By Samantha Joseph

Staff writer

MARTIN COUNTY - A reading program for fourth graders at Felix A. Williams Elementary School and an exercise to teach students about values through film and fiction at Hope Rural School were two projects that came about recently, thanks to a local nonprofit group.

The schools were among several in the district to benefit from 17 mini-grants, totaling $10,000, from United Way of Martin County, as part of that group's CHARACTER COUNTS! program.

The venture has awarded $33,770 to 52 classrooms, and benefited more than 25,000 students and families in the county since 2007, said Justin Beard, United Way's marketing and communications director.

Local administrators helped celebrate National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week last month, by awarding the grants to several local beneficiaries.

Recipients represented several middle and elementary schools across the county, including Citrus Grove, Crystal Lake, Hidden Oaks Middle and Pinewood Elementary. MARTIN COUNTY - A reading program for fourth graders at FA William Elementary School and an exercise to teach students about values through film and fiction at Hope Rural School were two projects that came about recently, thanks to a local nonprofit group.

The schools were among several in the district to benefit from 17 mini-grants, totaling $10,000, from United Way of Martin County, as part of that group's CHARACTER COUNTS! program.

The venture has awarded $33,770 to 52 classrooms, and benefited more than 25,000 students and families in the county since 2007, said Justin Beard, United Way's marketing and communications director.

Local administrators helped celebrate National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week last month, by awarding the grants to several local beneficiaries.

Recipients represented several middle and elementary schools across the county, including Citrus Grove, Crystal Lake, Hidden Oaks Middle and Pinewood Elementary.