Character Counts!

The Oswego/Montgomery Character Counts Coalition in conjunction with the Oswego Community Unit School District 308 hosted the Character Counts training on September 18, 19 and 20, 2007 at Oswego East High School.  This event, approved by the Oswego School Board as a part of the strategic plan, welcomed a 35 member community team to be trained in the Character Counts initiative that originated from the Josephson Institute of Ethics. 

Two trainers from the Josephson conducted the three day training. Participants in the training represented a collective group: Oswego School Board, Oswego Police, Oswego School district teachers and administrators, Parents, students, Oswegoland Park District, Kendall County Special Education Cooperative, Youth Leaders, Provena Mercy Hospital, Oswego Library, Oswego Chamber, and Oswego/Montgomery Coalition members.  Many sponsors throughout the community donated significant dollars in order for this event to occur.  The Oswego/ Montgomery Coalition and the School District would like to thank the following area business partners for their support:

• Oswego Community Unit School District 308
• Oswego Foundation for Educational Excellence
• Temple Display, Oswego, IL
• River Height Veterinary Clinic, Oswego, IL
• Provena Mercy Center, Aurora, IL
• Property Concepts, Inc. Oswego, IL
• Old Second National Bank, Oswego, IL
• Jimmy Johns, Oswego, IL
• Carson Chiropractic, Oswego IL
• All Steel Credit Union, Oswego IL
• Homestead Elementary School PTA
• AmericInn, Oswego, IL
• Aramark Food Service
• Enterprise Car Rental Oswego
• Wolf’s Crossing Home and School
• Lakewood Creek Home and School
• Boulder Hill Elementary PTA
• Sports Co Rehabilitation, Aurora
• Churchill Elementary School
• Jim Tram-Pekin Insurance
• Prairie Point Home and School

Now that the trainers have gone through the training, they will continue to spread the common language among our youth and reinforce the six pillars of Character:  Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Respect, Citizenship, Caring and Fairness.  The goal for this training was to create awareness and model these pillars of character throughout the community.

Any area business can donate to the Character Counts initiative throughout the year.  Please contact Officer Dave Kiest, President of the Character Counts Coalition, 636-2020 or Dr. Janet M. Stutz, school representative, 636-2510.  You may also download and submit a donation form.  All businesses that donate to this event will be recognized on Character Counts website link from the Districts website.

 The following organizations are members of the Character Counts Coalition.  They have each signed a resolution stating that they recognize the Character Counts efforts in the Oswego/Montgomery area: