The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University, headquarters for Character Counts!, has announced that new early childhood resources have been extended to 1,687 classrooms in Polk County due to $530,000 in grants. The funding came from the Lauridsen Family Foundation, Prairie Meadows Legacy Grant Program, Polk County Community Development and Community Betterment program and the Gartner Family Foundation. With the expansion, the program’s reach will double to more than 30% of classrooms across the state. The materials are provided to classrooms at no cost and instructors can receive on-site training at the Ray Center or through webinars. “Our goal is to get Character Counts! into every classroom in the state of Iowa,” Scott Raeker, executive director of the Ray Center, said in a prepared statement. “We’ve seen a phenomenal response to these resources and are incredibly thankful for these grants, which will significantly expand our reach within Central Iowa.”