NEW YORK — The 9/11 Memorial and Museum has launched a $75 million fundraising campaign called The Never Forget Fund to educate U.S. youth who do not remember the September 11, 2001 terror attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary. The campaign aims to provide basic factual information about the attacks and highlight inspiring stories of service, hope, resilience, and unity in their aftermath.

Organizers have already secured the first $25 million through initial gifts. Mike Bloomberg, chair of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, pledged to match the next $25 million in donations. Bloomberg has previously helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the organization.

The campaign seeks to reach approximately 100 million Americans born after the 2001 attacks, many of whom have only known the security measures implemented in their wake. Funds will support new exhibits, classroom materials, and professional development for teachers who lack lived experience of the events. An upcoming exhibit titled “In Their Honor” will feature stories of first responders, some of whom developed chronic illnesses and continue to face barriers to care.

The nonprofit also plans to ensure continued free museum access for students, first responders, and veterans. Standard adult admission currently costs $36. “We don't want the price to be a barrier to them,” Beth Hillman, president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, said.

“9/11 is heavy and compelling and full of inspiring stories,” Hillman said. “But also, just a trusted set of what happened on that day, of materials that can convey the basics of it — that’s the beginning of people learning and starting to understand, too.” She noted a greater “degree of distraction and confusion” today compared to past efforts to memorialize historical events. “The ongoing importance of remembering 9/11 is to remind people that they can come together even in the face of incredible loss,” she said.

Since opening in 2014, the 9/11 Memorial has had about 97 million visitors and the museum nearly 28 million attendees. The organization relies primarily on ticket sales to fund its operational costs and has faced budget challenges following pandemic closures.