As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, organizations, communities, and businesses across the country are reflecting on the nation’s history and helping shape its future.

One initiative inviting participation is “Together for 250,” a non-partisan, civic-minded effort supported by the Business for America coalition. The initiative encourages companies and associations to write a “birthday letter” to employees or members expressing thoughts, hope, and a vision for the country’s next chapter.

At its core, the effort reflects a simple idea: businesses can be a force for positive change, and work is strengthened when our democracy is healthy and functioning effectively. By encouraging civic engagement and government that works for all, this US-based initiative seeks to create an environment where businesses, communities, and future generations can thrive.

According to a 2024 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study, 82% of Americans believe businesses can play an important role in helping bring people together. The research also found that workplaces remain one of the few places where people regularly interact across different viewpoints and experiences, creating opportunities for connection and civic engagement.

For women in print business owners, this presents a unique opportunity. Whether your company has been family-owned for generations or is building its legacy today, America’s 250th anniversary offers a moment to reflect on the role your business plays in your community and the values that guide your work – and to share it with your employees.

The Together for 250 resources make participation simple. Companies can write and share their own letters, engage employees in conversations about community and civic responsibility, and celebrate the people and partnerships that help their businesses thrive. The initiative also provides practical tools and ideas for organizations of all sizes looking to participate in a meaningful, nonpartisan way.

Women in Print Alliance has joined this effort by submitting its own birthday letter to America. The letter reflects on the contributions women have made to the printing industry and the opportunities that lie ahead for future generations.

As the letter states, “It’s been said that ‘well-behaved women rarely make history. America’s progress over the past 250 years has been built by trailblazers who expanded what was possible for those who followed. We demonstrate that spirit by helping the next generation of women in print explore their potential and chart their own pathways to success.”

These words capture a truth that many women in print know firsthand: progress happens when people are willing to lead, innovate, and create opportunities for others. The industry’s future depends on continuing that tradition.

As we approach America’s 250th birthday, consider how your company might participate. What lessons has your business learned? What values do you hope will guide the next generation? What role can the print community play in strengthening the communities it serves?

A birthday letter may seem like a small gesture, but it is also a chance to tell your story—and add your voice to a national conversation about the future we want to build together.

Read the full Women in Print Alliance letter to America here: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/696db0f7e05152c90e093d84/6a344ce77491a906dd4420af_TF250-letter-Women-in-Print-Alliance.pdf