In 2007, young people at the National Leadership Forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, formed The Encouragement Project. As part of this group, they started the National Day of Encouragement, because they saw lack of encouragement as one of the main obstacles that young people face, and said encouragement was needed to help overcome negative influences. Many people across the country encouraged and supported each other following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. September 12 was chosen as the date of National Day of Encouragement in honor of the spirit of encouragement that followed that tragic day.