Working Magazine Gii October 2009

2009 – Volume 12, Number 2

®

Goodwill Participants ®

Show the Working World Who’s Boss Taking a Holistic Approach to

Serving Those Who’ve Served

Creativity, Confidence Exhibited by

Goodwill Artists ®

RECOVERY.GOODWILL.ORG

Stay Hopeful. Build Your Skills. Goodwill® Is There for You. Recovery.Goodwill.org offers an online, one-stop collection of resources and information, and conveys messages of hope for all people affected by the current economic conditions. Visit the site to gain a wealth of information about: • • • • • • • • • • •

Job training Education Housing Transportation Childcare Nutrition Safety Insurance Tax credits Community resources And much, much more!

Do you have a story of hope to share? Join the online community to tell your story and give hope to others who are facing challenges similar to yours. Follow Goodwill on Facebook and Twitter.

Table of Contents Table of Contents 1

Who’s the Boss?

4

Serving Those Who’ve Served

8

Supporting Our Communities

12

Goodwill Is Good for Families

16

A Piece of Themselves

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Bidding On Success

More and more former Goodwill program participants are not just embarking on careers, but running their own businesses and showing the working world who’s boss.

A holistic approach to serving veterans means addressing their complex needs, from untreated mental illness and addiction to homelessness and chronic unemployment.

Volunteers support Goodwill in a number of powerful and life-changing ways, from mentoring and tutoring to free tax help and financial planning.

A family-strengthening approach goes beyond serving individual job seekers to supporting and enhancing the quality of life for their families and communities.

Goodwill artists find the value of their masterpieces is the confidence, dignity and pride they feel during the creative process, and they carry these virtues over into their daily lives.

shopgoodwill.com, Goodwill’s own Internet auction site, celebrates 10 years of spreading an international brand name beyond Goodwill’s brick-and-mortar stores.

The Goodwill Industries® Mission

Goodwill Industries will enhance the quality and dignity of life for individuals, families, and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.

A Publication of Goodwill Industries International, Inc. 2009 — Volume 12, Number 2 Working! is published by Goodwill Industries International, Inc. 15810 Indianola Dr., Rockville, MD 20855 © 2009 Goodwill Industries International, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this magazine by non-members of the Goodwill® network requires the written permission of the corporation. Contact editorial offices at (301) 530-6500, ext. 5262, or e-mail [email protected] for reprint permission. For more information about Goodwill, or to find the Goodwill nearest you, call (800) 664-6577 or visit our web site at

www.goodwill.org.

On the cover:

President and CEO Jim Gibbons Sr. VP, Communications and Public Affairs Kim Zimmer Managing Editor Katherine Michaud

Editor Mandy Mikulencak

Writers Jenni Baker Debra Berkowitz Arlene McCrehan Mandy Mikulencak Cody Switzer

Contributors Elissa Gross Melissa Jones

Art Director Thomas Roszkowski Printing United Litho, Inc. Ashburn,VA

Veronica Jones, Owner of Environmental Cleaning Organization Photo by: Scott Turner Photography, Tacoma, WA

Board of Directors

Board BoardofofDirectors Directors

2008-2009

Chair

President/CEO

Raymond W. Bishop, CE Goodwill of North Georgia Atlanta, GA

Goodwill Industries International Rockville, MD

Jim Gibbons

Vice Chair William J. Kacal Deloitte & Touche LLP Houston, TX

Treasurer John B. Latchford, CE Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay Oakland, CA

Secretary Cynthia C. Barnes Gulfstream Aerospace Savannah, GA

Board Members Carlos Artola Indar Ventures, LLC Melrose Park, IL

David Hadani Nebraska Heavy Industries Lincoln, NE

Donna Miller Grefe & Sidney, PLC Des Moines, IA

James Hazy Leadership Science, LLC Lebanon, NJ

Tommy Moore 1st Investors Financial Services Houston, TX

Jack Brannen Day Ketterer, Ltd. Canton, OH

Dr. Gidget Hopf, CE ABVI - Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester Rochester, NY

John Owen, CE Goodwill Industries of South Texas Corpus Christi, TX

Dennis Brice, CE Chattanooga Goodwill Industries Chattanooga, TN

Charles Layman, CE Goodwill of Central Virginia Richmond, VA

Peter Brinckerhoff Corporate Alternatives, Inc. Union Hall, VA

Kimberly B. Lewis, CE Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area Huntington, WV

Janie Barrera ACCION Texas San Antonio, TX

Sheryl Chalupa, CE Goodwill Industries of South Central California Bakersfield, CA

Marjory Pizzuti, CE Goodwill Columbus Columbus, OH David A. Powless Corrales, NM Michael B. Sullivan Palo Alto, CA

Jarret Lobb Monroe Muffler and Brake Service Pittsford, NY

Marvin A. Tanck, CE Gulfstream Goodwill Industries West Palm Beach, FL

Paul Chapin, CE Goodwill The Amity Group Hamilton, Ontario

Leslie D. Mancuso, Ph.D., RN JHPIEGO Baltimore, MD

Floyd Wilson Metro Health Hospital Grand Rapids, MI

Lew Chartock, CE Mers/Missouri Goodwill Industries St. Louis, MO

Jim Martin, CE Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties Eugene, OR

Linda Scholle Cowan Louisville, KY Jeffry Golden Clean Earth Technologies Madison, WI

Janet McCarthy-Wilson, CE Goodwill Serving People of Southern Los Angeles County Long Beach, CA Catherine Meloy, CE Goodwill of Greater Washington Washington, DC

Advisory Directors Will A. Courtney Courtney & Courtney Properties Ft. Worth, TX Evelyne Villines Des Moines, IA C. William Wood Laguna Beach, CA

Who’s the Boss? Who’s the Boss? Business Ownership a Rewarding Option for Goodwill Participants

Goodwill’s mission of putting people to work has taken a

new twist. More and more Goodwill® participants are not just embarking on their careers, but they are building their own businesses and becoming their own bosses. Some Goodwill agencies that do not have programs geared specifically toward business ownership, like Tacoma Goodwill Industries® (WA), incorporate information about running a business into their job skills programs. Other agencies, such as Goodwill of North Georgia (Atlanta), have programs designed to prepare participants for entrepreneurship. Still others, such as the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)Goodwill Industries (Rochester, NY), partner with state and local organizations to match their clients with business opportunities.

Photo by Scott Turner Photography

Helping the Environment, Helping Herself

As her own boss, Veronica Jones has flexibility to manage a chronic illness that previously kept her from full-time work.

“[Kent Custodial Skills Training] took the fear away…. It made me more confident to get into the industry — learn the techniques and the language of bidding and talking to customers.” — Veronica Jones, Owner Environmental Cleaning Organization

When Veronica Jones moved to the Seattle, WA, area, she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to do with her life. Although she had completed some college courses and was a certified pharmacy technician, she found it hard to work full time because of her chronic illness. Jones has sickle cell anemia, which sometimes lands her in the hospital or requires her to stay home from work. In a state like Washington, where employment is at will, Jones was constantly worried about losing her job. This led her to the decision to become her own boss. She wanted to run her own business. “I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to be gainfully employed without being stressed about getting sick,” Jones says.

At Tacoma Goodwill Industries Kent Custodial Skills Training Center, Jones gained technical expertise and certification. The program covers 13 areas, including cleaning of blood-borne pathogens, carpet care and basic-area cleaning. Jones learned about the industry, which chemicals to use and when, and how to devise a game plan for each job site. The Goodwill’s custodial skills instructor also gave Jones the confidence to meet with clients and win contracts. Together with her instructor, Jones won her first contract while she was still in the class. “It took the fear away; that’s what the class did for me,” Jones says. “It made me more confident to get into the industry — learn the techniques and the language of bidding and talking to customers.”

Who’s the Boss?

1

Who’s the Boss? Who’s the Boss? Small Businesses, Big Ideas In 1996, Goodwill of North Georgia launched its microenterprise program, BusinessNOW, as a welfare-to-work program for women. Microenterprise helps individuals with limited access to markets, traditional capital and resources to embark on small business ventures that require less than $35,000 in start-up capital. As experience, opportunities and funding sources evolved, the Goodwill expanded its training to others who were interested, including veterans and people with disabilities, and also developed NegocioNOW, designed specifically for immigrants and refugees.

Jones’ business, Environmental Cleaning Organization, focuses on Earthfriendly, nontoxic commercial cleaning. She follows Green Seal* standards and uses chemicals with low chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), among other green practices. “You spend half of your life in the office, so it’s important that your office is as comfortable as your home,” she says. “I try using a more holistic approach to cleaning so the environment is healthy and safe.” More than three years after starting her business, Jones holds 12 contracts. Rather than hiring employees, whom she would have to pay by the hour, she subcontracts the work to other independent cleaners, several of whom also graduated from the Tacoma Goodwill’s program. “The students in the class are just like me,” Jones says. “I take them under my wing and show them how to do things.”

Jones also hired an outside sales contractor who initiates cold calls and schedules appointments to drum up business. Jones then meets with the potential clients and offers a bid. At the same time, she continues cleaning at one of the job sites herself. By cleaning one day a week and completing the administrative work in her own time, she has the flexibility to manage her illness. However, Jones is quick to add that the behind-the-scenes work is just as important, if not more important, than her cleaning skills. “You have to make sure you get up and do things that make your business function. I’m a one-woman show,” she says. “I knew all that was involved, but I didn’t realize that the background stuff is so much more important than the physical work. You can be the best cleaner in the world, but if you don’t have a good relationship with your clients, you won’t get business.” Learn more about Jones’ business at www.ecojanitorial.net.

*Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that provides environmental certifications based on state-of-theart science and information using internationally recognized methods and procedures.

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Who’s the Boss?

Participants in these microenterprise programs often face challenges, including low incomes, unemployment, limited English skills, or criminal records. Almost all of them start their businesses on a small scale and do not require loans for start-up capital. Many of the businesses provide owners with “patch incomes” that supplement the money they are bringing in from full-time jobs, and some eventually grow into familysustaining enterprises. The Goodwill begins the program by asking individuals to complete a selfassessment to evaluate whether they have solid business ideas and the ability and willingness to start their own businesses. Participants then take part in an eight-week training course that covers all aspects of developing a business plan, and they work directly with a personal advisor. Upon completion of the program, graduates meet with business consultants to receive assistance as they begin building their businesses. In 2008, four BusinessNOW graduates won cash prizes at a statewide marketing competition for their unique business ideas, marketing plans and presentations of business concepts.

Gena Golden took home a first-place prize of $1,500 for her company, Golden Life Personal Care Home. Golden provides a home for people who are elderly and people with disabilities.

“At ABVI-Goodwill, you can help someone else and they can help you. You’ll like it, and it will improve your life.”

Tameko Leverett won a second-

place, $1,000 prize for her company, Nonprofit Dreams, which provides a variety of project planning and management services for small nonprofit organizations that cannot afford to hire dedicated staff. Services include compliance standards, operational procedures, grant writing, and management and program design.

— James Porcher Convenience Store Owner

Jane Scurry also won $1,000 for her

company, Someone Cares Communications. The organization helps people who are elderly and individuals who are homebound by running errands and contacting them to provide social interaction.

Audrey Trottie won a third-place prize

of $500 for her business, Space Solutions for Living, a commercial and interior design firm. “These are significant dollar amounts in the life of a microentrepreneur, where marketing often lands on the back burner due to a lack of funds,” says Yvonne Days-Cuffie, program manager of the BusinessNOW program. Location, Location, Location

When James Porcher’s corneal transplant failed in 2001, leaving him blind for the second time in his life, he could no longer work at the nursery in South Carolina where he had been for 10 years. So, he headed north to New York and found assistance at ABVIGoodwill. There, Porcher — who had never used a computer or even typed before — attended computer skills classes and also worked one-on-one with a counselor through the agency’s Career

James Porcher owns and manages a convenience store at the City Hall in Buffalo, NY.

and Training Services. As part of the program, he participated in support groups that helped him adjust to being legally blind. “The group involvement really helped,” Porcher says. “It was a place where we could express our feelings, talk about our goals and share our life experiences.”

“It’s a big improvement,” Porcher says of owning his own business rather than reporting to a manager. “I like it better than taking orders from someone else.”

Although it can be challenging at times, Porcher says he is very happy with his decision and the path his career has taken. He employs one full-time and one part-time employee. In November 2006, Porcher mentioned Porcher says he would like to open to his counselor that he dreamed of another business in a few years, posowning his own business. Shortly after sibly in the Rochester area, and he Thanksgiving, his counselor connect- appreciates the assistance he got from ed him with the Business Enterprise Goodwill. Program (BEP), a program operated by the state’s Commission for the “At ABVI-Goodwill, you can help Blind and Visually Handicapped, and someone else and they can help you,” he learned how to run a business and he says. “You’ll like it, and it will obtain a vendor license. improve your life.” In 2007, BEP helped Porcher find a business opportunity. The owner of a convenience store located inside Buffalo’s City Hall was ready to retire and, with the program’s assistance, Porcher took over the business in December of that year. He sells food, beverages and other small convenience items to people who work at or visit City Hall.

As a child, Porcher received advice that has always stuck with him. He says it kept him going during the challenges he faced and hopes it can help others as well: “Never give up on your future, no matter what obstacles lie in your path, and always have faith in God and believe in yourself,” he says. “With this, anything can be achieved.”

Who’s the Boss?

3

Serving Serving ThoseThose Who’ve Served Goodwill Makes Veteran Reintegration a Top Priority

Throughout history, veterans returning to civilian life

have faced both physical and psychological challenges that prevent them from finding or holding down jobs and fully participating in their communities. From untreated mental illness and addiction to homelessness and chronic unemployment, the issues are complex and require a holistic approach that addresses the needs of veterans’ families as well.

Goodwill Industries® is committed to providing comprehensive job placement and support services for veterans, whether they are returning from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan or still experiencing the negative effects from their service in the Gulf or Vietnam wars. In 2008, 103 Goodwill® agencies in the United States and Canada reported serving more than 12,000 veterans. A number of Goodwills have done so with the assistance

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Serving Those Who’ve Served

of Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants from the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service. HVRP is the only national employment program that specifically targets veterans who are homeless through competitive grants to community-based organizations like Goodwill. HVRP fills a special need because it serves veterans who may feel shunned or misunderstood by other employment programs. Veterans receive employment and training services as well as support services such as clothing, shelter, referral to medical or substance abuse treatment, and transportation assistance. In 2009, Goodwill agencies received more than $2 million in HVRP grants to assist veterans in Cincinnati, OH; Peoria, IL; San Jose, CA; Grandville, MI; Des Moines and Iowa City, IA; Buffalo, NY; and Houston, TX.

Employer Partnerships, Collaboration Key in Cincinnati

extensive network of community service partners, including employers.

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries (Cincinnati) has served more than 4,000 veterans who were homeless over the past 15 years. The Goodwill reaches out to veterans in urban, suburban and rural areas, and focuses on people who are chronically homeless, those convicted of felony charges, and those with substance abuse problems. Goodwill representatives go out into the communities seeking veterans who need help, often finding them at regional drop-in centers and churches that serve meals to individuals who are homeless. Vets are then referred to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or to Goodwill.

“Developing a strong network of employers who have faith and trust in the program’s participants is the key prerequisite for the success of any HVRP program,” says Charlie Blythe, the agency’s grants director. “Ohio Valley Goodwill has developed relationships with an appreciable list of employers who are willing to give a second chance to veterans working to overcome serious, and often multiple, barriers to employment.”

The Cincinnati Goodwill received its first HVRP grant in 1993 for $200,000. The growth and success of that program, as well as its expansion into southern Ohio and northern Kentucky, led to an increase in HVRP funding to $599,400 under two separate grants. The Goodwill has used the additional funds to further develop its already

Veteran Moves into Case Management Role at Goodwill

“Location, a company’s institutional culture, the future prospects of particular industries, certification and bonding issues, and pay scale all have a significant impact on the suitability of employment prospects for clients,” Blythe says.

Blythe reports that the Goodwill has consistently achieved an employment rate of 80 percent, with a 70- to 75percent six-month job retention rate. The Goodwill has assisted veterans in full-time, unsubsidized, sustaining employment at an average wage of $9.85 per hour. The agency has been so Flexibility in terms of the types of em- successful in fulfilling its mission that ployment placements is also necessary its veterans’ employment assistance due to the divergent backgrounds, skills program is widely regarded as one of and experience of program participants. the best in the nation.

“Ohio Valley Goodwill has developed relationships with an appreciable list of employers who are willing to give a second chance to veterans working to overcome serious, and often multiple, barriers to employment.”

After completing his service, Consolo attended Auburn University under the GI Bill, majoring in mass communications, and he went on to work with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Although Matt Confollowing storms and supervising the subsolo is now a key sequent renovations. member of the Ohio Valley Goodwill’s HVRP staff, he was once a veteran Consolo left his job, however, to be with who sought help from the agency. From his ailing mother. Watching her condition 1991 to 1994, Consolo was stationed in deteriorate, he sought solace in alcohol Fort Benning, GA, and served in the U.S. and drugs. After she passed away, he reArmy Special Operations unit. alized he couldn’t go on as he had been. Consolo had learned determination from He knew that alcoholism ran in his famhis mother, who was born without arms, ily, but that fact didn’t stop Consolo and decided it was time to practice what from taking his first drink at age 12 and she’d taught him. drinking to excess after he entered the military. Eventually, his drinking also led “Watching my mom as I grew up and to drug use. seeing what she could do…you can imagine the level of determination that I

— Charlie Blythe, Grants Director Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

came to know,” Consolo says. “My mom was who I had to measure myself by.” Determined to change his ways, Consolo entered a VA drug and alcohol treatment center. After seven months, he graduated to a transitional phase of the program and was connected with a case manager from Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries. “[The case manager] thought that I would make a great case manager and gave my résumé to his boss,” Consolo says. “That was two years ago, and I’m happy to report that not only have I found my place but have been asked to be a spokesperson on behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project.”

Serving Those Who’ve Served

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Serving Serving ThoseThose Who’ve Served Individualized Service Plans Address Veterans’ Specific Needs

James Green chops vegetables while head cook Paul Samonski prepares dinner at the General Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans in Peoria, IL.

In 2005, Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois (Peoria) opened a 10-room facility to serve veterans who were homeless. The agency works one-onone with veterans to assess their needs and then customizes services to aid in significant life changes. “This is not a shelter, but permanent supportive housing,” says the Goodwill’s President and CEO Patty Fuchs. “It is a holistic approach with individual program plans for each resident. We provide counseling to keep residents on track.” Homelessness is a prime reason these veterans cannot find employment. In addition to housing, the Goodwill’s General Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans also provides services such as counseling, legal assistance, life skills training and transportation. It is the only housing facility of its kind in the state.

“Our mission is to improve the economic self-sufficiency of veterans by providing them with work and a place to live,” says Duffy Armstrong, the Goodwill’s director of development.

Veteran Leads Goodwill Mattress-Recycling Efforts in San Jose

Goodwill Industries of the Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) is putting vetVeterans receive referrals to the home erans to work and making the planet a from the VA, psychologists, and friends little “greener” in the process. and families. Individuals can also refer Earlier this year, the Goodwill and the themselves. Once admitted, residents have 90 days to obtain employment or City of San Jose launched a mattressenroll in school. The Goodwill screens recycling program that will keep as many as 86,000 mattresses out of landfills anresidents to see which jobs may be nually. The operation is fully staffed by a good fit and offers computer and forklift training programs to aid in job veterans who come to the agency for job searches. The residents pay 30 percent assistance and other support services. of their adjusted gross incomes for The supervisor of the venture is a rent. veteran himself. Kenslo Russell had an impressive record of service through the In July 2009, Goodwill Industries of U.S. Army and, more recently, working Central Illinois was one of only four with young people at the San Jose Conorganizations in the state to receive servation Corps. He was unexpectedly HVRP grants to expand services to veterans. “More than 30 letters of sup- laid off in February 2008, eventually losing his car and apartment. Russell port were written, indicating the level completed the customer-service training of awareness and interest in the issues program at the Goodwill and interof homeless veterans,” says Bill Bonviewed successfully for the supervisor temps, director of vocational services. position.

“Our mission is to improve the economic self-sufficiency of veterans by providing them with work and a place to live.” — Duffy Armstrong Director of Development Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois

Veteran Kenslo Russell heads a mattressrecycling program for the San Jose Goodwill, which employs veterans who need job training.

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Serving Those Who’ve Served

“This program will benefit veterans by providing steady employment and help keep mattress materials from the landfill,” says Russell. “I intend to make this the best mattress-dismantling operation in the state of California.” Veterans in the Goodwill program work for six months repurposing mattresses before transferring the skills they’ve learned to other jobs. The San Jose Goodwill has entered its third year of its HVRP grant to run programs for veterans. The Veterans’ Individualized Placement (VIP) program offers vocational and psychological counseling, and classroom training in accounting, Microsoft Office Suite, customer service and relations, warehousing, and optometry technical support.

Grand Rapids Goodwill Provides Full Continuum of Care Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids (Grandville, MI) is also helping veterans get back into the workforce. The agency provides a full continuum of care to help veterans who are homeless become productive citizens. Outreach involves homeless care providers and veteran service organizations throughout Kent County, including Health Care for Homeless Vets, Vietnam Vets for America, the VA and the American Legion.

The Goodwill’s services are coordinated according to the needs of each individual. Case managers create individual development plans, which factor in physical and mental condition, sobriety, employment history, education and training, interest and skills, and personal The agency also offers job search skills needs, including identification docuand placement assistance, subsidized triments and clothing. Santiago Estrada, al employment, and on-the-job services the Goodwill’s veteran services manager, once veterans are employed. Additional says the veterans that the agency serves support is added through housing referface serious and unique challenges in rals, bus passes, voicemail accounts and their quests toward independence. clothing assistance. “Many come to us with significant skills, and staying sober while seeking Since July 2007, the VIP program has mental illness, alcohol dependence, lack employment and after being hired. served more than 300 veterans and of employment history and some type of helped more than 200 of those earn jobs. The Goodwill also provides temporary criminal background,” Estrada says. housing to some veterans through its Program participants receive employ“Per Diem Only” program. Participants ability skills training, transitional work in the program receive meal vouchers experience and cognitive behavioral and case management while focusing on therapy through the Better Life Inilife and employability skills. tiative. The initiative, based on the Goodwill’s successful Once and For All The Goodwill has demonstrated a high level of success in connecting veterans curriculum, is designed to help particiwho are homeless with the services and pants acquire the attitudes and beliefs training they need in order to find and that lead to their success. Courses retain employment, housing and stabilcombine basic job-seeking etiquette ity. Last year, the agency enrolled 81, with discussions about challenges to and 59 of those found employment. obtaining employment, interviewing

Serving Those Who’ve Served

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Our Communities

Supporting Our Communities

Volunteers Expand Goodwill’s Capacity to Do More, Serve More Before heading to college, Ashley Garcia (right) receives advice and support from her mentor, Lindsey Baukofer, through Denver’s SummerBridge mentoring program.

Each student who participates in the program is matched with a volunteer mentor of the same gender who provides support and guidance throughout freshman year. Students are also given first-hand experience at a college campus during a week-long immersion program.

In a tough economy, many non-

profits face increasing demand for services at the same time they face diminishing resources. That’s when volunteers step in to provide vital support and help nonprofits continue to meet growing needs.

VolunteeringInAmerica.gov recently released research that shows that despite all the additional stresses of a difficult economy, people are still volunteering. In fact, while charitable giving declined for the first time in more than 20 years, volunteering held steady between 2007 and 2008, with just over 26 percent of Americans giving time. Goodwill Industries® has long valued the contributions of volunteers who connect with Goodwill® patrons in a number of powerful and life-changing ways, from mentoring and tutoring to free tax help and financial planning.

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Supporting Our Communities

Mentors Counsel College-Bound Youth Students who’ve worked hard to graduate from high school with intensive support from community programs often face the possibility of failure if they do not have access to support while transitioning to college life. This is why Goodwill Industries of Denver (CO) implemented the SummerBridge mentoring program. The program helps recent high school graduates find success during their first year of college by linking them to supportive mentors in the community. The overwhelming majority of young people served by the SummerBridge program are first-generation urban college students who may not have family members who can help them troubleshoot the many challenges they will face in college.

“The majority of the students who participate have the heart and drive that motivates them to apply for and attend college, even if they have never seen any of their family members do so,” says Meaghan Carabello, public relations and communications coordinator for the Denver Goodwill. “Our volunteer mentors have already attended college and can work with their mentees on how to advocate for their financial aid, how to recognize when they need to ask their professors for help, how to get caught up when they fall behind, and how to make wise adult decisions about their personal finances, their health and their career goals.” Since the program’s launch in 2002, Goodwill Industries of Denver has matched approximately 20 youth with mentors each year. In the summer of 2008, the program was expanded to two additional schools, where 40 volunteer mentors were matched with college students in two Colorado counties. Thirty-four of those matches are still active. Goodwill Industries International recently named the program as 2009 Volunteer Program of the Year.

“The majority of the students who participate have the heart and drive that motivates them to apply for and attend college, even if they have never seen any of their family members do so.”

— Meaghan Carabello Public Relations and Communications Coordinator Goodwill Industries of Denver

Volunteers Staff Free Tax Clinic for Families with Low Incomes For several years, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii (Honolulu) has run a free tax clinic three days a week and on Saturday mornings to assist a wide range of people with low incomes, including people who are elderly, people who recently immigrated, those who have not filed their taxes for multiple years, people who do not speak English, workers who are homeless, and individuals who are simply inexperienced with or uninformed about the tax process.

“The compassion and knowledge of the taxpayer situations makes this a perfect match for Goodwill and the community.”

­­ — Laura Kay Rand Vice President of Corporate Services Goodwill Industries of Hawaii

The clinic operates in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and the Aloha United Way. The use of volunteers enables the VITA Program to operate with minimal overhead and adds a Goodwill touch, says Laura Kay Rand, the Goodwill’s vice president of corporate services. “The compassion and knowledge of the taxpayer situations makes this a perfect match for Goodwill and the community.” Tax clinic volunteer positions at Goodwill Industries of Hawaii include tax preparers, interpreters, administrative assistants, greeters and IT support. This year, volunteers included 21 Goodwill employees and five community members with a total of more than 1,000 volunteer hours served in tax clinics run on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii’s Big Island. This year, volunteers prepared 616 tax returns, helped families access $286,548 in Earned Income Tax Credits and $757,071 in overall federal refunds, while saving families thousands of dollars in tax preparation fees.

Misti Pali (left) helps Jennifer Cohen-Murray with her taxes at the Honolulu VITA tax clinic on Oahu.

helping people with criminal backgrounds develop sought-after workplace computer skills to help in their job searches upon release, which is less than a year away for some of her students. Elissa Gross, director of marketing and development for the Frederick Goodwill, attended one of Hernandez’s classes recently to get a firsthand look at the how the program is changing lives. “I really noticed their enthusiasm about being there — to learn and interact with each other,” she says. In addition to computer training, the Goodwill also offers job coaching and pre-release counseling programs at the Work Release Center. Since its inception in March 2007, its programs have served 191 individuals. Comprehension test scores have also improved significantly, with an average post-instruction score of 88 percent.

IT Professional Teaches Valuable Skills to People Who are Incarcerated Brenda Hernandez, a federal government IT worker by day, uses her technical expertise two weekends each month to make a difference in the lives of men and women who are incarcerated in Frederick, MD.

John King (left) and David Bonita learn Microsoft Excel at the Frederick County Work Release Center.

This married mother of four and grandmother of one has volunteered at Goodwill Industries of the Monocacy Valley for more than three years, giving up part of her weekends to teach Microsoft Word and Excel to people in the Frederick County Work Release Center. Hernandez is happy to “give back” to her community. In the process, she’s

Beth Hernandez, an IT professional and Goodwill volunteer, teaches her students valuable computer skills before they are released and begin looking for work.

Supporting Our Communities

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Real People, Real People, Real JobsReal Jobs Job, Friendships Give Young Man New Opportunities to Smile

“I feel really good about my job today…. I’ve made some friends. They go the extra mile to help me out, and I would do the same for them.” —Travis Derouaux

Travis Derouaux’s boyish smile is the first thing people notice about the 20-year-old who works full time as a prepared foods associate and customer service clerk for Giant Eagle grocery store in Grove City, OH. His interactions with coworkers and customers have helped the shy young man shine — something he wasn’t able to do in school because peers made fun of his learning disability and vocal chord disorder. Derouaux’s disabilities are noticeable when he speaks or writes, and he is able to read at a third-grade level. Sherry Clark, one of Derouaux’s high school teachers, took a special interest in the youth and referred him to Project Opportunity at Goodwill® Columbus. Despite his past difficulties with learning new things, Derouaux was eager to enroll in the program because he “just wanted to get in and get going.” Jennifer Dudley, the agency’s educational facilitator, shepherded Derouaux through the 12-week program that provided four weeks of classroom job skills training and eight weeks of on-the-job training at Giant Eagle. With Goodwill’s help, Derouaux learned how to dress for an interview, handle conflict with co-workers and manage constructive criticism — skills that were reinforced during his eight-week training period at the grocery store. With

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Real People, Real Jobs

Dudley’s guidance, Derouaux gained full-time employment at the Giant Eagle in February 2007 after he completed Project Opportunity. He credits the program and his current position for boosting his confidence and teaching him new things about himself. “I found out that I’m a good people person and I’m a very hard worker,” he explains. “I never call [in sick]. I do not like to miss work at all.” The job has allowed Derouaux to build friendships with his co-workers — something that proved difficult in high school. “I feel really good about my job today,” Derouaux says. “By working with employees here, I’ve made some friends. They go the extra mile to help me out, and I would do the same for them.” With his stellar reputation at Giant Eagle, Derouaux has also learned to use his clout. “I got my brother a job here, too,” he says proudly. Although his full-time position would allow Derouaux to live independently if he wanted to, he chooses to live at home with his loving support network — his mother and siblings.

Woman Who Was Homeless Pursues Teaching Career, Becomes Role Model to Students “Goodwill taught me how to believe in myself and helped me get not only a job but a career doing something I love,” says Thorpe. She took advantage of Goodwill’s services, including résumé preparation assistance and job search tools. Most importantly, she received moral support and learned that she was capable of accomplishing anything she wanted in life. With renewed confidence, Thorpe pursued a teaching career in the medical assisting field and was hired by Florida Career College’s Clearwater Campus in December 2007. Her commitment to her work quickly earned her the respect of her colleagues.

“Goodwill taught me how to believe in myself and helped me get not only a job but a career doing something I love.” — Kimberly Thorpe

“She has an enthusiasm in the classroom that is contagious and promotes a positive learning atmosphere for all her students,” says Darlana Brown, the medical assistant program director at Florida Career College. When you walk into Kimberly Thorpe’s classroom, her enthusiasm and passion for learning are evident, and you wouldn’t know that the well-respected instructor was once homeless. After years of mental and physical abuse by a controlling husband, Thorpe had lost her confidence and self-esteem. After her marriage ended, she had a hard time finding work, even though she was trained as a medical assistant, and eventually the 30-year-old was living on the streets. Overwhelmed by her situation but determined to forge a new life on her own, Thorpe leaned on a Goodwill Industries®Suncoast (St. Petersburg, FL) career specialist for support. The career specialist first referred Thorpe to shelters and community resources that help people who are homeless, then encouraged her to take advantage of her medical training.

Thorpe was soon promoted to lead instructor and won the 2008 Instructor of the Year Award. “I am so honored and I truly believe that Goodwill was responsible for this,” she says. “At Goodwill, I learned I could achieve anything if I worked hard.” Chris Ward, marketing and media relations manager at Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, praises Thorpe’s empathy for her students. “She knows what it’s like to be without a home or a job and to doubt her own self-worth, so she can empathize with people facing challenges. She is a role model for her students and proof of what can be achieved through commitment, hard work and a dedication to helping others.” With stable employment, Thorpe now rents an apartment and has her own bank account for the first time.

Real People, Real Jobs

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Good Families Goodwill Isfor Good for Families Agencies Honored for Commitment to Families in Tough Economic Times

A

s families feel the devastating effects of the economic downturn, the work of Goodwill Industries® is more important than ever. Across the United States and Canada, Goodwill® is working with urgency to help vulnerable families achieve and maintain economic stability. Underpinning this work is Goodwill’s philosophy that a holistic approach is essential to helping individuals, families and communities prosper. Goodwill’s commitment to serving families is accomplished through both service delivery and organizational commitment.The Goodwill Is Good for Families awards program — a joint venture of Goodwill Industries International and the Annie E. Casey Foundation — recognizes the holistic approach that many Goodwill agencies have championed. In June 2009, Goodwill agencies in four cities were honored with the award: Great Falls, MT; Winston Salem, NC; Johnstown, PA; and Muskegon, MI. These Goodwills have adopted a family strengthening approach that goes beyond serving individual job seekers to supporting and enhancing the quality of life of the families of job seekers.

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Goodwill Is Good for Families

Winston-Salem, NC Leadership commitment, financial commitment, human resources, youth development and financial education comprise the Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina’s approach to serving families and helping them achieve life goals.

Great Falls, MT Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain has been implementing a family strengthening approach since 1987, placing families at the top of its priority list. The organization’s programs continue to evolve because of support from the CEO, senior leadership and program staff. Since 2007, Easter Seals-Goodwill has helped hundreds of parents who were formerly incarcerated obtain employment, substance abuse treatment, transportation and other services to return to productive lives so that their families can thrive.

“When I was released from prison, everything seemed so overwhelming. Working with Easter Seals-Goodwill has helped keep me focused, meet my goals and find a job. It has also helped with my self-esteem and accountability,” says Liz Jayo.

treatment, employment, housing, and much more. Easter Seals-Goodwill has also developed relationships with other entities and the Idaho Department of Correction to secure family-centered services.

Community partners play an important role in extending opportunities to Easter Seals-Goodwill families. With United Way of Treasure Valley, Debt Reduction Services and other agencies, Easter Seals-Goodwill offers financial education, free tax preparation, and Individual Development Accounts to help families build assets. Families also can take classes to learn how to The agency’s women’s re-entry program helps women successfully reunite maximize their food stamps at the grocery store. Additionally, through board with their children and re-enter the members who own and manage busicommunity after release from prison. Services for women and their families nesses in Idaho, Easter Seals-Goodwill helps people, including adults who include working with foster care on reunification plans, HIV/AIDS educa- were formerly incarcerated, obtain permanent jobs in trucking, agriculture tion and treatment, mental health and and construction. family counseling, substance abuse

From family-friendly employee policies to parenting classes, and from free tax preparation to homeownership counseling, the Winston-Salem Goodwill strives to strengthen families’ futures in many ways. The organization’s work is grounded in the philosophy that “through strengthening the family, we provide our employees and participants a better chance at achieving financial stability.” The board and staff at the Goodwill have enthusiastically placed emphasis on the family strengthening approach since 2006, when CEO Art Gibel came on board. Since then, the Goodwill has started new family strengthening programs, the board has made a commitment to provide more career centers, a new mission statement and values were adopted, and a review of employee services and benefits was started.

Job seekers peruse openings posted at a career fair sponsored by the Winston-Salem Goodwill.

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Good Families Goodwill Isfor Good for Families Through collaborations with community agencies, the Winston-Salem Goodwill provides comprehensive support, such as youth job training and mentoring, through the “elink” youth program, and financial counseling and job assistance through the Prosperity Center. The organization also serves as a site for free tax preparation services and incorporates asset-building financial education into its job training programs. As an employer, the Goodwill strives to uphold policies and offer benefits that support the families of employees. Those who work for the agency are encouraged to take advantage of services offered to clients.

A Conemaugh Valley staff member gives job guidance and support to dislocated workers.

Muskegon, MI

Johnstown, PA Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley has infused family strengthening in its array of programs and services since its founding in 1962 and has taken a leading role in improving the lives of youth and families in Johnstown. Key to its success is the collaborative approach that the organization has taken in its work. Identifying and addressing the personal, family and community-based challenges participants face has been integral to the organization’s primary mission: helping clients “overcome barriers to employment and become more self-sufficient through work.” The Goodwill recognizes that people have a hard time gaining or maintaining employment for a variety of reasons, including disabilities, poverty, lack of family or other social supports, general lack of academic and work readiness skills, and lack of work experience.

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Goodwill Is Good for Families

In 2008, Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley spearheaded the city’s largest community resource fair, which featured 92 organizations in education, health care, human services and other industries. It also initiated the establishment of a YouthBuild program with 12 other partners to give young people education and job training while they build housing for families with low incomes. Through a partnership with a local bank, the organization offers financial education. And in partnership with the city, the Goodwill helped residents in a declining neighborhood create a nonprofit organization focused on revitalization, based on the belief that if residents are empowered to re-engage and make their neighborhood stronger and more supportive, the families living there will be strengthened.

Goodwill Industries of West Michigan has established a one-stop shop for family-focused career services. It provides a comprehensive range of support, including connections to resources, transitional housing for people who are homeless, financial education, college tuition assistance, car purchasing assistance and more. After visiting another family strengthening award winner and attending Goodwill Industries International’s Family Strengthening Conference in 2006, the Muskegon Goodwill set about enhancing current programs, developing new services, and committing to stronger community collaborations and partnerships. Since that time, the Goodwill has relocated its Workforce Development Center and doubled its size to 8,000 square feet. Its Workforce Investment Act programs have grown more than tenfold in enrollments, placements

For more information about these programs, contact: Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Michelle Belknap President and CEO 4400 Central Avenue Great Falls, MT 59405-1641 (406) 771-3742 www.esgw-nrm.easterseals.com

Jay, age 18, received job-readiness support from Goodwill Industries of West Michigan and went on to graduate from the Muskegon Area Technical Center with a certificate in welding.

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina Art Gibel President 2701 University Parkway Winston-Salem, NC 27105-4223 (336) 724-3621 www.goodwillnwnc .org

and retention, and a new “No Worker Left Behind” college-level training program has been added. A business development position was created to increase the Goodwill’s business-tobusiness relations, allowing growth in jobs, community relations and expanded mission. The Muskegon Goodwill was also named the lead agency for the regional Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Initiative in two counties and five other one-stop centers, and now partners with Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids (Grandville, MI) to provide prisoner re-entry services for a ninecounty region. Because of the Goodwill’s comprehensive approach to helping people find and retain work, more individuals have succeeded in staying employed.

When people first come in, the agency performs intake assessments to develop family self-sufficiency plans that identify strengths and needs, and help case managers connect them to resources. To aid in job placement and training, the organization also operates its own temporary staffing agency. Once workers obtain jobs, the Goodwill supports them with transportation assistance, purchasing business attire, budgeting workshops and other services. Additionally, as a leading organization in the Asset Building Coalition of Muskegon, the Goodwill runs the largest free tax preparation site in the region. In 2007, the organization helped 476 families each receive an average of $1,200 in tax refunds.

Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley Phyllis Bandstra President and CEO 540 Central Avenue Johnstown, PA 15902 (814) 536-3536 www.goodwilljohnstown.org Goodwill Industries of West Michigan Richard Carlson President 271 Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442 www.goodwillwm.org (231) 722-7871

For more information about the “Goodwill Is Good for Families” awards program, contact: Goodwill Industries International Andrea Edelman National Family Strengthening Specialist 15810 Indianola Drive Rockville, MD 20852 (800) 741-0197, ext. 5511 www.goodwill.org

Information for these articles was taken from the 2009 Family Strengthening Profiles provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and prepared by the Hatcher Group.

A Piece of Themselves A Piece of Themselves Creativity, Confidence Exhibited by Participants in Goodwill Art Programs

B rush strokes on canvas can create more than a single work of art. The same is true with pencil on paper, clay in the kiln and the careful arrangement of tile. In Goodwill’s art programs, artists create something bigger. Whether they serve high school students or adults with disabilities, these programs turn creativity into skills, confidence and dignity.

Ratha Sok has been commissioned by the Denver Parks and Recreation Department to create graffiti murals for the Mile-High City.

Graffiti Artists Apply Talent to Public Projects Ratha Sok was already an artist before he worked with Goodwill, but most of his art was illegal graffiti. So when Goodwill Industries® of Denver (CO) began its mural club for high school students in 2007, he was among the first to sign up. When the interest of other students waned, Sok wasn’t deterred and pursued the mural project solo. “I told myself I needed a positive outlet,” Sok says. “It was just me, and I said, ‘I can make this happen.’”

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A Piece of Themselves

He painted the club’s first mural by himself at West High School Career Academy. It didn’t take long for other students to follow suit, and they helped paint an additional 10 murals in the first year. The success of the club inspired Sok to launch a business venture with fellow students after graduating from high school. His venture, 2kool Productions, specializes in murals, graphics, clothing and web design, and has been commissioned by Denver Parks and Recreation to create public murals.

“Making a living as an artist is difficult, but these kids have actually gotten paid, and that’s rare,” says Steve Hartbauer, Goodwill case manager for West High School Career Academy in Denver. “Some of these kids could become professional artists.” Today, five to 10 students work with the mural club, depending on the scope of the project. Sok says he’s received calls from other schools in the area interested in starting similar programs, and he’s committed to helping others pursue their artistic aspirations.

Bonding, Stress Reduction Are Products of Close-Knit Classes The Artistic Enhancement Program at Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee) is so popular that there’s a waiting list. The program accommodates 38 adults with developmental disabilities who attend weekly classes for 24 weeks in the organization’s work services program. The six-person classes create gift baskets, mobiles, paintings, masks, sculptures and greeting cards. Some of the classmates have become particularly close, says art facilitator Chrystal Gillon-Mabry. They meld into a kind of therapy group, talking through life issues while working on projects. The program sells the artwork once a year at a local art fair and at the Goodwill’s new trendy boutique, Retique, with larger pieces going for about $65. That money is split evenly between program participants and the Goodwill to help cover direct program costs. From creation to sale, the entire experience is meaningful for participants, says Nicci Nageotte, manager of participant services at the Goodwill. “[Participants] create an identity they didn’t know they had, a piece of themselves that they didn’t know was there. They realize they can create something that someone else would want to buy.” For participant Lynn Carus, creating art reduces stress and helps her relax. “Sometimes I have bad days, and then I come into the art classes…. It takes away all the bad things and makes it a whole lot better,” Carus says. “My mind just opens.”

‘Color My Dreams’ Exhibit Unites Community and Artists The arts have been an integral and successful part of the job training and rehabilitation services at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Charlotte, NC), says Diane Weekley, director of vocational services. The art program — part of a community rehabilitation and job training program for adults with developmental disabilities — helps participants become more expressive and prepares them to work with the public through an annual art exhibit. “These experiences support participants and encourage them to get into the community and get working,” Weekley says. The Goodwill partners with the Charlotte Art League to put on the annual art exhibits, aptly named “Color My Dreams.” The first exhibit in March 2008 was an instant success when many of the pieces sold, with proceeds benefiting the artists. The show gave participants a big boost of confidence and the valuable experience of working with the public, Weekley says. Sandra Gray, community outreach director of the Art League, remembers a program participant who was typically withdrawn and non-verbal suddenly opening up and being excited during art class. Weekley says another program participant is now considering working as an assistant for an art teacher. The artists who teach the classes also really enjoy the program, says Gray. The experience brings much fulfillment and gives them insights into how other people look at the world. “There’s just something so calming and satisfying about working with Goodwill artists,” says Gray.

(Top and Center) Participants at Goodwill Industries of Southern Wisconsin. (Bottom) Laquetta Strickland proudly displays her stained glass creation at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

A Piece of Themselves

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Bidding on Success Bidding on Success Goodwill Celebrates Its First Decade of Online Auctioneering shopgoodwill.com, the first and only auction site created, owned and operated by a nonprofit organization, celebrated its 10 th anniversary in August 2009. Since its launch in 1999, the site has generated more than $76 million in support of mission-related services provided by participating Goodwill organizations. Because 84 percent of Goodwill’s revenues fund job training and other programs, shoppers feel good about their purchases. More than 30,000 items are for sale on shopgoodwill.com at any given time, culled from the billions of pounds of donated goods that Goodwills across the United States and Canada collect each year. The site has more than 165 categories and subcategories, containing a wide array of items, from antiques and toys to one-of-a-kind collectibles. Only Goodwill agencies can post items on shopgoodwill.com. As a result, buyers have the security of purchasing from a well-recognized and respected brand. Popular site features include the Personal Shopper, which sends bidders e-mail alerts when items they are looking for are posted, and the Watch List, which allows shoppers to return quickly to items without searching for them again.

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Bidding on Success

Then and Now

shopgoodwill.com received national attention August 24, when TIME.com named it one of the 50 Best Web Sites of 2009. “Great deals abound,” the site proclaimed, favoring it above eBay as the best auction site for low-priced finds. TIME ranked shopgoodwill.com number 18 on its list, above other popular sites like Amazon (#19), Netflix (#21), Wikipedia (#25) and Facebook (#31).

In the late 1990s, thousands of established businesses were entering the world of online retailing. Music, apparel, electronics, toys, hardware, pet supplies, furniture and book stores were on the verge of revolutionizing the retail world through e-commerce. During the holiday season of 1999, online purchases tripled from the previous year to a record-breaking $10 billion. At Goodwill Industries of Orange County (Santa Ana, CA), a spirit of innovation was driving the CEO and staff to make the most of the abundant donated “finds.” By offering them for sale to a larger online audience, all types of collectibles, clothing, antiques and other desirable items could bring a higher price than they would in Goodwill’s “brick-andmortar” stores. For then CEO George W. Kessinger, that meant more funds to grow the organization’s mission.

“We looked for an enterprise that could provide a basis for employment and training using computer technology,” Kessinger says. “It became apparent that shopgoodwill.com could open up new jobs and training for people.” Trainees gain basic computer knowledge, customer service and photography skills. They also learn the goods processing, stocking and fulfillment systems. During its first full year of operations shopgoodwill.com sold 62,360 items and had more than $1.1 million in sales. Last year, the site sold more than 733,000 items and generated more than $15.3 million in sales. The auction site has continued to improve and innovate over its 10year life in order to provide the best possible experience for shoppers. In 2007, the site underwent a complete redesign and today it provides features for bidders on the go. Bidders can now access the user-friendly interface utilizing cell phones, mobile devices or assistive technology devices, such as screen readers.

“shopgoodwill.com rates among the Top 10 online auction sites and is in good company among eBay and Overstock.com.” ­– Editor, http://online-auction-sites.toptenreviews.com, 2009 site reviews

Did You Know? The highest priced item sold in 1999 went for $500. It was a hand-drawn animation art cel from the Disney movie, The Jungle Book.

Celebrate Online

www.youtube.com/user/goodwilllndustries

1999 CBS News story about the launch of shopgoodwill.com

The highest priced item sold to date was a painting by Frank Weston Benson. It sold for $165,002 in 2006. In August 2009, shopgoodwill.com posted its five millionth item. There are 420,000 registered bidders on the site.

2009 video about shopgoodwill.com today

More than 52,000 people visit the site each day.

Bidding on Success

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With Help from Our Friends Help from Our Friends

Goodwill, Rotary Leverage Resources for People with Disabilities reliable incomes for people with disabilities.

IInternational n 2001, leaders from Rotary and Goodwill Industries International came together to discuss their similar interest in securing jobs and eliminating barriers to employment for people with disabilities. A Memorandum of Understanding sealed the collaboration, and today Rotary clubs and Goodwill® organizations in the United States and Canada and beyond are pooling resources to build an inclusive workforce that provides for individual selfsufficiency in today’s competitive business environment. Vocational service is one of Rotary’s guiding principles, which dovetails with Goodwill’s work to expand job opportunities and

Founded in 1905, Rotary International is a volunteer organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Both Rotary and Goodwill Industries® are community-based organizations, and their work leads to innovative solutions for local needs. “With members in virtually every community in the United States and Canada who are the business leaders, government officials and other influencers of local communities, Rotary is an amazing network and resource that Goodwills can tap through our joint partnership agreement,” says Ryan Kuhn, senior director of marketing with Goodwill Industries International. To learn more about Rotary International, visit www.rotary.org.

On the Road Again The Rotary Club of Hamilton A.M. (Ontario, Canada) generously donated a 12-passenger van to Goodwill The Amity Group to transport participants to and from Goodwill Works, a career and training program. According to Kathy Badgley, director of Goodwill Works, Hamilton has the highest poverty rate in Ontario, with one in five residents living in low-income households. These individuals often lack adequate resources such as transportation, making the van a valuable asset to those seeking services.

One Good Turn Deserves Another In the late 1950s, the East Portland Rotarians began the annual tradition of collecting donations door to door on the first Saturday of every March. Aptly named “Good Turn Day,” the event began when dedicated Rotarians joined forces with Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette (Portland, OR) and local Boy Scouts to gather donations during the springtime — Goodwill’s notoriously slow donation period. Although spring no longer heralds a slowdown in donations, Good Turn Days are still alive and well in Portland. In 2008, 50 Rotarians operated donation drop-off locations, and nearly 4,000 Boy Scouts went door to door, collecting more than 231,000 pounds of donations. Good Turn Day covers 26 counties in northern Oregon and southwestern Washington. “We have great expectations,” says Dale Emanuel, media relations manager with the Portland Goodwill. “We hope to collect over 300,000 pounds next year.”

Pictured with the donated van are (from left) Judy Dolbec, president, Rotary Club of Hamilton A.M.; Kathy Badgley, director, Goodwill Works; and Al Brown, past president, Rotary Club of Hamilton A.M.

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With Help from Our Friends

Fishing Tournaments Become Platform to Spread Goodwill

T hrough its partnership with FLW Outdoors, Goodwill Industries became

to rev up the crowd, talk about the organization and distribute branded givethe first and only national nonprofit spon- aways to thousands of captivated fans. Goodwill even received special promosor of the world’s largest professional tion in a national television segment on bass fishing tournament. In the process, FLW Outdoors that describes how donathe organization captured the attention tions fund social enterprise programs. of millions of bass fishing fans, giving them the opportunity to learn more about Throughout the season, fans of profesits mission and how they can help people sional bass fishing learned more about right in their own communities. the organization and became supportThrough FLW’s print, television and on- ers of the United States and Canada’s line advertising, Goodwill® gained access nonprofit leader of job training and critical community-based employment to a multimedia platform to spread the programs. Goodwill gained the opporword about the importance of supporttunity to share its passion for and coming the organization. Then, during the 2009 FLW Wal-Mart Tour, the Goodwill mitment to strengthening families and communities with anglers and fans who pro team of Wesley Strader and Chad are passionate about the sport and their Grigsby — and their branded Ranger hometowns. As it turns out, there’s a boats and Chevy Silverados — put the organization front and center in the towns lot in common between Goodwill and FLW fans. where they competed. ®

At each tour stop, Family Fun Zones linked sponsors and partners with local fishing fans and families, and were the perfect venue for community representatives to educate their neighbors about programs and promote new stores and donation centers. “With attendance ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 per tournament, and 40,000 at the Forrest Woods Cup in Pittsburgh, PA, Goodwill came in contact with more than 100,000 men, women and children who make up our shoppers, donors, participants and future supporters,” says Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. At the events, national and community Goodwill staff joined Strader and Grigsby onstage preceding Top 10 weigh-ins

With Help from Our Friends

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In the News In the News Web Site Urges Job Seekers to ‘Stay Hopeful’

and information for all people affected by current economic conditions. The site is designed to feature information in four key areas — career, family, financial and health — and provides tips on building work skills, free and low-cost health care for children, youth programs, nutrition, safety insurance and tax credits, as well as career advice for students, dislocated workers, and retirees entering or returning to the job market.

“Stay hopeful. Build your skills. Goodwill® is there for you.” That’s the overarching message of a new microsite — http://recovery.goodwill.org — Goodwill Industries International launched to provide online resources

Goodwill, Family Circle Hold Five-Million-Pound Clothing Drive

One way individuals can stay hopeful is by participating in the site’s interactive online community. There, people can share their own stories and videos, and hear from others who are experiencing similar situations.

Goodwill Ranked Fifth in Nonprofit Brands Study

The report, a first for Cone, ranked nonGoodwill Industries® was ranked fifth profit brands in “The Cone Nonprofit Power Brand by a com100,” making it one of the nation’s top bination of five most valuable brands. The study revenue and was released this summer by Bostona brand imbased marketing firm Cone LLC and age valuation, British-based brand consultancy Inwhich was tangible Business. determined by a national survey of 1,000 adults, coverage in the top 50 Goodwill® joins other household U.S. daily newspapers, geographic nonprofit names on the Top Five list, reach, volunteer support, year-overincluding YMCA of the USA, The Salvation Army, United Way of Amer- year growth and the percentage of total revenue from direct public supica and the American Red Cross. The port over a series of five years. The strong ranking for Goodwill reflects the commitment of its donors and the overarching intent of the survey is to national scope and scale of the critical provide insight for the nation’s noncommunity-based employment servic- profits into how to increase revenue es provided by the organization’s 166 and develop community partners. local agencies in the United States and Canada.

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In the News

Goodwill Industries International and Family Circle teamed up for a five-million-pound clothing drive that took place in August and September. The partnership was featured in the September issue of Family Circle, the magazine’s first-ever back-to-school issue, as well as at www.shopfamilycircle.com, the brand’s new e-commerce destination. Family Circle and Goodwill invited parents to put their gently used adult and kids’ clothes to work by donating them so that other children can have “new-to-them” outfits for the first day of school. The donated items are sold at more than 2,300 Goodwill retail stores, making affordable, contemporary clothing available to families on a budget.

Goodwill Wins Department of Labor YouthBuild Grants The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded five Goodwill® agencies more than $3 million in grants. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced the awards, which assist out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or General Educational Development (GED) certificates, while providing occupational training in the construction industry to build affordable homes for families with lower incomes. Nationwide, a total of $47 million was awarded to 62 current and 121 new YouthBuild program grantees.

Three Goodwills receiving regular YouthBuild program funds were Wall Street Mission Goodwill Industries® (Sioux City, IA) for $687,500; Tacoma Goodwill Industries (WA) for $687,500; and Goodwill Industries of Northern New England (Portland, ME) for $686,864. Two Goodwills receiving awards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding included Goodwill Industries Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa (Omaha, NE) for $523,319 and Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley (Johnstown, PA) for $503,479.

Goodwill Awarded $19.1 Million to ages 12 to 17. Structured and supportGrant to Mentor Youth ive relationships with adult mentors will help youth build career plans and skills, and prepare for school completion, post-secondary training and productive work. The program will provide career exploration and skill development to offer youth a pathway out of poverty and crime. Mentors will emphasize the assets and strengths that youth already have, and will engage other family members in order to support a stable and thriving home environment.

On September 2, Goodwill Industries International learned it had been awarded a $19.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Programs, which will allow 56 Goodwill® agencies in 38 states to expand or begin new youth mentoring programs. The purpose of the two-year program, Goodwill GoodGuides, is to match youth at risk for delinquency with caring adults in mentoring relationships. Using practices that have been proven effective, volunteer mentors will engage with youth in structured mentoring activities designed to build and strengthen family support systems, provide positive examples, and help direct their aspirations towards positive choices. Goodwill agencies will recruit and train more than 1,500 volunteer mentors to serve more than 5,600 youth

“Goodwill GoodGuides continues our historic commitment to youth and their families with a collaborative community model based on research-proven principles,” says Wendi Copeland, Goodwill’s vice president of mission support services. “When youth have positive role models and career aspirations, they are inspired to make positive choices today and in the future.” Countless studies have shown a direct correlation between school completion, employment and earnings. This research shows that the people most likely to be unemployed are those with the least education. Academic failure is also linked to delinquency, which too often leads to involvement with the criminal justice system. “By providing intensive mentoring services that encourage career goals and help young people understand the connection between school and their future work and incomes, GoodGuides has an opportunity to make a powerful impact on the lives of thousands of youth and their communities,” says Copeland. For information about GoodGuides and how you can volunteer to be a GoodGuides volunteer mentor, visit www.goodwill.org/get-involved/volunteer or e-mail [email protected].

In the News

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In the Community In the Community Goodwill Serves Up Social Entrepreneurship and Fine Dining By Krista Reese, Georgia Trend Magazine

When the going gets tough, the tough go dining. In Macon, GA, an innovative model of social entrepreneurship offers the chance to do good by eating well. Looking to create jobs by matching local businesses’ needs with trained workers, Goodwill Industries® polled community leaders about the biggest gaps. The result: the organization’s firstever culinary school, conference center space and fine-dining restaurant, opened in 2007 in a former Sam’s Club.

Culinary school students get on-the-job instruction at Goodwill’s trendy bistro in Macon, GA.

Named for Goodwill’s founder, Methodist pastor Edgar Helms, the bistro employs and trains culinary students for all aspects of restaurant employment — from waiting tables to cooking, catering and pastry-making. Anyone can enroll; scholarships help eligible students who can’t afford to pay full tuition. “Everyone wondered why we didn’t open a sandwich shop,” says Goodwill Foundation Executive Director Meredith Vasquez. “But we wanted our students to dream big.” In fact, Edgar’s ambitious “cigars and scotch” nights, tapas menu and specialoccasion dinners are perhaps more familiar to Atlanta restaurant-goers than Maconites. Still, I wondered: Could you “dine” in a former big-box store without feeling you were sitting in the frozen food section? Would the dishes be the bland, unremarkable fare wheeled out at business conferences everywhere? Edgar’s mission alone makes it a worthwhile experiment — but I hoped for more.

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In the Community

Fortunately, sometimes even high expectations are exceeded. Though the décor appears handmade and inexpensive, it’s a clever use of the concretefloored space, with contemporary fabrics and light fixtures lending an urban-loft feel.

paninis, lobster bisque, asparagus soup, salads and pastas in addition to a few entrées. At dinner, it’s more consciously Continental, but never too serious: New York strip with red wine demi; Florida prawns in risotto; pork tenderloin with fennel gratin and eggplant.

Our sweet, shy young waitress confessed it was her first full day at work, winning us over with her “I don’t know, but I’ll ask” willingness to help. Around us, Maconites sat laughing, drinking and talking as big tables celebrated birthdays and family gatherings. Edgar’s, it appears, has won the embrace of its hometown.

Vasquez says Edgar’s has been such a success that the nonprofit is planning to open another restaurant and cooking school in Augusta. And, she adds, the culinary school will be part of the curriculum when Goodwill opens its first college, to be called Helms College, in Macon. “It’s guilt-free dining,” she says. “Thirty great menu items for one great cause.”

The menu mixes familiar and up-tempo bistro classics, with lunches offering

This article was reprinted with the permission of Georgia Trend magazine. All rights reserved.

Tacoma Goodwill Anticipates LEED-Gold Certification for New Headquarters When Tacoma Goodwill Industries® (WA) embarked on a building project four years ago, CEO Terry A. Hayes and the agency’s board of directors were clear on two things. First, the 63,000-square-foot Milgard Work Opportunity Center would allow the Goodwill® to double the number of people it serves. And second, it would stand as a model in green building. Both goals were achieved in September 2009, when the building officially opened its doors. Hayes says the four-story facility includes a distance-learning theater that can broadcast training programs across the agency’s 15-county service area. Compared to the former building, the new facility provides five times the space for training classrooms and nearly three times the space for an adaptive technology lab, where instructors can teach computer skills to people with disabilities. The first two floors of the building house a youth career center, REACH (Resources for Education and Career Help), a partnership of 12 youth career service agencies from across the area. The third floor houses the Goodwill’s job-training and placement center and classrooms. Administrative offices are on the top level, along with meeting rooms that will be open to the community. The center is named after Gary E. Milgard, whose family foundation made the lead gift of $2.5 million in the Goodwill’s $15 million capital campaign. The new building’s anticipated Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-Gold certification makes it a shining example for nonprofits and others who are committed to green building practice.

Above: The finished building before its grand opening on September 23. Left: Washington State Gov. Chris Gregoire (right) joins Tacoma Goodwill CEO Terry Hayes for the unveiling of the plans for the agency’s new “green” headquarters.

The commitment to go green was made at the onset of the project, and architect BCRA (Brown Connally Rowan Architects) and builder Rushforth Construction carried out the agency’s green goals, including energy and water efficiency, natural light, low-emitting materials to ensure healthy indoor air quality, use of natural materials, and prevention of as much construction waste as possible. “This space will help people feel valued,” says Hayes of the design, which includes a fountain and a vertical garden by world-renowned artist and scientist Patrick Blanc. “We have a beautiful building that tells clients they’re entering an organization that cares.”

Although building green meant 4-percent higher building costs, the “return for us is incredible,” Hayes says. “That amount will pay for itself before long in energy efficiencies.” Once formally approved, Tacoma Goodwill will be the first Goodwill agency to achieve a LEED-Gold rating for a new structure. The facility anchors the Goodwill’s six-acre campus in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma. The agency’s existing buildings will be renovated in a similar style and will house its online retail business, its packaging services and its outlet store.

In the Community

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In the Community In the Community Goodwill Expertise Makes the Difference in One-Stop Center Operations

In 1998, the passage of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) created a unique “one-stop” delivery system that allowed people to access access job training, education and other employment services at career centers located in their neighborhoods.

A senior citizen accesses the computer lab at Goodwill of Southern California’s WorkSource Center.

with other agencies to provide services through two additional centers.

Core services include pre-employment workshops on basic computer applications, résumé writing, interviewing and dressing to make the right first impresCentral to the legislation was creating sion. A resource library and job boards easy access for job seekers to services and working closely with local business- list opportunities available to applicants, es and industries on the skill sets needed who also have access to computers, telefor jobs in the area — something Good- phones and faxes. will Industries® has done for decades. Staff also provide more intensive It’s no wonder that many community services, such as interest and skills asGoodwill® agencies were selected to sessment, development of individual serve as primary one-stop center operaemployment plans, and intensive case tors or became partners in other one-stop management, including staff-assisted operations. job searches, placement and followup. To meet the needs of the diverse One exemplary one-stop operator is Goodwill Industries of Southern Cali- populations that reside in California, staff members are fluent in a multitude fornia (Los Angeles), which runs three of languages, including American Sign WIA one-stops known as WorkSource Language, Spanish, Armenian, MandaCenters. rin Chinese and Korean. In 2001, the Goodwill started the Metro Teri Kelsall, vice president of workNorth WorkSource Center, located at force development, emphasizes that its Los Angeles campus. By providing Goodwill retail revenues are critical to continuous, exceptional service, the agency has built a strong reputation. Has the organization’s ability to provide a broader range of assistance to persons since added two additional full-service WorkSource Centers, and has partnered with disabilities and others having a 26

In the Community

hard time finding employment. For example, by bringing its own resources to the table, the Goodwill is able to provide assistive technologies to job seekers. “Our progressive board of directors understands the importance of helping people find employment in the community, and has dedicated a portion of our revenues to hiring placement service representatives whose sole jobs are to find employment opportunities for our populations and get them working,” Kelsall says. The City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Boards routinely bring tours of national, state and local VIPs to the Goodwill, which also regularly receives awards from the city for successfully assisting the most persons with disabilities. In 2008, 44,267 people received services from the Goodwill, and the majority of them were through one of the three WorkSource Centers. More than 3,000 people entered community employment through the agency’s support with an average hourly wage of $10.92.

Every 42 seconds of every business day, someone earns a good job with the help of Goodwill®. Goodwill Industries® has been putting people to work since 1902. We train people for careers in fields such as financial services, computer programming and health care. We provide employment, job training and career services to people with disabilities, welfare recipients and others who are trying to enter the workforce for the first time or get a better job. We believe that work creates the economic energy that builds strong families and strong communities. Work helps build self-confidence, friendship and independence. Everyone deserves a chance to have these things in life. Goodwill provides that chance.

How We Operate Donors play a vital role in the ability to fulfill our mission of helping people go to work. To pay for programs, Goodwills sell donated goods and other household items in more than 2,000 retail stores and on the auction site, www.shopgoodwill.com. Goodwills also build revenue, and create jobs, by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, document management and destruction, laundry services, food services, temporary services, custodial work and groundskeeping. General Motors, Briggs & Stratton, General Services Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Navy, Marines, Air Force and Army are among those who have tapped into Goodwill services. We channel 84 percent of total revenue into education, career services and other critical community programs.

Goodwill Industries, a global network of community-based organizations, collectively reported the following for 2008: People served through employment and training programs: Workfroce development services provided: People placed in competitive employment: Salaries and wages earned by people served who are placed in competitive employment: Revenue generated by Goodwill Industries organizations: Total number of donors (figure includes repeat donors): Total number of retail stores: Revenue Sources Retail sales: Industrial and service contract work: Individual/Corporate/Foundation support for mission sevices: Government support for mission services:

1.52 million 10.49 million 172,317 $1.54 billion $3.28 billion 64.4 million 2,324

$2.16 billion $597.2 million $61.1 million $392.49 million