Description

You're Invited to Invest in the Mission of the Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition The Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition is proud to host their annual Champions of Character event. The 2026 event will be honoring our Champion of Character, Rick Karle. Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 27, from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Central Alabama Community College in Prattville. 

The Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition, a non-profit organization established in 2007 with the purpose of strengthening our community by fostering character development and education among our citizens, established the Champion of Character Award in 2015 to honor leaders that have displayed exemplary character and encouraged living and leading with good character in daily life. 

A 43-year veteran of TV news, Rick Karle is native of Syracuse, New York. Rick has spent 43 years in the south, 37 of those years in Birmingham. Rick began his stint as the sports director at WBRC TV in 1989, two years after beating cancer. Over a 30 year period at Channel 6 he helped create the popular “Sideline” high school football show. He won over 50 Associated Press Awards, 24 regional Emmy Awards and a National Edward R. Murrow Award. In 2019, Rick began a 4-year stint at WVTM 13 as a morning news anchor. He received a lifetime Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Atlanta Chapter in 2023. That same year Rick was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame and given the Mel Allen Award for broadcasting.

Down through the years Rick has been a Heisman voter, a board member at the American Cancer Society and a co-host of the Cerebral Palsy Telethon. Today, Rick is a partner at Sky High Studios, he writes for AL.com, he co-hosts The Good Company Podcast and he writes positive stories on his Rick Karle Good News Facebook page. Rick has been married for 42 years to Jill, a Shelby County attorney. Their son Noah is a 2020 Vanderbilt graduate and their daughter Mia is a 2023 NYU graduate.

Want to support the mission to promote excellent character in our community? Become a sponsor today! There are various levels, all of which include tickets to the event. Learn more by checking out the sponsor below. 

Download the 2026 Champions of Character Sponsorship Form by clicking here.

Participate in the Silent Auction Highlight your business at the Champions of Character's silent auction! This is a great way to support the Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition while increasing your visibility. It is simple to participate – fill out the form below and we will take care of the rest! Forms are due by August 20, 2026. 

Download the silent auction form by clicking here.

Questions? Please call 334.365.7392. 

Tickets are now available for purchase. Individual tickets are $75.