Today marks the 15th year that American companies have been exhorted to open their doors to employees' daughters, and later their sons. It is also the last year that the day will be sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women, which created the event and saw it take off like wildfire. Even as more than a million workplaces will host young visitors today, Ms. Foundation officials say it's time for their group to take up other issues.

Next year, the prospects for the day are less clear. Foundation officials say that after 15 years, the day has enough momentum to continue on its own. "It lives now in HR departments," [foundation President Sara] Gould said. "It doesn't matter if anyone declares the day. It declares itself."

What happens now? Some observers are skeptical. They fear the day will peter out -- to everyone's loss.