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Putting the Constitution in Every 8th Grader's Hands

The 917 Society is a nonpartisan civic education nonprofit. Every year, our volunteers personally deliver free pocket Constitutions to 8th-grade classrooms across all 50 states — at no cost to teachers, schools, or students. Ever.

Over 1,000,000 Pocket Constitutions Distributed * All 50 States Reached * Served 3,000+ School Districts Served * Focused on 8th Grade Civic Education * Founded 2014

Why We Exist

On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates signed the document that became the foundation of American democracy. Today, most students graduate without ever reading it.  ​The 917 Society was founded to change that.​

​Every year our volunteers hand-deliver free pocket Constitutions to 8th-grade classrooms across all 50 states, putting the actual document in students' hands at exactly the right moment. Not a summary. Not a worksheet. The Constitution itself.

In 2026, the United States' 250th anniversary year, that mission has never mattered more.

Who We Are

The 917 Society was founded in 2014 by Joni Bryan with a simple but powerful belief: every American student deserves to hold the Constitution in their hands.

 

We are a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit made up of volunteers who are passionate about civic literacy and the preservation of constitutional rights. We don't mail books. We don't drop off boxes. Our volunteers personally deliver free pocket Constitutions directly to 8th-grade classrooms — because we believe this document deserves to be delivered with intention.

September 17 is Constitution Day. It's our day. And in 2026, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we're putting the Constitution in more hands than ever before.

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Free Pocket Constitutions for Your Classroom. Completely Free. No Obligations

Every 8th-grade teacher in America can request free copies of the 250th Anniversary Edition pocket Constitution for their entire class — delivered personally by a 917 Society volunteer at no charge to you or your school.

This is the perfect resource for your Constitution Day unit, your civics curriculum, and your America 250 lessons. Supplies are limited — request yours before they run out.

  • Free for every student in your class

  • The 250th Anniversary Edition, "Celebrating the Constitution and U.S. Citizenship"

  • Hand delivered by a 917 Society volunteer

  • Available to public, private, homeschool  and charter schools in all 50 states

You Make This Possible

Every pocket Constitution in a student's hands started with a donor who believed in this mission — and a volunteer who showed up to deliver it.

The 917 Society runs entirely on the generosity of people like you. There are no government grants. No corporate sponsors. Just Americans who believe the next generation deserves to know the document that defines their rights.

Donors

Your gift goes directly to printing and distributing the pocket Constitution to students who would not otherwise receive one.

$10 puts the Constitution in 10 students' hands

$25 equips an entire classroom

$100 reaches 100 students across multiple schools

$500 serves a full school district

Your donation also funds our volunteer network — the dedicated Americans who hand-deliver these Constitutions directly to schools across all 50 states.  ​​​

Volunteers

Wouldn't you like to be one who ensures that a student has a Constitution in hand and the chance to civics in action? We would be thrilled to have you on board!

Constitution Day 2026 Is September 17

September 17, 2026 marks the first Constitution Day celebrated during America's 250th anniversary year. It's a once-in-a-generation moment — and we want every 8th grader in the country to hold the Constitution in their hands when it arrives.


Supplies are limited. Teachers — don't wait to request your free classroom copies.

All 50 states served * Reached into over 3,000 school districts * Served thousands of schools * Several million Constitutions distributed to 8th grade students

Ready to Make a Difference?

Whether you're a teacher looking for free resources, a volunteer ready to deliver Constitutions to your community, or a donor who believes in this mission — there's a place for you in the 917 Society.

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