Joe and Elaine
When seeking to spotlight individuals who embody ‘character’ and philanthropic generosity, the legacy of Joe and Elaine Floyd stands out. As dedicated donors, the Floyds played a crucial role in defining the mission of the South Dakota Youth Foundation: to teach character education.
As we celebrate this year’s CHARACTER COUNTS!® week, we express our heartfelt appreciation for Joe and Elaine Floyd’s vision and generosity in supporting youth and character development. The Floyds’ legacy continues through the Teens As Teachers program, empowering young leaders throughout South Dakota to model and teach positive character in their schools and communities. These teens are not merely learning about character; they are embodying it, leading by example, and inspiring others to follow suit. In the ten years since the establishment of the South Dakota Youth Foundation, 842 teens have been trained as teen teachers.
Their impact on elementary students has resulted in over 50,000 messages promoting positive character and health. Moreover, $80,000 in scholarships has been awarded to Teen Teachers upon graduation. Teens As Teachers have interacted in classrooms, afterschool programs, and more in 65 different communities across the state of South Dakota. Through their dedication to youth development and ethical leadership, the Floyds championed the values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship—the Six Pillars of Character® that guide our work daily.
Character education is flourishing in our state. Together, we are nurturing a generation of thoughtful, compassionate, and responsible citizens. Let us celebrate CHARACTER COUNTS!® Week by honoring those who lead with integrity and committing ourselves to do the same. Nancy Swanson, Executive Director, SDYF, recounts: “Joe and Elaine have been champions of the Character Counts! Program in South Dakota for over 20 years. Their dedication to youth and financial support for a character education program, taught by teen teachers to younger students, reflects their commitment to positive futures. Elaine valued the one-room school education model, where older students teach younger ones, similar to the Teen Teacher system. Their generosity has positively impacted thousands of students across rural, urban, and reservation areas in the state, for which we are greatly appreciative.”
As we celebrate this year’s CHARACTER COUNTS!® week, we express our heartfelt appreciation for Joe and Elaine Floyd’s vision and generosity in supporting youth and character development. The Floyds’ legacy continues through the Teens As Teachers program, empowering young leaders throughout South Dakota to model and teach positive character in their schools and communities. These teens are not merely learning about character; they are embodying it, leading by example, and inspiring others to follow suit. In the ten years since the establishment of the South Dakota Youth Foundation, 842 teens have been trained as teen teachers.
Their impact on elementary students has resulted in over 50,000 messages promoting positive character and health. Moreover, $80,000 in scholarships has been awarded to Teen Teachers upon graduation. Teens As Teachers have interacted in classrooms, afterschool programs, and more in 65 different communities across the state of South Dakota. Through their dedication to youth development and ethical leadership, the Floyds championed the values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship—the Six Pillars of Character® that guide our work daily.
Character education is flourishing in our state. Together, we are nurturing a generation of thoughtful, compassionate, and responsible citizens. Let us celebrate CHARACTER COUNTS!® Week by honoring those who lead with integrity and committing ourselves to do the same. Nancy Swanson, Executive Director, SDYF, recounts: “Joe and Elaine have been champions of the Character Counts! Program in South Dakota for over 20 years. Their dedication to youth and financial support for a character education program, taught by teen teachers to younger students, reflects their commitment to positive futures. Elaine valued the one-room school education model, where older students teach younger ones, similar to the Teen Teacher system. Their generosity has positively impacted thousands of students across rural, urban, and reservation areas in the state, for which we are greatly appreciative.”
