This year the Institute for Character Development at Drake University is celebrating 10 years of service to Iowa. One of the events showcasing our work with CHARACTER COUNTS! in Iowa took place on Friday, March 9 when the ICD hosted its first fundraising event at the Hy-Vee Conference Center. Over 500 people attended the event that was sponsored by McAninch Corporation and presented by Wells Fargo.
At the event, Coach Hayden Fry was presented with the Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award to honor his lifetime achievements in relation to his commitment to civility and character development.
The event was a great success in leveraging financial resources necessary to continue our work to impact the lives of Iowans. We also recognized an individual who has made a great impact on securing the future of the Institute as the largest contributor to our endowment. This person, who wishes to remain anonymous, has for the second time, made a matching pledge of $1 million to our endowment.
Michael Josephson, founder of CHARACTER COUNTS!, was on hand and stated in his remarks, “I come here to pay tribute to all of you and to acknowledge the great achievement of 10 years of ever-increasing impact of CHARACTER COUNTS! in Iowa. And I come hear to remind you that however far we have come there is still so much more to do. I ask you to imagine how much better things can be if we continue to strengthen our individual and collective character. I ask you to imagine a society where civility, honor and selfless service prevailed in every corner of every community. If you are a volunteer I ask you to find additional ways to strengthen the CC! movement. If you are a donor I ask you to double or more your gifts with knowledge that your resources are building a better world. If you are a sponsor I ask you to be aggressively creative in finding new and broader ways to collaborate in this great venture.”
Over 30 athletes and coaches were on hand to help honor coach Fry. Many of these individuals took time to participate in an All-Star Meet and Greet event on Saturday, March 10 where they signed autographs and took time to discuss good character with over 700 parents and youth.
