CHARACTER COUNTS! is the nation's most widely used character development framework.  It is used in schools, youth, sports, and civic organizations.  It is based on shared beliefs and consensus values called the "Six Pillars of Character".  The CHARACTER COUNTS! coalition was founded and is administered by the nonprofit Josephson Institute of Ethics, a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation.  Nationwide, more than 500 communities have officially endorsed the CHARACTER COUNTS! approach to character education.