In the summer of 1997, Sensei John Mirrione organized an event designed to unite martial artists as well raise awareness for various causes. Sensei Mirrione, who has been studying karate and martial arts since he was eight, is the owner and founder of Harmony by Karate school and former Good Will Ambassador for the World Black Belt Organization. The first Universal Harmony Day in 1997 centers on raising money for United Care USA. This organization is one that not only raises money and awareness for child abuse, but also provides education for children and parents on how children can keep themselves safe. Sensei Mirrione's goal in masterminding the event was also to set aside a day simply to celebrate philanthropy and humanity.

The first Universal Harmony Day is said to have been one of the largest philanthropy driven martial arts events to ever take place. It was also one of the most publicized. To show its support, the network ABC allowed the event to take place outside its studio on Columbia Avenue in New York City. ABC and the radio station Z-100 also promoted the event. ABC later sponsored a 30 second public service announcement for Sensei Mirrione in 2006 when September 11th was named the official Universal Harmony Day.

At the first Universal Harmony Day, Sensei Mirrione had the help of his students as well as celebrities, many of whom had trained with him. The late ABC news anchor Bill Beutel, the hockey player Luc Robitaille, radio host for Z-100 Eliot Segal, artist Peter Max, and Kathleen Turner were just a few of the high profile guests in attendance.

Since the first Universal Harmony Day the event and the idea has grown. In 2006, with the help of ABC, Z-100 and other martial arts organizations, September 11th was named Universal Harmony Day. That year the event was also not limited to just New York. Festivities spanned the country, showing pre-filmed footage and live broadcasts from the New York event.

Since creating and facilitating Universal Harmony Day, Sensei Mirrione has not stopped finding ways to better help society. Recently, Sensei Mirrione has broken the world record for the slowest bare knuckle push up, using the attention generated by this feat as a way to promote his campaign to stop schoolyard bullying. He plans on breaking the record again on the Regis and Kelly show to gain even more publicity for the cause.