Program vision
The Character Development Program seeks to promote character education, inspiring California schools and out-of-school programs to cultivate supportive learning communities based on honesty, respect, integrity, and responsibility.
Program Overview
The Foundation believes it is critical for all young people to access mentoring and character education to reach their full potential and become responsible and active community members. Quality character instruction enhances the public education system by promoting responsibility, respect, and positive behavior in the classroom, and ensuring that every child can concentrate on learning. The Foundation invests in Character Development in order to increase opportunities for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area to interact with exemplary role models and learn the values of good character, so they may develop a framework for ethical living.
Grantmaking objectives
Mentoring. Promote training opportunities to develop exemplary role models and mentors at schools and youth development organizations.
Access. Increase access to character education in-and out-of-school by scaling successful programs, strengthening organizational capacity, and improving infrastructure.
Quality. Provide direct support to high quality character education programs for children and youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Highlighted grants
Mentoring. In 1998, Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) was formed by the Stanford Department of Athletics with the mission of transforming the culture of youth sports so that every young athlete has a positive, character-building experience. Coaches do not always see themselves as character educators, but youth sports can be a critical venue for building character and teaching life lessons. Regardless of which team wins or loses in a competition, important lessons can be taught if coaches recognize and seize teachable moments. In 2010, the Foundation made a three-year grant to provide all Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coaches nationwide with PCA’s online training program. These 65,000 coaches will learn innovative best practices to support the character development of over 500,000 young athletes across the country.
Access. Located in New River Gorge, West Virginia, the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve is the newest high-adventure base for the Boy Scouts of America. It will be the permanent home of the National Scout Jamboree and the site of the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. The Summit property is on 10,600 acres adjacent to the New River Gorge National River area. This area provides access to incredible outdoor terrain in the Appalachian Mountains, which includes some of the world’s best whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. The Foundation made a major grant to initiate this national center for young people.
Staff
- Marcia Argyris, Senior Program Officer
- Kay Barthold, Senior Grants Manager