TSC Apparel and Character Council Provide Character T-shirts

TSC Apparel, a Cincinnati-based apparel company, and the Character Council partnered to provide 1000 t-shirts to local school children.  T-shirts were provided for students at Rees E. Price Academy, Ethel M. Taylor Academy, and Westwood School, all Cincinnati Public Schools who have adopted school-wide character education programs to create a safe and positive culture for learning.                                                     

The t-shirts carry a character message and artwork designed by the students themselves.  A Westwood student came up with the theme, “Being the best at getting better!” Similarly, Ethel M Taylor shirts include a student-designed message, “Others wish for it, we work for it!” Rees E. Price t-shirts showcase student art, their school motto, “Where Character Matters,” and their proclamation as a bully-free zone. 

Students earn t-shirts through their demonstration of kindness, respect, and positive behavior and through their engagement in school activities.  Typically the youth are encouraged to wear the shirts to school on Fridays.  At Taylor Academy, chosen students are recognized monthly for their character in a ceremony that is broadcast internally to students and staff.  Below are Taylor students of the month.



Tom Gill Chevrolet Marks 10th Year Anniversary as a “Business of Character”

January 2012 marked the 10th Year Anniversary for Tom Gill Chevrolet as a “Business of Character.” In 2002, Tom Gill made the decision to put character at the foundation of his business.  He worked with the Character Council to roll out character training for all employees.  The Council assisted with strategic planning to create a vision, mission, and core values built on character. Over the course of the next few years, more initiatives were layered on the “Business of Character” foundation. All new employees experienced character training and “character energizing sessions” were conducted as a reminder for current staff.  Whole departments selected and focused on specific character qualities to help achieve their goals. Posters were placed around the dealership and emails distributed that promoted one character quality each month.

Every day, good character is at the foundation of their interaction with customers and at the core of their decision-making.  After 10 years as a Business of Character, the company reached all of its goals as laid out in the vision in 2002.  Customers are “completely satisfied.” They are within the top 150 dealerships in the US and the #1 dealership in the state of Kentucky. 

Recently the Character Council assisted the dealership in creating a 5-year Strategic Plan for the dealership including goals through 2016, vision, core values, and mission.  The Character Council worked with management and staff to create a new mission statement:  “Where customers are treated like family and employees are treated like customers.”

“We cannot express enough our gratitude to Tom Gill and team for their loyalty and long-term commitment to character,” said Mary Andres Russell.  “Not only is Tom Gill Chevrolet our most visible “Business of Character,” most of our training modules and culture enhancing methods have been developed through this long-term relationship.”

Character Council Inspires Logan County Kentucky Initiative

In November of 2011, Lisa White attended a Character Council presentation at the Kentucky School Board Association conference.  Within just 6 months, Lisa’s passion for character has ignited a movement throughout Logan County Kentucky.  Read more at http://www.character.org/about/news/newsbriefs/news-from-the-states-may-2012/.

Introducing the Ambassadors of Character

 The Character Council is proud to present its newest initiative, the Ambassadors of Character program. The program has recruited nearly 40 Ambassadors spread across the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and South Eastern Indiana areas. All of these Ambassadors are committed to distributing the message of character in their community and each one possesses a “Character…It starts with me” attitude.

In order to expand awareness and encourage financial support of the Character Council the Ambassadors will share their passion for character with their network of influence. It is the Ambassadors mission to introduce the Character Council to new contacts, seek support through membership in the Alliance for Character and obtaining sponsorships or silent auction items for the annual celebration. They will help open doors to new schools, businesses and other organizations.

By becoming Ambassadors of Character these people are benefiting from leadership opportunities, an expanding network, and recognition of involvement as community leaders. The Ambassador Program strengthens the Character Council’s vision of promoting excellence in character.

2012 Ambassadors of Character

  • Bill Lendl | Edward Jones
  • Chris Gruenk | CPN Squared
  • Dianne Marx, Esq | Sebaly Shillito & Dyer
  • Karl Ulrich, Esq | Sebaly Shillito & Dyer
  • Ketan Pema | The Drycleaning Shop
  • Steve Johnston | YIP HR
  • Sue Mahlock | The Community Foundation West Chester/ Liberty
  • Bob Young, Esq | Robert W. Young, Esq
  • Kim Lyon | Exciting Windows! By Kim Lyon
  • Joe Hinson | West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance
  • Greg Noll | First Bank
  • Bill Kissel | Flynn & Company CPAs
  • Jeremy Riddle | Hauser Group
  • Joel Osterman | OstermanCron, Inc.
  • Kelly Flynn | Flynn & Company CPAs
  • Richard Flynn | Flynn & Company CPAs
  • Sgt. Steve Saunders | Cincinnati Police Department
  • Trent Warner | Union Savings Bank
  • Pete Dowd | Wells Fargo Insurance Services
  • Shawn Gilreath | CB Richard Ellis
  • Jackie Herman | Centric Consulting
  • Doug Bolton | Cassidy Turley
  • Aimee Cordrey, Esq | UC Health
  • Dr. David Faust | Cincinnati Christian University
  • Gayle Brock | YMCA, USA
  • Hallie Borellis, Esq | Shwartz Manes Ruby & Slovin
  • Jeff Klump | K4 Architecture, LLC/ K4 Construction, Inc.
  • Ron Beshear | Beshear Financial
  • Josh Cook | Healthcare Regional Marketing
  • Judy Rahm | GCJ Group
  • Nancy Ray | Retired Principal of St. Mary’s School in Aurora, IN
  • Sharon Coffey | Creator of Friendship Award
  • Shawn Lightner | Community Schools Corporation-Lawrenceburg Schools
  • Suzzi Romines | Prevent Child Abuse-Dearborn County
  • Sam Debonis | The Park National Bank
  • Tom Gill | Tom Gill Chevrolet