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July 21, 2020 BRYN MAWR, PA: The Buffalo Public School District is the recipient of eight Promising Practice certifications by Character.org- a national advocate for character in schools, families, sports and the workplace, and headquartered in Washington, DC. The eight practices were certified across seven of the 22 schools that have been a part of the nationally recognized CITRS/CHARACTER COUNTS! Comprehensive Character Development Initiative since January of 2017. "Receiving a Promising Practice is a big step in a school's journey to attain full certification as a School of Character. Promising Practices are important building blocks that a school puts in place in constructing a comprehensive character culture. These schools are demonstrating significant progress in the building of that culture," stated Character.org's New York State Coordinator, Dr. Philip Fusco. "It is an honor to work with the schools in Buffalo who are willing to undertake this effort to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of educating the "whole child"." “I’m not surprised that all seven BPSD schools that applied received the Promising Practice recognition through the national organization Character.org,” commented Suzanne Bracci, CITRS Western New York Regional Director. “These seven schools- part of a 22 Buffalo Public School CITRS/CC! project- have worked very hard the past 3 years, consistently showing dedication to continual improvement and integration of the character development framework within their culture, climate and practices. I believe they likely have several practices that are worthy of this distinct honor. This is a great steppingstone, and, with consistent effort and determination, I believe these schools can one day achieve New York State and National School of Character certifications. When that day comes, they will have experienced a radical transformation within their school, as Harvey Austin School #97 (a recently named National School of Character) has experienced." Outside of the eight certifications in the Buffalo Public School District, Character.org also certified an additional 238 Promising Practices in schools and organizations across the country that foster character development in children and teens. About CITRS, Inc: Founded in 2010, CITRS is a nonprofit organization that stands for Character, Integrity, Trust, Relationships and Success. Its mission is to empower people to achieve success by building a strong foundation of character. CITRS works with educators, organizations and school districts to develop character-centered environments, in which students thrive ethically, socially, and academically. It is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, PA and co-founded by Clay Hamlin and Gene Miller.

August 19, 2020 Bryn Mawr, PA: CITRS is proud to announce that all the organization’s programs, initiatives and our new app are aligned with Character.org’s groundbreaking comprehensive Model Standards for Character & Social Emotional Development (CSED).  These standards, just released, were developed in collaboration with leading experts in the fields of both Character Development and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).  Based on the latest science and research, these model standards provide states, districts, and schools with a way to determine whether or not their programs for the whole child are complete. “CITRS aims to cultivate environments in which students develop both their character strengths and their social-emotional skills,” commented Clay Hamlin, CEO of CITRS. “Schools should not ‘just’ do character development or ‘just’ do SEL, because, either way, their programs are incomplete.  In order for a program to be complete and most effective, it needs to be in full alignment with the CSED Model Standards.” The CSED Model Standards brings everything together. It provides the four dimensions of character (moral, performance, intellectual and civic character) and the five skills of social-emotional learning (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making). In addition, the CSED Model Standards are aligned with the full range of current educational approaches, including multi-tiered systems of support, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), trauma-informed initiatives, and restorative practices. To review Character.org’s Model Standards for Character & Social Emotional Development (CSED) in detail, visit www.character.org/model-standards. About CITRS:  Founded in 2010, CITRS is a nonprofit organization that stands for Character, Integrity, Trust, Relationships and Success. Its mission is to empower people to achieve success by building a strong foundation of character. CITRS works with educators, organizations and school districts to develop character-centered environments in which students thrive ethically, socially, and academically. CITRS is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, PA and co-founded by Clay Hamlin and Gene Miller.

Washington, D.C. CITRS team members, Jeanne Craft and Brendan Petersen partnered with Jessica Bailey, Senior Director of Education and DJ Rouzeau, Director of After School Programming at New York Junior Tennis and Learning, to facilitate their innovative and dynamic character learning session at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, Washington, D.C. March 10, 2015. Best practices, a virtues matrix with a bi-lingual application, a logic model for effective organizational partnering, and strategies for reaching young people were shared with administrators and professionals from around the country. Participants were engaged in an experiential ‘on-court’ simulation of character learning. This highly interactive and ‘hands-on’ activity stimulated interesting and valuable dialogue among attendees. In addition, Craft and Petersen participated in a special session with other invited diverse leadership members to explore the crucial intersection of social and emotional learning and afterschool. They introduced to conference organizers and attendees the concept of Comprehensive Character Education; specifically highlighting that Social Emotional Learning integrated with Character Education is key to transforming programs into powerful learning initiatives. Successful infusion of Social Emotional within Character Development (SECD) results in positive behaviors, increased academic success and caring communities. Afterschool programs often enjoy strong competitive advantages in helping youth build these important life competencies and habits. Without the mandates of standardized testing and curriculum restrictions placed on schools, afterschool programs are free to explore SECD topics in more depth. In fact, many education experts argue that afterschool programs are the ideal forum for SECD learning, as they can focus on the relational sides of helping young people develop, whether in the context of sports, arts, and other enrichment activities. SECD is anchored in relationships that build healthy attachment, integrity, trust, and interpersonal skills. For more information please contact Brendan Petersen, bpetersen@citrs.org or 610-995-1090.

Buffalo, NY A charge of character is sparking all over Buffalo. As support grows for the CITRS / Character Counts! Character Development Initiative, which involves 22 schools in the Buffalo Public School District (BPSD), the community is taking notice. As of August 26, 2017, the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo became a funder of the BPSD Initiative, supporting the effort with a year-long grant of $25,000 CITRS Lead Mentor/Coach of Western New York, Suzanne Bracci, is thrilled about the new support, saying, “This grant will give us the opportunity to further the mission we are on – to create a culture and climate of good character, not only in the school setting, but in the community as well. We are very grateful for the financial support of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.” The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo grant will support CITRS in providing the resources, training, coaching, and hands-on professional development that enables teachers and leaders to effectively teach and model good character. As teachers incorporate character development into existing curricula and daily routines, the results speak for themselves: time spent managing poor behavior decreases, academic performance increases, and students hold higher expectations of themselves and their peers. The short-term outcomes seen within the first three years of the initiative include: · Improved school culture and climate; · Increased attendance, parental involvement, ethical and moral decision-making, pro-social behavior and problem-solving skills; · Decreased bullying, violent threats and altercations; and · Decrease in negative behaviors (lying, cheating, stealing), truancy and disciplinary actions. In addition to the short-term outcomes, the following are long-term impacts that will be felt long after the initiative’s initial implementation: · Improved, sustainable school culture and climate; · Increased academic achievement, student grade progression, and graduation rates; · Lowers costs by decreasing the need for behavioral management interventions; · Improved personal relationships; and · Career readiness leading to success in the workplace. The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1919 to enhance and encourage long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. The Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas, and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Since 1919 the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. www.cfgb.org.

February 11, 2020 BRYN MAWR, PA: The nationally recognized CITRS/CHARACTER COUNTS! Comprehensive Character Development Initiative in the Buffalo Public School District’s 22 schools has triggered program expansion in the Western New York Region. CITRS is honored to have been selected by Erie 1 BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) as a service provider to its 19 school districts as part of a new Community School Resources Co-Ser. The contract is not limited to only Erie 1 school districts, but is applicable to other Western New York (WNY) school districts through cross contracts. Erie 1 BOCES’ Assistant Superintendent of Educational Supports and WNYRIC Services, Elizabeth M. Freas, stated, “The goal of the Community Schools Co-Ser is to provide for students’ social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs and partner with districts and community organizations to remove barriers to learning and support the whole child. Erie 1 BOCES is proud to partner with CITRS to provide evidence-based character education programming that aligns with districts’ needs and NYSED initiatives to better support social emotional learning in all classrooms.” The first expansion project kicked off last month at Maple Avenue School. Mark Laurrie, Niagara Falls City School District’s Superintendent of Schools, commented, “Becoming part of the Character Counts network is a natural progression of our ongoing efforts to address the Social and Emotional needs and Learning Targets of our students at Maple Avenue School." CITRS is pleased to be expanding the nationally recognized CITRS/CC! model initiative in the WNY region and beyond, as upcoming information sessions are being held on the east coast later this month. About Us: CITRS is a nonprofit that stands for Character, Integrity, Trust, Relationships and Success. Its mission is to empower people to achieve success by building a strong foundation of character. CITRS works with educators, organizations and school districts to develop character-centered environments, in which students thrive ethically, socially, and academically. It is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, PA and co-founded by Clay Hamlin and Gene Miller.

CITRS team members, Jeanne Craft, David Di Lucia and Brendan Petersen partnered with Jessica Bailey, Senior Director of Education at New York Junior Tennis and Learning, to facilitate an innovative and interactive character session on October 31, 2014. CITRS and NYJTL engaged participants as they learned about and experienced the unique model that they designed for New York City’s students. The interactive and robust program impacting K-12 youth is revolutionizing coaching pedagogy in New York City’s most challenging neighborhoods. Effective strategies and best practices for integrating sports and character education were shared. Then participants were involved in a highly interactive and fun ‘on-court-simulated’ experience that emphasized the learning of respect, integrity and ethical decision-making. While this model was customized using tennis for NYJTL, it is universal and can be readily adapted for embedding and developing character through any sport.

CITRS and the Character Council of Western New York are hosting an event to raise awareness, support, and celebrate the success of the groundbreaking Buffalo Public School District’s Character Development Initiative. In conjunction, the Buffalo History Museum is hosting a panel discussion of nationwide experts on Wednesday, June 6, at 6:00 p.m., to discuss the initiative. Panelists include: James M. Wadsworth - President of the John R. Oishei Foundation's Board of Directors Clay Hamlin - Founder of CITRS and Buffalo Native Michael Josephson - Founder of CHARACTER COUNTS! Suzanne Bracci - President of the Character Council of Western New York Heidi Milch - Executive Director of Community Connections of New York, Inc. Colleen Cunningham - Supervisor of the Buffalo Public School District's Office of School Leadership Demario Strickland - Principal of Harvey Austin School #97 Cocktails and dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m. The BPSD’s initiative, which includes 21 Buffalo Public Schools, is currently the largest character development initiative in the U.S. It reaches 14,000 pre-k – 12th grade students, as well as teachers, parents, and the surrounding community. The overarching goal of the initiative is to cultivate ethical, respectful, and caring school environments, in which students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally in their lives and the workplace. Many leaders have already pledged their support to the initiative, such as: City of Buffalo - Mayor Byron W. Brown Buffalo Public School District - Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash Villanova University - Athletic Director Mark W. Jackson To learn more, please visit: https://www.citrs.org/citrs-ccwny-event. ABOUT THE CHARACTER COUNCIL OF WNY: The Character Council of WNY exists to enrich the understanding of the benefits of good character and to facilitate the continual development and enrichment of character excellence for citizens throughout our community. www.charactercouncilwny.org

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 – The Inaugural CITRS Golf Outing & Dinner was a great success and raised significant funds for the Independence Mission Schools’ character initiative. The day’s event was kicked off by a golf tournament on the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon course. Cocktails, dinner and the evening program were held on the covered outdoor patio overlooking the 18th green. The evening program, attended by 120 supporters, celebrated the success of the Independence Mission Schools, as well as highlighting their current partnership with CITRS and Character Counts. The program honoree was Brian McElwee, founder and Chairman of the Independence Mission Schools, who can be best described as a true entrepreneurial educator and visionary. “Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr. We thank all our supporters, including our sponsors, for their generosity in making this event a great success. DIAMOND SPONSORS Rizk Ventures Shidler Family Foundation PLATINUM SPONSOR Alliance | HSP GOLD SPONSORS Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP Jones Lang LaSalle– Philadelphia, PA Deborah and Richard Previdi FOURSOME SPONSORS 511 Group Inc The Chase Law Group CBRE CBRE – Philadelphia, PA Colliers International Corporate Office Properties Trust Cushman & Wakefield – Harrisburg, PA Cushman & Wakefield – Tampa, FL D2 Architects DiLucia Family Robert Fahey & John McConnell Joe and Francine Haulenbeek Jones Lang LaSalle – Chicago, IL Jones Lang LaSalle- Nashville, TN Angela and Joe Virdone Wells Fargo

April 3, 2018 Villanova Basketball Team celebrated last night as the NCAA National Champions. Not only is this a major athletic victory for Villanova, it is substantial in the movement to bring strong character into the world of professional sports. It is no secret that the NCAA’s character leadership has been lacking. However, Villanova’s Athletic Department has stood as a pillar of character in the NCAA for years, demonstrating the importance of good character for success. So how does Villanova do it? Thanks to Villanova’s deep-seated Augustinian values, moral and performance character have been written, taught and modeled for years, becoming ingrained in the school’s culture. Buy-in from the President of the University filters down through the athletic department, coaches and student athletes, constantly reaffirming the importance of character in sports. Athletes are treated the same as the rest of the students. Along with the entire student population, they attend the same orientation that focuses on values and character. Villanova's values are taught and enforced in the field every day by coaches, who consistently communicate with student athletes in proactive ways to help them become people who care about others and reflect the importance of living by Villanova's values and character.

August 5, 2021 BRYN MAWR, PA: CITRS has announced the roll out of the CITRS GROW Model, an effective Continuous School Improvement Model which focuses on helping America’s struggling schools to thrive, not just survive. While other education providers have programs and initiatives that are targeted at students, the CITRS GROW Model focuses first on supporting the adults in the schools, including all faculty, staff, and administrators. CITRS believes that a school is only as successful and healthy as the strength of its team. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on educators’ energy and enthusiasm will continue to be felt in this school year and beyond. “We recognize, more than ever, the increasing demands that schools and staffs have had in the last year and a half. Ideally, schools should be filled with educators who have fallen in love with teaching again and know they are supported in their efforts,” stated Melissa Nunez, Chief Operating Officer of CITRS. The four-phased GROW model is not “one size fits all”. Rather, CITRS recognizes that every school has its own unique problems preventing their success. This proven data-based consulting approach is unique. Central to the model is the internationally recognized team of highly qualified education specialists, administrators, counselors, psychologists, and researchers who provide one-on-one, on-the-ground support and facilitation of this multi-dimensional, evidence-driven process that helps turn around even the most challenged schools. The CITRS GROW Model is developed in conjunction with internationally renowned research experts Multi-Dimensional Education, Inc. It is built on two decades of research and uses validated measurement tools to assess the dimensions most predictive of educational success. This data serves as a guide to inform on-going continuous school improvement efforts led by schools’ teams that are guided and facilitated by the CITRS GROW team. To learn more about the GROW Model, visit https://www.citrs.org/webinarseries and register for the upcoming webinar being held on August 17th at 12pmEST. ### About CITRS, Inc: CITRS is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian, education consulting company and a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Founded in 2010, CITRS initially focused on helping to make character initiatives more accessible to children and young adults. Today CITRS' approach has evolved since its founding to a greater focus on the adults by providing consultation, support, and guidance to the teams and staff members of schools and organizations.

March 6, 2020 BRYN MAWR, PA – Buffalo Public School District’s Harvey Austin School #97 has been designated a State School of Character by Character.org; a national advocate and leader for character in schools, families, sports and the workplace, headquartered in Washington, DC. This national recognition is the result of Harvey Austin’s dedication to the implementation of a comprehensive character development initiative managed by CITRS, in partnership with Character Counts!. “Harvey Austin is extremely excited to receive the designation of State School of Character. We are thoroughly dedicated to developing the character of our students and caring for the wholechild. This initiative has improved the culture of the entire school drastically, which in turn, has led to us seeing progress and gains in all areas of the school. We are honored that we can now serve as a model school for other institutes to carry out the essential work of developing students into great people,” stated Assistant Principal, Cassandra Gasbarrini. Harvey Austin has been involved in the nationally recognized CITRS/CHARACTER COUNTS!Comprehensive Character Development Initiative in the Buffalo Public School District’s 22 schools since January of 2017. They are the first school in the district to receive this designation and serve as a beacon for the rest of the district. Principal Demario Strickland commented, "On behalf of the students, families, and staff of Harvey Austin, we are thankful to Character.org and CITRS for their faith in our school to carry the torch to ensure that character is embedded in everything we do. Because of the leadership and guidance of CITRS, we have been able in instill empathy in our students and we are able to prepare them for the world and the values that they must contribute to make this a better place." About Us: CITRS is a nonprofit that stands for Character, Integrity, Trust, Relationships and Success. Its mission is to empower people to achieve success by building a strong foundation of character. CITRS works with educators, organizations and school districts to develop charactercentered environments, in which students thrive ethically, socially, and academically. It is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, PA and co‐founded by Clay Hamlin and Gene Miller.

Washington, D.C. – Character.org presented the first ever National Sports Organization of Character Recognitions, which “celebrate outstanding organizations who, through the medium of sports, have demonstrated the highest standards of character,” to The First Tee and New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL). CITRS was instrumental in leading the initiative as they consulted with both organizations through the comprehensive and rigorous certification process required to receive the award. According to Character.org, “This award acknowledges that these organizations have established the best possible systems and procedures so that character instruction and modeling is pervasive and sustainability is ensured. Additionally, this award honors recipients for serving as models for scalability and replication across the country.” As the first organizations to achieve National Sports Organization of Character recognition, First Tee and NYJTL have paved the way for future organizations to incorporate character development into their programs and become certified.