9/11 is to remind people that they can come together even in the face of incredible loss." Officials count about 97 million visitors to the memorial plaza and nearly 28 million museum attendees since the site opened in 2014. The organization notes it relies primarily on ticket sales, with standard adult admission at $36. The Associated Press also reported that the memorial has already navigated pandemic-related budget strains and recent friction over federal oversight of the site.
What they'll teach
The centerpiece exhibition, "In Their Honor," will spotlight stories of service inspired by 9/11, from volunteer cooks and theater workers who powered the blackout area to family members who turned grief into public service, according to the museum's announcement. The exhibition will be paired with teacher professional development and expanded lesson plans. The Never Forget Fund has set targets to reach 20 million students, train 100,000 professionals and amplify firsthand testimony through refreshed exhibits and a national public-service campaign, according to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Funding and access
Hillman told the Associated Press that the new fundraising drive will help guarantee free museum access for students, first responders and veterans so that price does not become a barrier to learning. Organizers hope Bloomberg's match will coax gifts from both individual donors and corporate partners and help build a lasting funding stream to keep education programs running and bring 9/11 history into classrooms across the country.
Why it matters now
With the 25th anniversary set for Sept. 11, 2026, city agencies and families are already sketching out ceremonies and events that are expected to bring renewed attention to the World Trade Center site. The FDNY has outlined commemoration plans that echo the memorial's argument that this is a pivotal moment for preserving first-person accounts and civic lessons for future generations, as reported by NY1.
