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Long-time Board Members Lend Leadership and Expertise to Goodwill Agencies in Houston and San Francisco

Bill J. Kacal and Lawrence V. Wheat Share 2008 Board Leader Award

June 30, 2008

Rockville, MD – With more than 44 years of combined leadership experience on Goodwill Industries® boards of directors, Bill J. Kacal of Houston, TX, and Lawrence V. Wheat of San Francisco, CA, are co-winners of the 2008 Board Leader Award from Goodwill Industries International.

Kacal, regional managing partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Houston, has served on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries^® of Houston (TX) for 18 years and the last two years as its chairman. Kacal provided leadership for the Goodwill as it moved from a period of declining retail store sales and revenues to one of growth and prosperity. He and other key leaders spearheaded a $15 million capital campaign with half of the total raised in less than a year. Kacal’s vision led to a board-approved “no debt” policy and a goal of opening 25 stores and accompanying donation centers in the next five years to help Goodwill Houston become self-sustaining through operations.

Kacal also serves on the international board of Goodwill Industries International^® and on the executive committee for the Sam Houston Area Council for the Boy Scouts of America. He is an advisory director for the Tech Texas University School of Banking.

Wheat, a retired CPA, has been an enthusiastic supporter and board member of Goodwill Industries^® of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties since 1982. Prior to that, Wheat served on the board of Goodwill Industries^® of Hawaii from 1977 to 1982. He has also served on the international board of Goodwill Industries International as the treasurer and chair of the finance, planning and nominating committees.

Wheat was instrumental in the agency’s capital campaign following the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, which destroyed the San Francisco Goodwill’s headquarters. He led his board of directors through a recasting of its governance and committee model in order to make the board more accountable and establish a clear relationship with staff. Wheat created a governance tool, Board of Directors’ Plan for Discharging Responsibilities, which was adopted by the international board of Goodwill Industries International. He is active in the animal rights movement and owns a vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco.

“The expertise and vision of local Goodwill board members have been essential to the health and growth of the Goodwill movement as a whole,” says Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Bill and Larry are outstanding examples of volunteers who combine business acumen and passion to better their organizations.”

The Board Leader Award is given in recognition of outstanding leadership and service to a member Goodwill organization. The award is given to an officer or member of a local Goodwill board of directors, board committee or advisory group who has served a member Goodwill organization in a voluntary capacity.

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