Every month, there are hundreds of national and international celebrations dedicated to raising awareness and support for meaningful causes.

For those working to bring attention to important topics, it can be challenging to keep track of the next relevant awareness event. We’re here to help.

At Good Good Good, we aim to help people feel more hopeful and do more good. For years we’ve privately curated a comprehensive list of important cause-themed holidays that we’ve used for creating content on our good news Instagram, our Goodnewsletter, our Goodnewspaper, and on this very website.

We’ve organized this list of observances and events by month — and are making them public for the first time. Our hope is that this will help you or your organization bring attention to important issues.

Where applicable, we’ve included resources (usually good news around particular topics, action steps on how to make a difference, or relevant quotes) — and encourage you to share them if you find them helpful.

The main days and months you should know about for August are:

National Black Business Month August 1
World Lung Cancer Day August 1
Esther Day August 3
World Elephant Day August 12
National Nonprofit Day August 17
Remember Slavery Day August 23
Women’s Equality Day August 26
 Anniversary of the March on Washington August 28
National Grief Awareness Day August 30

August is the eighth month of the year and has 31 days. Named after Roman Emperor Augustus, it marks the end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Explore our comprehensive list of national and international months, weeks, days, and birthdays for the month of August:

August Celebrations:

Awareness Months

There are several awareness months celebrated in August — though the six that often get the most attention include National Black Business Month, National Immunization Awareness Month, Don’t Be a Bully Month, Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month, National Road Victim Month, and World Cancer Support Month.

Appendix Cancer Awareness Month

Don’t Be a Bully Month

Read and share Hank Green’s iconic quote about bullying

National Black Business Month

Explore our guide to finding and supporting Black-owned businesses, restaurants, and more in your community

National Immunization Awareness Month

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

National Road Victim Month

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) Awareness Month

World Cancer Support Month

Awareness Weeks

There are no specific awareness weeks celebrated in August — though many holidays are celebrated throughout the month

Awareness Days

World Lung Cancer Day - August 1

Emancipation  Day - August 1

Esther Day - August 3

International Clouded Leopard Day - August 4

Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act - August 4

National Oyster Day - August 5

Learn how oysters can be creatively used to clean the ocean

Global Day of Unplugging - August 6

National Sea Serpent Day - August 7

International Moon Bear Day - August 8

Scottish Wildcat Day - August 8

International Cat Day - August 8

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - August 9

Get to know Indigenous activists making the world a better place

World Lion Day - August 10

Mountain Day - August 11

World Elephant Day - August 12

Meet the biologist who became an ivory detective

World Hirola Day - August 12

Gay Uncle’s Day / Guncle’s Day - 2nd Sunday of August

International Wolf Day - August 13

World Lizard Day - August 14

National Nonprofit Day - August 17

19th Amendment Ratified - August 18

Transgender Flag Day - August 19

Learn about the history of the Trans Pride Flag and every other LGBTQ+ Pride flag

World Orangutan Day - August 19

World Humanitarian Day - August 19

Read our guide on ideas for celebrating World Humanitarian Day this year

Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - August 20

World Mosquito Day - August 20

National Senior Citizens Day - August 21

National Surgical Oncologist Day - August 22

Read about other inspiring frontline heroes

Remember Slavery Day - August 23

National Honey Bee Day - 3rd Sunday of August

International Bat Night - August 26

Women’s Equality Day - August 26

National Faith HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - August 28

Anniversary of the March on Washington - August 28

Wear It Purple Day - Last Friday of August

International Whale Shark Day - August 30

National Grief Awareness Day - August 30

International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31

National Zoo Awareness Day - August 31

Notable Birthdays

Birthdays of leading activists, nonprofit leaders, and other world-changers born in the month of August:

James Baldwin’s Birthday - August 2

Barack Obama’s Birthday - August 4

Magic Johnson’s Birthday - August 14

Sean Penn’s Birthday - August 17

John Green’s Birthday - August 24

Read all of John Green’s best quotes

Marsha P. Johnson’s Birthday - August 24

Read about Marsha P. Johnson and dive into her best quotes

Mother Teresa’s Birthday - August 27

Explore More Events:

Main Awareness Calendars: All Awareness Holidays | Heritage Months | International Days

More Awareness Calendars:  Animals | Pets | Environment & Sustainability | LGBTQ+ | Black & African American | Mental Health | Disability | Cancer | HIV/AIDS

Awareness Days & Months: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

Is this list missing a holiday or awareness week/month? Let us know. We want to ensure this list is comprehensive and inclusive.