2010 Events

Seating is Limited!
Register Today by calling Gwen Pongracz at 610-285-2613 / 610-216-4475 or emailing gwen.pongracz@gmail.com. Inquire about Act 48 Credit.

Hosted at DeSales University, school districts in Lehigh and Northampton counties are invited to send six students and two faculty members to this First Annual event. There is no cost to attend. If you are a parent, please contact your school and encourage them to participate.

AGENDA:

DAY 1: 8th Grade
Overview: What is Character & Why is it Important

Breakout 1: Leading with Character
Breakout 2: Teamwork & Communication
Breakout 3: Accepting Differences

Overview: The Power of Character
Breakouts: Groups lead by West Point Cadets - Discussion of Leadership & Ethical Challenges Faced by Today's Youth

Character Education IS the Plate
Integrating Character into YOUR Curriculum & Classroom
Becoming a State School of Character

Conference presenters include Kids of Character, The Center for Leadership & Ethics - DeSales University and the United States Military Academy.

Special Thank You to our conference sponsors: Forum for Ethics in the Workplace and several local Rotary Clubs.

 

If you love chocolate (and who doesn't!) join us for this sweet & savory exploration of chocolate, wine, coffee and Marani vodka from local wineries, chocolatiers and restaurants.

The weekend-long Chocolate, Wine & Ice Festival ends in this extraordinary event sponsored by Community Warriors with all proceeds benefitting Kids of Character and the Child Advocacy Center of Lehigh County.

Join us for this sweet and savory fundraiser at Melt Grill, Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley, from 1:00 - 4:00pm.

2009 Events

To launch its first program, Kids of Character is partnering with KidsPeace, a children's charity that for 127 years has worked to help and guide local youngsters in crisis, to hold a conference spotlighting the issues facing today's youth and how the community may address them.  The organizations are inviting the Valley's leaders in education, business and social services to hear some of the top national and local names in character education.  The conference will be held at the Donley Therapeutic Education Center on the KidsPeace Orchard Hills Campus, 5300 KidsPeace Drive, Orefield, PA.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Len Marella, Founder & President of the Center for Leadership and Ethics, Author of In Search of Ethics, Retired Colonel of the U.S. Army


• Elmer Gates, Chairman of Embassy Bank Lehigh Valley & co-founder of the Gates Leadership Initiative


• Beth Fritz, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer of Lehigh County


• Dr. Gregg Amore, Director of Counseling & Student Development, Character U, DeSales University


• Gwen Pongracz, Founder of Kids of Character


• KidsPeace representatives

The goals of the October 23 conference will be:

• To educate the community about the importance of character education.
• To help the community understand that it is the responsibility of everyone to promote character education and development.
• To encourage organizations to get involved with and run the first Kids of Character program, "Reading to Be a Better Me".

If you have a role in education, business or belong to a service organization, please join us to learn about the character of our youth and hear how we can make a difference by promoting character education and development here in the Valley. This is your chance to voice your concerns and take action. As a community, we CAN make a difference in children's lives and help them grow into respectful, responsible citizens.

This no cost, half day conference has limited seating. Lunch will be provided. If you have concerns about the character of Lehigh Valley youth and want to learn more about how your organization can play an instrumental role in their lives, be sure to attend this event. Please email Gwen Pongracz with Kids of Character to register by October 9. gwen.pongracz@gmail.com

 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table at the Emergency Preparedness Day presented by Upper Macungie, North Whitehall and South Whitehall Townships at the PA Expo Center on September 19. We couldn't have asked for better weather. There was a good crowd and it was wonderful to have a chance to meet so many people who share our belief that character education is important.