Press release date: Sept. 23, 2005
The local celebration of National
CHARACTER COUNTS! Week will be even more special this year
as the program celebrates its 10th anniversary in
Martin County.
CHARACTER COUNTS! is a program of the
United Way of Martin County and was founded in 1995 by
community leaders Kevin Henderson, mayor of Stuart; Sara
Wilcox, superintendent of schools; Susan Hershey, city
commissioner; Circuit Court Judge Larry Schack; the late
Charlene Hoag, county commissioner; and the late Joe Kordick,
a retired Ford executive.
“Martin County was a pioneer in
implementing a character building program in our schools
years before it was mandated by the state of Florida,” said
Terri May, director of CHARACTER COUNTS! “Our community
embraced the vision of the original founders and thanks to
the ongoing support of educators, businesses, government and
residents, we have reached this important milestone.”
Following are some of the events
planned locally for National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week, October
16-22.
-
Every Martin County public school
will display large banners that students created,
depicting one or more of the Six Pillars of Character:
trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness,
caring, citizenship.
-
CC! will present “Herding Cats Is
Not Impossible.” This business forum will offer advice
on how to maximize the productivity of every employee
and minimize the time lost to personality issues. The
forum will be held 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 20 at the Wolf
High-Technology Center, IRCC Chastain Campus. The cost
is $49 per person and includes materials and a
continental breakfast. Register by contacting Terri May
at (772) 283-4800, ext. 234, or
tmay@unitedwaymartincounty.org.
-
CC! will help kick off the
Foundations for Life Essay Contest through the Boys &
Girls Clubs.
-
McDonalds will provide CHARACTER
COUNTS! information to customers at its Martin County
locations.
-
The Martin County Board of County
Commissioners and School District will present a
proclamation.
-
CC! street pole banners will line
downtown Stuart.
-
A recognition breakfast will honor
founding CC! board members.
One of those founding board members,
Joe Kordick, left an important legacy. He funded the annual
Joe Kordick Youth Character Awards, which reward students in
middle and high school with cash and savings bonds to help
them achieve their life and educational goals. His wife,
Phyllis, has taken on a tremendous leadership role in
CHARACTER COUNTS!, including organizing the “Tee it up for
Character” fund-raising golf tournament held each the
spring.
Although highly identified in schools,
CHARACTER COUNTS! is a program for all ages and walks of
life. The program is embraced by government, law enforcement
and businesses in Martin County.
“In a world of increased violence,
corporate scandals and cynicism, it is critical that we all
share the responsibility of building a strong ethical
foundation in our youth in addition to being positive role
models ourselves at home and at work,” Ms. May said in
underscoring the importance of the program.
###
