Celebrates first year of Character Playbook participation in Orange County, a how-to initiative for young students on healthy relationships, making good decisions and standing up for peers
Westminster, CA, May 31, 2019 – The National Football League (NFL), Los Angeles Chargers and Orange County United Way teamed up to bring Character Playbook, a digital learning program focused on youth character development, to Orange County schools for the first time. On June 5, LA Chargers players and cheerleaders and United Way executives, will come together for a special celebration event at Warner Middle School in Westminster.
Character Playbook is the latest innovation in the more than 40-year partnership between the NFL and United Way agencies across the country. The all-digital, in-school program teaches students how to build healthy relationships, make good decisions and stand up when they see questionable activity. The Los Angeles Chargers and Orange County United Way brought this personal development tool to 13 schools throughout Orange County for the 2018-19 school year, reaching nearly 4,500 students.
“The Character Playbook program teaches Orange County students many valuable lessons – including how to resolve conflict, how to communicate effectively and how to play a positive role in their school communities,” said Susan B. Parks, President and CEO of Orange County United Way. “It was a great success in this inaugural year to have the Los Angeles Chargers join hands with us and help these young learners develop these critical skills – we look forward to many more years of improving the community and changing lives.”
Leadership and teachers at Warner Middle School enthusiastically embraced the Character Playbook programming, with nearly 3,000 students participating in the character development program this year.
During the “Character Chat” celebration at Warner Middle School, students will have the opportunity to meet and discuss with Chargers players about what they have learned from the Character Playbook program, and how they intend to use these skills throughout their lives. They will also be given several character-specific scenarios to explore and decide the best solution.
“Since the program’s inception in 2016, data has shown that Character Playbook teaches students not only how to manage their own relationships and emotions, but how to be a good role model to their peers in school,” said Chase Hartman, Community Relations Manager of the Los Angeles Chargers. “We’re proud to partner with Orange County United Way and help give Orange County students the tools to make the right choices and stand up for each other – something our local communities could use a lot more of.”
Character Playbook, powered by digital learning innovator EVERFI, Inc., has helped over 400,000 students in nearly 4,500 schools nationwide since the program’s launch at the 2016 NFL Draft. The program is comprised of six modules covering key concepts around positive character development, social-emotional learning (SEL) and healthy relationships.
A total of 13 Orange County schools, ranging from Elementary to High Schools, participated in the first year of the Character Playbook. Orange County United Way, in partnership with the NFL and Los Angeles Chargers, plans to implement the programming, with additional schools joining in, into the future.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Today’s Orange County United Way is doing more for the Education, Health, Housing and Financial Stability of every person in Orange County. More than a fundraiser, we’re hands-on, delivering more than 50 Community Impact programs countywide. We focus on long-term solutions to the most critical interconnected challenges facing local children and families. United Way is doing more to make long-term measurable difference in the lives of children and families right here in Orange County. To learn more or do more with us, visit www.unitedwayoc.org.
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Media Contact: Nicole Morrison, nmorrison@cornerstonecomms.com, (949) 200-6110
