People Need People, We Need YOU
Miss Joni reads to an After School Program group of students.
One thing in this life is true, people need people and we need you. Here at Characters of Character we teach nine core values to help our children build a firm foundation, make better choices, build confidence, learn coping skills and understand who they are and all that they can be. These characters earned a National Promising Practice Award through Character Education Partnership in Washington D.C. which led me, Joni, to form the nonprofit organization. The grind is real trying to get these characters into conversations with our children and families while we work tirelessly trying to do so, we could sure use your support. Not sure about who these characters are or or how they impact, engage and empower our children and youth, allow me to introduce to you the Characters of Character!
Joni had the opportunity to Pilot the characters in the elementary school she worked at and they earned a National Promising Practice Award. This had her thinking that a nonprofit organization would reach more children to teach them these nine vital core values. Whis was true, she also held Mommy and Me Painting Classes in the communities in Illinois, when not much longer came Covid and things shifted. Here, she discovered the need and importance for children and youth to have positive activities they could call their own should they need to stay in the hospital. Shortly after this, the Nashville Predators granted Characters of Character funds to donate their Superhero Activity Boxes to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Seeing the impact there, the boxes were soon donated to East Tennessee (Dolly Parton) Children’s Hospital, The Rainbow Kids Clinic, Power and Grace Prep. Academy and social workers in Clarksville. This led to donation to the YMCA in Robertson County, Rutherford County and East Nashville and was soon followed by donations to Fort Campbell Army Base in Clarksville, Tennessee.
What began as hand drawn posters, journals and bulletin boards with all the characters, has now evolved into a book series and activity boxes for our children and youth. Learn about our Superhero boxes here.
Where they all began!
Today, we have published over thirty books, donated over four thousand Superhero boxes and impacted thousands of children and families with these important traits and life long lessons on character building.
Children need to learn vital core values because these values help guide how they think, act, and treat others throughout life. Strong character skills are just as important as academic skills because they shape friendships, help with decision making, build confidence and coping skills. Some of the most important reason children need core values include:
Making Better Choices, like being honest, responsible, respect all help children to make positive choices at school, at home, and in the community.
Strengthening friendships and social skills help a child learn kindness, empathy, manners, and friendships along with building better communication skills and healthy relationships.
Creating safer and caring communities by teaching children respect, kindness, and civic values helps a child understand the importance of helping others, following rules, and being a good citizen.
By helping children handle challenges they are building better coping skills, core values, patience, and self control which helps them to solve problems, and keep trying when things become difficult.
Supporting emotional and mental wellness, positive character traits encourage healthier emotions, stronger coping skills, and better relationships with peers and adults.
Reduces bullying and negative behaviors, teaches kindness, empathy, respect and a better understanding in different environments.
The values children practice early often become lifelong habits that influence their choices into adulthood, with parenting, leadership and community involvement. WE NEED YOU, if you would like to introduce these characters, make them visible and in sight!! Follow us on social media, join our newsletter, comment and share just who we are and we know that together, our children will go far. A donations is welcome to help us continue to make a difference in the life of a child. Perhaps you own a business, or know of one, or artists who are looking to be a part of a nonprofit organizaiton, we welcome you! You can also donate on our facebook page, our website, or Venmo @charactersofcharacter or support our Wish List here.
If you want to get involved with us, reach out, I’m always a good listener, love sharing our projects and love a good conversation.
Let’s make our communities stronger in good character, together!
2nd Annual Author and Book Festival
Characters of Character and Miss Joni will be there on Saturday, May 30th from 9:00-3:00 at Booth #6
We hope you’ll stop by to say HI!! Click here for more information.
Books, Painting Kits and more for the kiddo’s!
We are a vendor at the market! Will have books, painting kits, superhero mask and character badge and more for the kiddo’s! Come on by and say HI! Click here for more.
Who has donated? Click here. Where have our activity boxes gone to?
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Rainbow Kids Clinic
Power and Grace Prep. Academy
Rutherford County YMCA
Robertson County YMCA
Rush in Chicago
Northwestern Medicine in McHenry, Woodstock, Huntley and Decatur, Illinois
Fort Campbell Army Base in Tennessee
Social Workers in Clarksville, Tennessee
Shriner’s in Chicago
Dallas Children’s Hospital
Nemours Children’s Hospital in Deleware
Lurie’s in Chicago
East Tennessee now Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital
These Superhero boxes bring a lot of comfort and joy to every girl or boy in the hospital who receives one. The staff appreciate them as they simply redirect a child from their fear of being in the hospital and they calm them, engage them, empower them and impact their creativity, their imagination and their character while having fun with their own activity box. We hope you see the value in our projects and consider to support us during the year. We appreciate you! Characters of Character celebrated 19 years as a nonprofit in March, and we are here to stay!