Last year on March 20, Katie Couric wore a sweater on "The CBS Evening News." Joe Scarborough wore one, too, on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," as did the folks on "Good Morning America" and "Fox and Friends." Also wearing sweaters that day were Gov. Ed Rendell, the TV news personalities on WTAE, WPXI and KDKA, and lots of others.

They were answering the call to honor the late Fred Rogers on what would have been his 80th birthday, as a way of encouraging neighborly acts of kindness. Some called it National Sweater Day, though that wasn't really the point.

The celebrities' sweaters came courtesy of Family Communications Inc., the company Mr. Rogers founded to produce "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" for public television. This Friday, Family Communications is hoping to turn his birthday into an annual tradition of community service, to be known as Won't You Be My Neighbor Day. They'd also like you to wear a sweater.

"The sweater is the fun part," said Margy Whitmer of Family Communications. "It reminds you of Fred. We hope people will take the next step and do good works in the community."

A number of local organizations are already on board for free events Friday.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and the PPG Aquarium, The National Aviary, the Mattress Factory, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Photo Antiquities will offer free admission.

Neighbors are also invited to the Children's Museum for a visit with Mr. McFeely and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and to donate sweaters for those who need them.

Sweater drive sponsors include Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, first floor lobby at 925 Liberty Ave. Three regional malls -- Century III, Ross Park and South Hills Village -- will hold sweater drives as well.

In addition, the movie "My Tale of Two Cities" will have several benefit screenings this week across the country. The film, by Carl Kurlander, is a comeback story about Pittsburgh, Fred Rogers' real-life neighborhood, featuring Franco Harris and other celebrities.

It will be screened in Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and on Friday at 7 p.m. at The Waterworks Cinema to benefit the Youth and Media Initiative of the Steeltown Entertainment Project and the Pittsburgh Promise. Tickets are $10.

For more information, visit fci.org/neighbor.