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What is Character at Heart's goal and mission?

• Our Goal:  Character at Heart is committed to building character in the youth of Alabama.

• Our Mission:   Character at Heart works with community champions to raise the funds needed to provide the finest in character education curriculum, training, and support to Alabama’s children, teachers and parents.

• Manners of the Heart is a 36-week Kindergarten through 3^rd grade curriculum that promotes building character based on self-respect, respect for others, and personal responsibility. 
• Building Strong Character for a Lifetime is a 38-week, 4^th –8^th grade curriculum.  Designed as a “stand alone” program, it builds upon character traits and skills developed in Manners of the Heart.
• Pre-teen 4th - 6th Character Education Mentors is our program for elementary schools where we train and equip 4th - 6th grade students to teach Manners of the Heart to Kindergarten through 3rd grade students.
• Teen 7th - 12th Character Education Mentors is our program for high schools where we train and equip high school counselors and students to teach Manners of the Heart and Building Strong Character for a Lifetime to elementary school students.

• To help ensure students can apply what they learn, we recommend a 3-phase implementation plan.

  • Phase One:  Establish a Manners of the Heart Demonstration School in each county or school system by funding teacher/parent training, curriculum and 12-months of support for all Kindergarten through 3rd grade classroom.

  • Phase Two:  Obtain funding from local supporters needed to implement Manners of the Heart  in all remaining schools that request the program. 

  • Phase Three:  Provide Building Strong Character for a Lifetime training, curriculum, and support in all 4^th, 5^th or 6^th grade classrooms.  Recognize Manners of the Heart Model Schools based on: (1) Manners of the Heart  taught in all classrooms in at least one grade; (2) parental involvement; (3) community involvement; and (4) demonstrated program excellence.

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• Build community, school, and home partnerships needed to make curricula, training and support available to schools committed to building good character.
• Provide outstanding teacher/parent training workshops and follow-up support.
• Train and equip pre-teen (4th - 6th grade) and teen (7th  - 12th grade) character education mentors.
• Provide training and follow-up visit reports including pictures and suggested newspaper topics that sponsors, schools, and communities can use to highlight their programs. 
• Supply student posters to encourage parental involvement and sponsor recognition.

How has Character at Heart succeeded in accomplishing its mission?

• Since being established in April 2000, Character@Heart has raised over $900,000 needed to provide Manners of the Heart curriculum, training, and support to over 135 schools, serving more than 35,000 students annually in 18 Alabama counties.
• Character@Heart has helped provide Building Strong Character for a Lifetime training, curriculum, and support to over 50 schools in 6 Alabama counties.
• In 2005 and 2006, Character@Heart has conducted Business of Manners Workshops in Montgomery and Andalusia thanks to sponsorships by local businesses and chambers of commerce.

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Suggested options:

• State Champions include members of the Alabama Rural Electric Association.

• Regional/School System Champions include the City of Montgomery, Covington Electric Cooperative, Cullman Electric Cooperative, Dixie Electric Cooperative, and the Montgomery County Commission.

• Regional/School System Leaders include Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative.
• Regional/School System Sponsors include Beasley-Allen PC, Domino’s Pizza of Montgomery and South Alabama Electric Cooperatives.

• Community Sponsors include Alabama Power, American Proteins, Axsys Technologies, Caddell Construction, The Montgomery Automobile & Truck Dealers Association, Pioneer Electric Cooperative, TVA, and the Working Women’s Home Association of Montgomery.

• School Sponsors include the Andalusia Kiwanis Club, the City of Andalusia, Sterling Bank, Montgomery Advertiser & Gannett Foundation, Reinhardt Motors, OB-GYN Associates of Montgomery, The Guilford Companies, Morgan Keegan, The McWhorter Group, and the Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore Medical Alliance.  In addition, generous financial and in-kind support has been given by Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce, Aldridge, Borden & Company, Adams Drugs, Cullman Regional Medical Center, Good Morning Kiwanis Club, Anchor Mortgage, McGriff Industries, Regions Bank, SouthTrust Bank, Woodland Medical Center, VF Jeanswear, VFW Post 96, Bradley W. Willis, DMD, Chick-fil-A, ALFA Realty, Golden Animal Hospital, Jinright-Turner Insurance, Kingry Orthodontics, and Walker Brothers.

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• Enhanced local and regional image resulting from “at home” posters for students, teacher/parent workshops, PTA meetings, press releases, follow-up training events and invitations from schools to community leaders, board members, general managers and staff to participate in classroom lessons.

• Tremendous satisfaction from knowing they are helping . . . .

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