McHENRY – National Character Counts! Week 2012 will be celebrated starting Sunday and run through Oct. 27. Character Counts is the biggest character development program in the nation and is implemented in schools and communities. The six pillars of character are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

During Character Counts week, the McHenry Area Character Counts coalition presents “Character Cards” and seeks children and adults “caught” doing the right thing. Students, teachers, business owners, community members and others can present a Character Card to anyone they feel was “caught” doing the right thing.

The cards can be downloaded at www.ci.mchenry.il.us. Cards can be kept throughout the year as a reminder of the character counts pillars and can be redeemed at any one of three McHenry McDonald’s stores for a free ice cream cone with the purchase of a meal.