OUR LEGACY
We have built our programs upon the inspiration of five great men who were committed to character, adventure and personal growth.

CHARACTER EDUCATION
We recognize and support the need to teach and model positive character traits to all children.

BUSINESS ETHICS LEADERSHIP
We recognize, support and reward business leaders for practicing and teaching ethics in the workplace.

OUR PROGRAMS
We provide student scholarships, character education curriculum for schools, recognition for teachers, and a speaker series.

COMING UP
We offer a variety of exciting events that the public can participate in. See what's next.

BE INSPIRED!

FRIENDS FOREVER
Partnership Opportunities With
Uncommon Friends Foundation 2009

Hello Friends Newsletter ($8500 an issue or $25,000 a year)

The Uncommon Friends Foundation newsletter is published three times a year. The newsletter reaches over 7200 individuals, businesses and community leaders. 

Newspaper In Education (NIE) Program Sponsor - $15,000

This is a partnership with The Fort Myers News-Press to provide a series of 10 half-page educational ads highlighting Uncommon Friends Foundation’s character education curricula. Ads will appear in The News-Press during the school year for 10 consecutive months and will contain stories and activities taken from the foundation’s curricula. These ads will be full run, with a potential of reaching over 90,000 readers of The News-Press. Sponsor’s logo will featured in every ad. Sponsor will also be recognized in foundation newsletters.

Scholarships

Uncommon Friends Foundation is proud of its scholarship program. Each year, 24 scholarships are awarded to men and women who have aspirations for a better life for themselves and their families. Each one has a different dream, but all share the characteristics of perseverance, sense of purpose, commitment, and personal integrity.  Uncommon Friends Foundation’s scholarships help them take an important step in realizing their dreams.  The success of the foundation’s scholarship program is reflected in the achievements of recipients who have received college degrees, learned new technical skills to take to the workplace, or were able to make significant career changes.

Strengthening and expanding the foundation’s scholarship program will touch even more lives. The ultimate benefactors will be our communities and businesses who need leaders and a strong workforce.

Current scholarship categories and their focus are:

Adding more scholarship categories will enable Uncommon Friends Foundation to assist those who seek careers in areas that have been identified as high need. These include:

We also dream of the ability to provide “Stepping Stones to the Future” scholarships. These would allow elementary/middle level students whose families’ financial situation is strained to participate in enrichment activities such as:

These “Stepping Stones to the Future” scholarships have the potential of changing the lives of these youngsters and pointing them toward a more positive direction than might not be possible otherwise.

Supporting new or existing scholarships can change the future and open doors for even more deserving members of our communities. Knowledge is the key to success. Join us in making that key available to many more.

Donations of any amount are appreciated for the scholarship fund. Naming opportunities for new scholarships begin at $300.

Character Education Curriculum Sponsorship

Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 2 New Curriculum Development - $25,000

Expansion of Uncommon Friends Foundation character education curriculum to             include youngsters up to Grade 3. This will expand the curriculum outreach and             help schools address mandates to teach character education in Grades K-12.  Pre-            schools will have a resource for introducing character education to their curricula.
           
Sponsor benefits:

New Curriculum Lessons - $10,000 each

Continually adding new lessons to curriculum at every level is important in order to expand the number of stories and activities available to teachers.  Suggested lessons include more on the uncommon friends’ wives and family members, the Friendship Walk, the Lindbergh’s humanitarian work during the 1931 flood in China, and other “uncommon friends”, living or dead, who have influenced positive character development such as Barron Collier and Bill & Melinda Gates.

Sponsor benefits:

Curriculum Training - $5,000 per session

Training teachers in the use of the foundation’s character education curricula is an essential component of the character education program.  It is the foundation’s belief that successful training should occur in a setting that is free of classroom/school distractions and somehow matches the settings other professionals take for granted. Training costs include trainer expenses (planning and actual training), curriculum notebooks, refreshments, and site costs.

Sponsor benefits:

Champions Meetings - $2,000 each

Character Education Awards are presented annually to teachers who exhibit outstanding skill and artistry in teaching Uncommon Friends Foundation’s Character Education Curriculum.  These teachers are designated “Champions” for they are models for other teachers to aspire to in teaching character education. Champions advise the Foundation’s Education Committee on all matters related to the curriculum.  An electronic newsletter allows them to communicate with one another without adding to their busy schedules.  Two times per year, Champions are invited to a dinner/brunch meeting to celebrate their continuing support of character education and to allow them to interact with Foundation Board Members and/or special guests.

Sponsor benefits:

           
Member-Guest Events -  $1,000 per event
Uncommon Friends Foundation member-guest events are an opportunity for the over 200 members of the Uncommon Friends Foundation to network with one another. Member-guest events occur quarterly and include programs such as inspirational speakers, special awards, socials, and educational opportunities. These events also provide the opportunity to introduce friends and colleagues to the foundation. 

Sponsor benefits:

 

Uncommon Evening
Sponsorship Opportunities

The 2010 "Uncommon Evening" date to be determined.

This event celebrates another year of the important work of our character education foundation and bestows scholarships on deserving students who share the uncommon promise of desire and determination for personal and professional growth. Once again, we will also honor a Southwest Florida company with the third annual Uncommon Friends Foundation Business Ethics Award.

Presenting Sponsor                                                                                         $12,500

Platinum Sponsor (6 Available)                                                                      $7,500

Gold Sponsor (6 Available)                                                                               $3,500 

Corporate Sponsor Table (29 Available) With Signage                           $1,000

Champagne & Wine Sponsor                                                                         $4500

Reception Sponsor    (Reserved by SW Capital Bank, NA)                        $2500 

Valet Sponsor                                                                                                          $1200 

Uncommon Friends (Unlimited Available)                                                             $200 

PLANNED GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Strategies that effectively help you and Uncommon Friends Foundation accomplish your goal of leaving a legacy while providing for your family:

Wills and Bequests

A will makes provisions for your assets and may prevent costly litigation upon your death.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

Provide the opportunity to donate an asset to charity, receive tax benefits and benefit from a potential income.

Charitable Lead Trusts

Assets transferred to a charitable lead trust can generate an income for your favorite charity during your lifetime.

Gift Annuities

If you are retired or nearing retirement, this is a way to receive guaranteed fixed payments for life, save on taxes, and help your favorite charity.

Gifts of Stock

Gifts of appreciated stock will cost you less than making the same donation in cash because you can deduct the full value and avoid capital gains.

Gifts of Insurance

Name your favorite charity as one of the beneficiaries of your life insurance policy.

The information on this page addresses general information about charitable giving and is not meant as legal advice.  For further information contact your legal counsel or financial advisor.

 

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