ABOUT THE UNCOMMON FRIENDS FOUNDATION
The Uncommon Friends Foundation, a non-profit established in 1993, got its name from the book Uncommon Friends that identified certain personal traits – spirit of adventure, sense of purpose, unending personal growth, and commitment to helping friends – that author James D. Newton observed in the lives of his five Uncommon Friends (Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel, Charles Lindbergh).
Mission Statement: Uncommon Friends is a character education foundation whose purpose is to instill ethics, moral values and a sense of purpose in tomorrow’s leaders.
Vision Statement: To educate people of all ages to develop
certain personal traits –a spirit of adventure, sense of purpose,
unending personal growth, and commitment to helping friends- that James
D. Newton observed in the lives of his five ‘Uncommon Friends’,
and to understand the Historical significance of the “Uncommon
Friends” in shaping the modern world.”
TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION
To achieve the purpose
and goals of the foundation, community leaders from all over the country
and the world agreed on the following programs to accomplish our mission:
CHARACTER EDUCATION CURRICULA
The foundation publishes a curriculum for grades 3-8 and
another for high school and beyond. These Lessons
Learned from the Uncommon Friends curricula are disseminated through
teacher trainings and classroom encounters. The curricula meet the
Florida State Department of Education’s Sunshine Standards
and thus are easily aligned with the standards in other states across the
country. The curriculum is currently being taught in a number
of states throughout the country.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The foundation helps individuals pursue their dreams through scholarship
awards. The foundation works closely with community based organizations
serving special populations to identify deserving individuals. The foundation
has awarded nearly 300 scholarships totaling hundreds of thousands of
dollars over the past decade.
ETHICS CHAIR IN BUSINESS AT FGCU
The foundation assisted in establishing and continues to support the Uncommon
Friends Eminent Scholar of Ethics Chair at Florida Gulf Coast University’s
Lutgert College of Business. The goal is to infuse ethics
education in all six colleges and to plan programming that incorporates
the business community.
SPEAKERS’ SYMPOSIUM
The Alliance of Uncommon Friends Speakers’ Symposium is a partnership
of Uncommon Friends Foundation, Lee County Alliance for the Arts and Edison
College. The mission is to showcase nationally renown uncommon friends
who educate, inspire and motivate with characteristics that include:
- A Spirit of Adventure
- Advancement of Science and Technology
- Advancement of Business and Industry
- Exemplary Leadership to be Emulated by Youth
- Advancement of Visual and Performing Arts
- Advancement of Quality of Life
PERMANENT DISPLAYS
Uncommon Friends
Kiosk at the Edison-Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers, Florida
Uncommon Friends Pavilion & Classroom at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, Fort Myers Beach, Florida
City Owned Uncommon Friends Sculpture at Centennial Park, Fort Myers, Florida
AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY
The foundation produced an award-winning documentary Uncommon Friends
of the Twentieth Century, narrated by Walter Cronkite. It
premiered in 1999 and has continued to air on both PBS and government channels
throughout the country. The DVD is available through the foundation.
AWARD CEREMONIES
The foundation hosts an annual dinner in early summer to award scholarships and
to honor a business with Uncommon Friend’s
Foundation Business Ethics Award. A Character Education
Awards program to recognize teachers using the foundation’s
curriculum is held in the fall.
HISTORICAL EXHIBITS
The foundation designed a historic museum quality traveling exhibit and
a stationary artifacts display to provide educational information
on Jim Newton’s relationship with his uncommon friends and
how this evolved into a foundation based on principles. There are
actually two versions of the historical exhibit – a large, museum
exhibit and a smaller exhibit appropriate for businesses and schools. To
schedule either exhibit contact the foundation.
HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBER AWARDS
The foundation periodically presents this award to individuals who have
demonstrated the uncommon friend’s traits, personal achievement
and ongoing support of the foundation. Included in this distinguished
group is the Jim & Ellie Newton, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Walter
Cronkite and former US Senator Connie Mack.
LEGACY SPEAKERS SERIES
The foundation launched a speaker's series in 2008 that will invite to
Southwest Florida people who embody the attributes that are the core values
of the Uncommon Friends Foundation. These values speak of honesty,
integrity, friendship, a sense of purpose, continued personal growth, high
ethical behavior in business.
Uncommon Friends Foundation
P.O. Box 811, Fort Myers, FL 33902
239-337-9505 fax:
239-476-8813
membership@uncommonfriends.org