The Community Character Coalition of Elk Grove held its 2005 Community Youth Celebration in mid-June, and honored kids in elementary, junior high, and high school who promoted CC! through community service. "It was a great event held at the Village Hall and the Council Chambers," said Gary Umlauf. "Our mayor Craig Johnson gave awards to the schools that participated and invited all the students to the Council Chambers for special recognition."

An array of CHARACTER COUNTS! activities is taking place in Community School District 59. They include staff development for teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, parents, and community members, as well as a community breakfast, a community institute for governmental agencies and local businesses, a community planning network, and most importantly, character education in the schools.  With the aid of a grant from the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, the schools have selected books to stimulate discussions of the Six Pillars of Character. People have also developed fine arts activities such as songs, skits, and visual artifacts to support CHARACTER COUNTS! at all grade levels.  In addition, each school has adopted incentives for good behavior.  According to Dr. Stephen F. Midlock, assistant superintendent for instruction, “We did not want to add another thing to an already overcrowded curriculum.  Rather, we sought ways to use CHARACTER COUNTS! to enhance reading, social sciences, and fine arts.  It has become a part of the curriculum, instead of being an add-on.”  To enlist more public support, Birdie Bisceglie (staff developer) and Jane Paterala (junior high principal) have designed and coordinated the display of large CHARACTER COUNTS! banners in each of the district’s 14 schools.