By NEAL MCNAMARA

Showing true character, three Valley Grove Elementary School students presented a $350 check to the Community Hospital Foundation Sunday at the Mounds Mall for a charity coat drive.

What better way to kick off National Character Counts! Week?

Hundreds gathered at the mall Sunday afternoon for a “block party” celebrating the launch of Character Counts week. Many activities were offered including a cash machine, clowns, face-painting, a magician, fingerprinting by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and DNA kits from Anderson Police Department school resources officers.

Even Safety Pup, the national mascot for basic safety, made an appearance.

The Center for Character Development at Anderson University, the city of Anderson, and Anderson University were the co-sponsors for the event, which bears the theme “Celebrating the Character of Madison County.”

Michael Shunneson, assistant principal at Anderson Elementary, said he came to the character celebration because it provides a constant and consistent message to youth.

“I think that one thing (Character Counts week) does is it gives a consistent message to the whole community,” said Shunneson. “When kids go from home to school, they hear the same message.”

And that message has been bouncing around the county since 1998. In that year Anderson became an official Character Counts! Community. Anderson University just launched in the spring of 2006 its own undergraduate program geared toward character development.

Even President George W. Bush got into Character Counts! Week by issuing a proclamation.

“America’s strength is found in the spirit and character of our people,” the president wrote in a press release. “During National Character Counts Week, we renew our commitment to instilling values in our young people and to encouraging all Americans to remember the importance of good character.”

This upcoming week has a full plate of character-driven activities including:

* Just Say No To Drugs! rally at Reardon Auditorium, Anderson University, at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The program, open to the public, will feature a magic and illusion program, "The Magic of Wiz Wingo."

* Operation Character! celebration featuring Sandi Patty and Colts tight end Ben Utecht. The event runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Wigwam.