Rockville, MD. — Federal government officials have said that the economy is on the road to recovery, but there are many people still struggling to find employment. This economic recovery won’t feel real until our friends and neighbors who are unemployed can earn paychecks and support their families. As it commemorates Goodwill Industries® Week (May
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Columbus, GA. — Doctors told Joy Diolosa’s parents that she would never walk and that her congenital birth defects — including scoliosis and a club foot — could keep her from working. Diagnosed later in life with paranoid schizophrenia, Diolosa’s mounting disabilities were nothing compared to the cruel treatment she received from co-workers. After being
Cheryl Keller retired from the board of directors for Goodwill Industries® of the Southern Piedmont in 2007 after almost 18 years of service, but she has since “doubled her efforts,” using her financial, analytical and strategic planning skills to improve programs and services at the Goodwill®. Due to her efforts, Keller is being honored by Goodwill Industries International with the 2010 Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year Award. During the past two decades, Keller served as the chair of the Goodwill’s board of directors as well as a member of several committees. She has an extensive background in the banking industry. While at Bank of America, she was a passionate champion for Goodwill, recruiting bank colleagues to volunteer in the agency’s training programs and as members of the board. “One of Cheryl’s strengths is her ability to combine passion and intellect to inspire change,” said Michael Elder, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “She is always looking for new opportunities for Goodwill. Cheryl is not afraid to ask tough questions about what we can do to better ourselves.”
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When a resource counselor at Goodwill Industries® of Denver saw that, without caring adult mentors to offer guidance, African-American males at a local high school faced multiple personal struggles, the agency created the Men at Work African-America Male Mentor Group. This year, Goodwill Industries International honors the program with its 2010 Goodwill® Volunteer Program of the Year Award. The Men at Work program pairs African-American professionals from the Denver-metro area with African-American students at East High School. The mentors and mentees discuss everything from schoolwork, grades and the college experience to healthy interactions with authority figures and how to overcome personal and professional adversity. In 2008, all seven of the program’s mentees went on to college, a primary goal of the mentor program.
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Cindy Stone, custodial training coordinator at Goodwill Industries® of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, developed a custodial training and certification program for people with physical and cognitive disabilities, giving unemployed individuals a leg up in an almost recession-proof industry. Her innovative workforce solution is being honored this year with the Robert E. and Charlotte Watkins Award for Mission Advancement from Goodwill Industries International. The Commercial Custodial Technician Program is a four-week training that teaches basic components of custodial services. Having completed the program, participants obtain a portable, nationally recognized certification. Of the 113 individuals trained so far, more than 80 percent are now employed in the custodial field.
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Tina Ballard, Executive Director of the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, with its first-ever Outstanding Leadership Award for Federal Executives. This award is given by Goodwill® to a federal executive who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s policy agenda. Increased employment opportunities under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act is one of Goodwill’s top priorities as Goodwill makes up nearly 15 percent of the AbilityOne Program. Enacted in 1938, the Wagner-O’Day Act sought to create employment opportunities for people who are blind by using the vast purchasing power of the federal government. In 1971, under the stewardship of the late Sen. Jacob Javits, the employment program was expanded to include people with significant disabilities. That expanded program — called AbilityOne — operates today under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act. The Committee for Purchase has oversight of the AbilityOne Program.
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Congressman Vern Buchanan (R–FL) as a recipient of its Goodwill® National Policymaker Award for 2010. The award recognizes a federal policymaker who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Rep. Buchanan was nominated by Goodwill Industries-Manasota, Inc. (Sarasota, FL) for consistent support of Goodwill’s public policy agenda. He co-sponsored legislation to expand Goodwill capacity and is a champion for Goodwill’s job training and reintegration efforts for veterans.
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Congressman Brett Guthrie (R–KY) as a recipient of its Goodwill® National Policymaker Award for 2010. The award recognizes a federal policymaker who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Rep. Guthrie was nominated by Goodwill Industries of Kentucky (Louisville, KY), for his leadership in the House to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and for strengthening job opportunities for workers and job seekers in a struggling economy.
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Congressman Norm Dicks (D–WA) as a recipient of its Goodwill® Policymaker Leaders Award for 2010. The award recognizes a federal policymaker who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Rep. Dicks was nominated by Tacoma Goodwill Industries for his ongoing support of Goodwill, including assistance in securing HUD Economic Initiative Funds for the agency’s Milgard Work Opportunity Center.
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Goodwill Industries International® is pleased to honor Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) as a recipient of its Goodwill® National Policymaker Award for 2010. The award recognizes a federal policymaker who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Senator Mikulski was nominated by Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake (Baltimore, MD) for her “close to 100 percent support of our 2009 policy priorities.”
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Congressman Adam Smith (D–WA) as a recipient of its Goodwill® National Policymaker Award for 2010. The award recognizes a federal policymaker who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Rep. Smith was nominated by the Tacoma Goodwill for his recognition of Goodwill, including support of the agency’s Milgard Work Opportunity Center. In addition, Rep. Smith recently sponsored legislation that would expand Goodwill’s capacity.
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Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D, Maine) as a recipient of its Goodwill® National Policymaker Award for 2010. The award recognizes an elected leader who has clearly demonstrated support for Goodwill’s public policy priorities. Rep. Pingree was nominated by Goodwill Industries of Northern New England (Portland, ME) for sponsoring and co-sponsoring several bills that align with Goodwill’s mission of providing employment for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment.
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