ROCKVILLE, MD — Local Goodwill organizations in Huntington, WV; Houston, TX; and Tulsa, OK, are being recognized for their outstanding efforts to strengthen families by being designated as a Family Financial Wellness Center of Excellence for 2016. Through a sponsorship from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Goodwill Industries International has been honoring local organizations annually since 2001 for incorporating family financial stability strategies into their mission, vision and program offerings.
The 2016 recipients are:
Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area (Huntington, WV) is recognized for its wealth of programs designed to help local residents overcome generational poverty. Half of the local residents live in liquid asset poverty, and 59 percent have subprime credit. The Goodwill has partnered with several organizations to provide a wide cross-section of residents with financial stability services.
Goodwill Industries of Houston (TX) provides comprehensive resources to help families achieve lasting financial independence. Goodwill Houston evaluates and identifies areas of need for financial education among program participants, including credit, banking and housing. The Goodwill works with its employees and participants to ensure sufficient income and to maintain responsible financial habits in the future.
Goodwill Industries of Tulsa (OK) incorporates financial wellness into its overall mission for working with employees and program participants. Goodwill Tulsa partnered with the Security Bank in Tulsa to create the TulsaWORKS Savings Match program, which matches program participants’ savings up to $500. A similar program is also available to the Goodwill’s employees.
“Goodwill knows that communities benefit as families are strengthened,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “And one of the best ways to strengthen families is through programs that teach financial well-being and independence. We commend each of these community-based Goodwill organizations for their exemplary work in this important area.”
The awards were recently presented at Goodwill’s annual spring conference in Indianapolis. Each designee received $5,000 and a plaque honoring its achievement.
CONTACT:
Lauren Lawson-Zilai
Director, Public Relations
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5266
[email protected]
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL:
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 164 autonomous, community-based organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of America’s top 20 most inspiring companies (Forbes, 2014). Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,100 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill organizations also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food services preparation, and document imaging and shredding. Last year, Goodwill placed 312,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 35 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills. To learn more, visit Goodwill.org.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at Goodwill.org or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl
