“As women and mothers, our role is critical to teaching Character Education.” ~ Tammy Amble Linn, Founder and Past President

Tammy’s passion for teaching positive character traits to Arizona’s youth began while she was at the Governor’s office. The Arizona Character Education Initiative andCommission (ACEIC) were founded by Governor Jane Dee Hull, with Eddie Basha and Tammy Amble Linn in 1999. Their primary objective was and still is, to provide character education training and materials to any educator, parent, and youth takeholder or youth nonprofit organization at no charge. By integrating character education with
traditional education, children learn the importance of having good character.

In 2000, The Arizona Character Education Foundation (ACEF) was formed as a non-profit organization to facilitate fundraising activities and to provide long-term sustainability for the ACEIC. The ACEF is comprised of a board that makes all financial and fundraising decisions dealing with character education in Arizona.

Since then, over one million parent books have been distributed and tens of thousands of teachers and youth leaders have been trained in character education. The initiative for character education in Arizona has grown tremendously over the last ten years, and will continue to grow. Committed to the concept of positive character, Tammy believes that parents should become their own, best, first lines of defense against negative behaviors.

“I invite all parents, School Principals, School Administrators and any non-profit organization dedicated to youth development to learn more about Character Education, Character Counts! and witness, first-hand, the benefits in our youth.”

Tammy is certified to teach Character Education by the National Office of Josephson Institute teaching the program Character Counts!

Vision: To develop youth to act and live with positive character values.

Mission: To equip and mobilize parents, educators and others who touch the lives of youth to instill in them the traits of positive character.