Nancy Brinker United States Ambassador


What Can You Do for America?


S


ixty-five years ago, presi- dent John F. Kennedy deliv- ered an inaugural address that still echoes in our


national memory. His words were crisp and clarion:


“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” It was a call to service, and to


this day, it remains one of the most powerful invitations ever extended to the American people. At a time of polarization and


division, when many feel that our common bonds are fraying, I believe Kennedy’s challenge is more urgent than ever. The genius of his appeal was


that it was rooted in something deeper than politics. It called us back to the heart of American life: volunteerism, community activism, and philanthropy. These have always been the great


uniters of our democracy. They transcend ideology and bridge divides. I have seen this truth firsthand.


When my sister, Suzy, died of breast cancer, I was devastated. But in that moment of grief, I heard my own version of Kennedy’s call: What could I do in the face of this loss? The answer became the Susan G.


Komen organization, and in time, a movement that reshaped how our country addresses breast cancer. The root of it was not politics. It


was service. It was community. It was a determination to ask, “What can I do to help others?” Through my parents, I learned that


civic life begins early, and that children thrive when given the chance to be part of something larger than themselves.


34 NEWSMAX | NOVEMBER 2025 Whether it is Scouting, volunteering


at church, participating in school activities, or helping in local charities, these experiences plant the seeds of responsibility and generosity that bloom into lifelong service. And service is not partisan. Kennedy,


a Democrat, issued the call. Ronald Reagan, a Republican, painted the vision of a “shining city on a hill” where neighbors cared for one another and freedom was made real in daily life.


Through my parents, I learned that civic life begins early, and that children thrive when given the chance to be part of something larger than themselves.


More recently, President Donald


Trump’s call to “make America great again” tapped into the same yearning, that greatness is found not in government alone, but in the strength of our communities, our families, and our willingness to give of ourselves. Sadly, too many of today’s children


are not given these opportunities, or even taught why they matter. Civic education in America has eroded. Young people graduate without


a strong grounding in our nation’s history, or a sense of how they themselves can shape it. They are missing not only knowledge of the Constitution and our institutions, but also the lived experience of


contributing to their communities. Civic education cannot be elective or


optional. Every child deserves to hear Kennedy’s challenge and to be inspired to answer it. They should learn that while we may disagree on policies, we can all agree that improving our communities and lifting others up is a noble calling. The opportunities are limitless. A


young person might join Scouts, start a service project in school, organize a neighborhood cleanup, or volunteer at their place of worship or a food pantry. They might raise funds for medical


research or serve as mentors to younger students. They might simply offer their time


and energy to a cause that speaks to their passion. What matters is not the form of the


service, but the spirit of it. If we nurture that spirit in the next generation, we can begin to stitch back together the fabric of our civic life. Service and philanthropy are not


partisan. They are American. They remind us that while we


may differ on the details of public policy, we can come together around the universal desire to see our communities thrive. Kennedy’s challenge was never


meant to be rhetorical. It was meant to be lived. The question is still before us: What can you do for your country? I found my answer in building


a movement that has given hope to millions of families touched by breast cancer. You will find yours in your own community, with your own gifts, and your own passions. If we each resolve to act, to give, and to serve, we can reclaim the city on a hill, realize the greatness of America, and renew the promise of this nation — together.


Nancy Brinker, founder of The Promise Fund of Florida and Susan G. Komen, served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary.


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