As America wraps up the summer with cookouts and parades this Labor Day, Goodwill Industries International is calling on Congress to ensure the continuation of a key form of employment assistance for families in need.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which was signed into law in 1997, provides much-needed cash assistance — commonly referred to as welfare — to millions of unemployed parents with dependent children. In addition, it allows states to work with community-based organizations such as Goodwill^® to provide a variety of career programs designed to keep individuals off welfare for good.

Additional funding for TANF, which was extended under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Recovery Act), is due to run out at the end of the current federal fiscal year, September 30, 2010. The Obama Administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2011 would extend the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund for one more year.

Goodwill strongly urges Congress to approve the extension of this much-needed program funding. More assistance is needed, however, as evidenced by the 5-percent increase in welfare rolls last year — the first increase in 15 years. In addition, TANF, as currently constructed, is failing to help those who need the program the most. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, during the first 19 months of the recession, the number of TANF recipients rose 6.6 percent; during the same period, the number of food stamp recipients jumped 27.4 percent and the unemployment rate skyrocketed 80 percent.

To combat this growing problem, Congress must take a two-pronged approach to assisting more families who are living in extreme poverty: extend funding for TANF and address structural problems that exist within the program.

“Not only does Goodwill support more funding for TANF, but we also look to Congress to implement legislation that will lead to a reduction of barriers people encounter while trying to access the program, and we seek greater collaboration between agencies providing services to TANF recipients,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “In this way, we will be able to help more people climb out of poverty, move off welfare, and head on a path toward self-sufficiency.”

Obstacles to success include difficult-to-meet participation rates, case management demands and reporting requirements that have placed too great a burden on service providers, hindering their ability to provide the assistance necessary to achieve long-term objectives. Another barrier to the success of this program is the fact that gainful employment often leads to an overall decrease in income as families lose other financial assistance, such as child care and food stamps.

“It’s quite clear that TANF must be extended because of a great continued great need,” said Gibbons. “It is equally clear that in order for TANF to be most effective, it must be made more accessible and responsive to those families in need.”

Since the inception of the TANF program, Goodwill has provided more than 1.5 million TANF recipients across the United States with pre- and post-employment services, including skills training, job search assistance, job retention support, and other career programs tailored to their needs.

Now more than ever, agencies such as Goodwill need to have the tools necessary to continue these efforts as America works to recover from devastating job losses and economic weakness.

When I graduated from high school, I was looking for a part time position somewhere to earn money for college. In this economy, it was pretty hard to do so. I didn’t really know where to start – and that’s when I first encountered Goodwill Industries® of Denver.

I was lucky enough to take part in the program with the City and County of Denver receiving job training and help with internship placement. Through that program, Goodwill® provided classes on workplace etiquette, how to dress in the workplace, résumé reviews, mock interviews and just generally helped us ready for entering the workplace.

I learned a lot from those classes and eventually got to interview for an internship with First Bank. Once I received the internship, I was set up with Stephanie, my Goodwill case manager. She was kind, helpful and awesome.

Cleo Clausell works in her office at First Bank.

When I first started, I felt confused and I didn’t really know what was going on. I talked to Stephanie about it, and she helped me and First Bank find the best way for us to work together. After that, I was off and running.

When it came to the end of the internship, I decided I wanted to have a permanent position. I talked to Steph about it and she was so confident in me. It helped give me the confidence I needed. I interviewed for the permanent position and got the job – my first real job – and I love it!

Now that I’m working and going to school, I feel a step closer to achieving my goal of being an elementary school teacher. There’s so much ahead of me and Goodwill helped me get there.

Hear more stories from people like Cleo »

Rockville, MD. — TABI and Goodwill Industries International are encouraging customers to donate their gently-worn jeans as part of a jeans trade-in promotion. Customers who participate in the promotion from Monday, August 23 to Monday, September 6 will receive $20 off a new pair of jeans when donating a used pair (or pairs) at TABI. One discount is given per donated item. The donations will be sold at Canadian Goodwill retail stores, where the revenues fund job training, employment placement and career support services for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or others facing challenges to finding employment.

Revenues from this retail trade-in collaboration will help people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities through meaningful employment. Last year, Canadian Goodwills served more than 25,878 people through employment and family support services.

“The jean trade-in promotion with TABI will generate funds to help Goodwill provide employment and other necessary programs in our community and throughout Canada,” said Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “The donations will help play a vital role in fulfilling our mission of helping people find jobs, earn paychecks and care for their families.”

TABI, established in 1980, is a women’s specialty retail chain that specializes in designing, manufacturing and selling classic fashion at a great value.

“We are proud to be associated with Goodwill Industries, one of the leading and most recognized nonprofit brands,” said Rosalina Pugliese, Director of Marketing of TABI. “The jeans trade-in promotion provides our customers with the opportunity to donate their jeans to be re-sold to help people support themselves and strengthen their communities.”

The jeans trade-in promotion beings on Monday, August 23 and ends on Monday, September 6 and is only valid at TABI stores. TABI and Goodwill successfully worked together on previous campaigns, including a denim swap and a sweater swap.

Told by Goodwill Computer Museum volunteer Phil Ryals

At 18, because of the unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,  I had to leave for my safety. I crossed into the border of Zambia on foot, literally running across the border to safety. I was on my own. I spent 18 years in a refugee camp outside of my native country. At that time, I was able to move to Austin, TX, through a UN resettlement program. I brought my wife and four young children with me.

In Austin I found assistance through a local non-profit who worked with immigrants and refugees. I was unable to find employment to support my family. In four months, I submitted over 40 applications but received no interviews or even calls of interest. An opening was found at Goodwill Industries® of Central Texas. After interviewing with the recycling supervisor, I was offered a full-time job as a baler in the recycling department and started work in July 2009.

When I started at Goodwill, they provided a French interpreter at my three-day orientation. Although I am fluent in French, Swahili and other dialects, I am still learning English. The interpreter walked through the job duties with me, explaining vocabulary and duties.

Charles Mwamba drives a forklift at Goodwill Industries of Central Texas.

At first, I had to walk and ride the bus to work which took about two hours each way. After six months on the job, I had saved enough money to purchase a vehicle. I now have my license, and I drive to work. With steady employment, I have been able to save money and move my family into a safer and less expensive apartment.

I am much happier now that I have a job, and I am able to work full-time and have constant employment. I drive a forklift and work the baler to recycle metal and plastic and work with the recycling team on collection events helping with computer and television recycling.

I am happy that I have a way to support my family. I want to continue to grow as I work at Goodwill and develop my career. I also want to learn more English. I am happy to have these opportunities that Goodwill has offered me.

Hear more stories from people like Charles ».

Before I came to the program, I was hospitalized for a few months due to a brain injury that I was born with. I was unable to work for some time and I was pretty much down and out.

Even though I was down for four years, I fought the struggle in order to continue to move on in life. When I was able to work again, I joined Goodwill Industries® of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey’s WeCARE program. It took me some time, but after a few interviews I was hired on October 2006 by a law firm.

I started off as a file clerk, searching for files for attorneys and entering data. It was important because I needed a job at the time, and it was something very big for me to do it. After about two years, I received my own office and a new position. I moved up gradually and became a clerk/scanner, who enters court records, police reports, medical reports and other information into the computer system.

Edmond Cadet enters reports and records into the computer at his law office job.

I’ve been here for almost four years now. I also attend York College and am planning to become a paralegal. I said it to myself quite a few times to a couple of my friends also, “When you’re down and out, the only place to go is to go up.”

With Goodwill Industries, they didn’t let me down. They gave me the opportunity to continue rising and moving on up in this world.

Hear more stories from people like Edmond »

I had experience with patient care while taking care of my mom. Mom wanted me in the medical field for years. I was a career as a server, and I knew I wouldn’t physically be able to do that forever.

I relocated to Greenville, and through the Goodwill Industries^® of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina Job Connection center, I learned about the CNA program. I was comfortable with the field because I had experience doing it, and it was great to have the opportunity to begin a new career.

I enjoyed the employable skills classes — lots of things I knew, but there were things I didn’t know. And we received instruction on how to do things, not just being told what we need to do. It’s good to be reminded about things that you don’t always think about, so you don’t undersell yourself in an interview.

Julia Dunigan helps a client in her role as a CNA.

I became certified in April 2009, and I am now working as a CNA. I love the chance to work with people, and I love that they appreciate what I do for them. I’m focused toward the medical field, finding fulfillment in what I’m doing now. I’m looking forward to opportunities to grow in my career — there are lots of doors to enter.

Since moving here, my sister has become ill and now, I’m able to use my professional skills to give her the best care possible, make her comfortable and help her recover as quickly as possible.

Hear more stories from people like Julia.

Washington, DC. — Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) announced today that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, Inc., has entered into a two-year green electricity purchase agreement with Goodwill Industries International. Constellation NewEnergy will supply Goodwill Industries International’s headquarter location in Rockville, Md. with renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind renewable resources to offset 100-percent of its energy use. The effort is part of an overall initiative for Goodwill Industries International and its independent member agencies to green their buildings and stores to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

LEED encourages and accelerates global adoption of green building and promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

“By using 100-percent wind energy, Goodwill is demonstrating its commitment to its overall Going Green Initative,” said Steve Krotonsksy, chief operating officer for Goodwill Industries International.

Goodwill® is a member of the AOBA Alliance, Inc, one of the largest commercial energy aggregation groups in the United States, for which Constellation NewEnergy serves as energy services provider.

The renewable energy certificates supplied by Constellation NewEnergy are Green-e Energy certified from wind energy facilities.   For all of the energy Goodwill Industries International’s headquarters uses, an equivalent amount of energy generated from wind power and represented by RECs will be put into the energy grid. This increases the amount of pollution-free generated electricity and decreases the amount of energy that is generated from fossil fuels.

“Constellation NewEnergy is pleased to support Goodwill’s sustainability goals,” said Michael Smith, senior vice president of green initiatives for Constellation NewEnergy. “Goodwill has extended its mission of enriching communities to include supporting clean, renewable sources of energy.”

Constellation NewEnergy’s Wind RECs are sourced from wind facilities located in the United States. Through the purchase of RECs, Constellation NewEnergy and its customers are supporting the operation and development of facilities that generate renewable energy.

The U.S. still struggles to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. And unemployment stubbornly hovers near 10 percent. But Goodwill continues to invest the bulk of its revenues into providing services to people who face employment challenges.

Federal investments in this work are vital to us. Today, we are asking you to contact your Members of Congress, and ask them to support funding for job training programs. Continue reading to learn more, or take action now.

Background: Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill to provide FY 2011 funding for the U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. The bill includes $169.6 billion for discretionary programs, including many that support the services provided by community-based Goodwills across the United States.

Under the Senate bill, additional DOL funds are being allocated to create a new “Workforce Innovation Fund,” as proposed by the Administration’s budget. For example, funding for the  Workforce Investment Act (WIA) would receive $896 million for adult worker programs, up from $861 million in FY 2010, with $35 million going to the Workforce Innovation Fund.

Funding for youth programs would rise to $995 million, up from $924 million in FY 2010, with $95 million going to fund the Workforce Innovation Fund. Funding for dislocated worker programs would rise to $1.2 billion, up slightly compared to FY 2010, and with $55 million going toward the Workforce Innovation Fund.

Additional funds from the Department of Education would also be tapped for the innovation fund – $27 million from the Rehabilitation Services Administration and $30 million from Adult Basic Education.

Funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) would be significantly decreased by $225 million. This program helps provide low-income older workers (age 55 and over) with community services employment and private sector job placements. Read about Goodwill’s involvement in SCSEP.

View an analysis of proposed spending as it relates to Goodwill’s public policy priorities.

Prognosis: Election-year politics may bring this year’s appropriations process to a screeching halt, forcing congress to pass a “continuing resolution” to extend federal spending beyond the September 30 end of the fiscal year — and beyond the mid-term election on November 2.

Now is a critical time to let Congress know that you support funding for the types of programs that Goodwill provides that help regenerate our communities and reinvigorate our economy.

As told by Scott Snowling, case manager for Charles Plummer at Goodwill Industries^® of Greater Grand Rapids.

Charles came to Goodwill® in April 2009 through the Michigan Prisoner Reentry Initiative program. Charles had various breaking and entering convictions. He was referred to Goodwill through his parole officer, as he was released from prison with very little personal resources.

He was pretty unsure about the program at first, but continued to show up.  He completed our month-long Better Life Initiative classes and received a certificate in May 2009.  He started a 90-day temporary work experience at our recycle center, and completed that experience in August of 2009 with a great recommendation from his supervisor.

Charles Plummer helps out in Goodwill's warehouse.

Shortly thereafter, his case manager set up an interview for him for a dishwashing position. Charles performed well in the interview and was offered the job. The job was seven miles off of a bus line, so Charles took the bus to the southern most point that the Grand Rapids bus line would take him, and then he rode his bike the remaining seven miles to work.

After a few weeks, Charles was able to develop friendships, so he now gets a ride each day to work. Charles’ supervisor loves him, and he now has benefits available to him. He now is the trainer for new dishwashers, and is learning some food prep skills as well.

Charles is also a few hundred dollars away from getting his license back, and has already purchased his own vehicle. He is now taking marriage counseling classes, and will be getting married at the end of the summer.

Hear more stories from people like Charles »

Rockville, MD. — For the second year in a row, Goodwill Industries International and Family Circle are teaming up for a Back-to-School Clothing Drive. The goal of the drive is to encourage families to donate their gently used clothing to fund support services that help people facing challenges to finding employment become financially stable and support themselves and their families.

This year’s clothing drives launches on Monday, August 2, and ends on Thursday, September 30, 2010. The two organizations are encouraging people to donate their clothing items to any one of Goodwill’s 3,500 donation centers across the country or schedule their own donation drive at schools, businesses, or anywhere friends and neighbors gather. The partnership will be featured in Family Circle’s September issue, which is dedicated to back-to-school. More information can also be found at http://donate.goodwill.org/familycircle/

Last year, Family Circle readers helped generate 11 million pounds of clothing donations, far exceeding the original goal of 5 million pounds. Once again, moms and dads can use the clothing drive as a way of teaching their kids that donating can make a real difference in someone’s life. Plus, donating also gives clothing a second life by keeping items out of landfills and helping to preserve the environment. The Back-to-School clothing drive will help to support Goodwill’s new Donate Movement, a public awareness initiative powered by Goodwill® that inspires consumers and businesses to promote the positive impact donating has on people and the planet.

“Family Circle is happy to partner with Goodwill for the second year in a row for our Back-to-School Clothing Drive,” said Family Circle Publisher Diane Papazian. “Family Circle readers are dedicated to getting involved in their communities and giving back. This is a great way to do so.”

Find your local Goodwill store or donation center, donate what you no longer need, then calculate the impact of your donation through the Donation Impact Calculator at http://donate.goodwill.org. The calculator will show you how your donated goods become jobs. For example:

• One bicycle, one coat and one DVD provide a person with one hour of on-the-job training.
• One working computer provides 5.3 hours of career counseling.
• Six shirts and two pairs of jeans provide one hour of a job search class.