Drake University announced today that Iowa State Representative and former U.S. Congressman David Young will serve as the inaugural Practitioner in Residence at the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy. The program, which was previously unveiled in February 2024, is made possible by a generous $1 million gift from Patty and Jim Cownie. ...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University has named Iowan Lisa Bluder as the 2024 Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award recipient. Lisa Bluder, head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Iowa, will accept the award on April 19 at The Ray Center’s All-Star Evening in West Des...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and The Columbus School are proud to announce a new partnership. The Columbus School will now be a designated regional partner of The Ray Center in order to deliver CHARACTER COUNTS! and Pursuing Victory With Honor initiatives, including comprehensive trainings and implementation support throughout Colombia....
Significant grant will make CHARACTER COUNTS! programming accessible to every early childhood and kindergarten classroom in Polk County Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino has awarded The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University four grants totaling more than $210,000 to support initiatives that benefit Iowans. “CHARACTER COUNTS!’ vision to help create strong, vibrant...
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino has awarded The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University three grants totaling nearly $62,000 to support initiatives that impact Iowans. “We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with Prairie Meadows. These grants provide valuable resources to Iowans and help promote good character, civility, and ethical leadership.” said Scott...
On Dec. 7, 2022, the first annual National Civility Summit for Local Governments will be held virtually beginning at 10 a.m. A partnership between the National League of Cities, the Iowa League of Cities, and The Center for Public Democracy at Drake University, this important event will focus on providing local governments and the officials...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and The Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics announced today that Drake University has acquired the exclusive global rights to the Josephson Exemplary Policing Initiative. This is the third Josephson Institute program in which The Ray Center at Drake has received exclusive rights. The...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University will honor Bill Knapp, a distinguished Iowan with a deep commitment to improving our state, with the Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award. “It is an honor to be awarded the Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award,” said Knapp...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University has named Iowans Mary and Kirk Ferentz as the 2020 Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award recipients. Mary and Kirk will accept the award on April 17, 2020 at The Ray Center’s All-Star Evening in West Des Moines. An All-Star Evening is presented by...
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University, home of CHARACTER COUNTS!, is proud to declare October 20–26, 2019 as National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. This annual recognition, dating to 1993, was initially created and continues to be bolstered by the United States Senate’s passage of a joint resolution declaring the third full week...