For Immediate Release
March 19, 2013
Contact: Nick Fuhrman Communications & Public Policy Director
270-781-3200; nick@bgchamber.com
CHAMBER FOUNDATION PASSES $1 MILLION MILESTONE
First Lady Jane Beshear and Sean Covey Draw 400 to Dinner-Seminar Benefit
BOWLING GREEN, KY - March 19, 2013 - The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced tonight that its sponsorship of The Leader in Me™ School transformation process in Bowling Green City and Warren County Public Schools has crossed the million dollar mark.
At a first-of-its-kind business seminar benefit dinner-- featuring Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear as Honorary Chair, and international best-selling business strategy author Sean Covey, co-founder of The Leader in Me-- Chamber Foundation campaign co-chair Rick Wilson told the crowd of 400 business and community leaders their attendance had pushed the Foundation’s ability to fund The Leader in Me™ above $1 million.
“We are making The Leader in Me™ an everyday, every class, every grade, every school, every child reality in Bowling Green and Warren County schools,” Wilson said, noting the Foundation was on plan and in sight of its $1.6 million goal. “Thanks to each of you who have given your time, attention and money to make The Leader in Me™ happen.”
A NIGHT OF SURPRISES
Dishman-McGinnis Elementary School Fifth Grader Adiel Valle was an uplifting and surprising host for to the mostly-business crowd. As Master of Ceremonies the young Mr. Valle introduced special surprise guest, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, who joined the First Lady’s benefit for The Leader in Me with State Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development, Larry Hayes.
In agreeing to Chair the evening’s seminar-benefit, Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear noted, “The Leader in Me™ program is a great example of how business leaders, schools, and parents can come together to affect positive change in their communities and help students be better prepared to be future leaders and effective employees when they enter the 21st century workforce.”
Sean Covey, visionary author and driving force behind The Leader in Me™ movement, gave the keynote address focused on the business management strategies of his latest, best-selling book, The 4 Disciplines of Execution. Area businesses attending the evening seminar/benefit learned how using a simple, measurable framework that is focused on the “wildly important” is the key to delivering results in any strategy or important plan for their business.
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All proceeds from the $95-per-plate event will go to Bowling Green Area Chamber Foundation to support Bowling Green and Warren County school systems as they continue implementing The Leader in Me™ system-wide.
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About The Leader in Me™:
Bowling Green is nationally-recognized as the first community in the nation to underwrite a seamless K-12 system-wide implementation of The Leader in Me™. The Chamber is collaborating with the Bowling Green Independent Schools, the Warren County Public Schools and the FranklinCovey® organization to implement The Leader in Me™ in local schools. With an integrated approach to teaching leadership using Dr. Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me uses the 7 Habits throughout its model—incorporating the language and concepts into everyday life. Using this model allows all involved to “put first things first,” “be proactive” and “think win-win.” The Chamber strongly believes that The Leader in Me prepares the future workforce by teaching children about leadership, accountability, teamwork and much more—all of which are integral skills for talent development. The Leader in Me will help our community differentiate itself from others as our workforce gains more skills that help companies compete in the global economy. For more information about the initiative, visit www.TheLeaderInMeSCK.com
About the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce:
Incorporated in 1935, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was named the 2009 Chamber of the Year by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. As the fourth largest chamber in Kentucky, the Chamber serves as a premier business advocate for its more than 1,100 partners and is the driving force for economic development in South Central Kentucky. Its primary goals are to promote growth and success in the business community, reaching its small business partners and those in large industries alike. With leadership programs, governmental relations projects, educational initiatives and involvement opportunities, the Chamber aims to support the community and its neighbors in order to enhance the business climate and continue to grow the region. Visit www.bgchamber.com for more.
About Keynote Speaker Sean Covey:
Sean Covey is Senior Vice President of Innovations and Products at FranklinCovey®, a world-renowned organization devoted to helping individuals and organizations achieve greatness. Sean graduated from BYU with a degree in English and later earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. As the starting quarterback for BYU, he led his team to two bowl games and received numerous honors, including MVP. He is the author of Fourth Down and Life to Go, The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make, the international bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which has sold over three million copies and was translated into more than fifteen languages, and most recently #1 Wallstreet Journal Bestseller The 4 Disciplines of Execution. To learn more, visit www.4dxbook.com or www.seancovey.com.