I had a look at their website. The underwriter is Kimray, a mid-size OKC manufacturing company that produces some oil service industry related equipment. If you go to this link, http://www.charactercities.org/ promoting a conference this summer, you will note that Larry McAtee, OKC City Council member and employee of Kimray, in the photo.

IACC (The International Association of Character Cities) Is holding the Building Cities of Character Conference on September 20-22, 2006 In Oklahoma City.

Their description of the Conference is Learn how to transform your community into a culture of good through positive character development at the 2006 Building Cities of Character Conference.

As others have stated, their mission doesn't appear to be lifting up the downtrodden, so much as defining and laying down basic values (as they see and profess them) and building a business organization or government structure on the values they have defined. I doubt that many would argue with their basic premise.

__________________
The Old Downtown Guy

It will take decades for Oklahoma City's
downtown core to regain its lost gritty,
dynamic urban character, but it's exciting
to observe and participate in the transformation.