OVERVIEW

Network of 183 independent, community-based organizations in the U.S., Canada, and 14 other countries.

Provides job training and employment services, job placement opportunities and post-employment support.

Strengthens communities and families by training people to become independent, tax-paying members of society.

2008 HIGHLIGHTS

1.525 million people benefited from Goodwill career services.

172,317 people placed in jobs – that’s every 42 seconds of every business day.

$3.25 billion total revenue.

84 percent of revenues funded employment programs and support services.

2,300+ retail stores and an online auction site, www.shopgoodwill.com.

64.4 million donors.

At-Risk Youth Shine in Their Service to Goodwill

Youth Challenge Academy from Camp Long Named 2008 Volunteer Group of the Year Award

June 30, 2008

Rockville, MD – More than 60 cadets from the Youth Challenge Academy from Camp Long, a program for at-risk youth, invested more than 1,000 hours volunteering at Goodwill Industries® of Middle Georgia and the CSRA (Macon, GA) during 2007. The youth are being honored as the 2008 Goodwill Industries International^® Volunteer Group of the Year.

Camp Long is a branch of the South Carolina Youth Challenge Academy in Aiken, SC. The mission of the camp is to “intervene in the lives of at-risk youth between 16 and 18 years of age and produce a program graduate with the values, skills, education and self-discipline to succeed as an adult.”

For more than five years, cadets exhibiting good behavior have been allowed to volunteer at the Macon Goodwill’s retail store in Aiken, SC, where they work side-by-side with Goodwill clients and employees.

“The cadets are instrumental to the success of the store and are an asset to Goodwill’s mission,” says Lucille Dean, manager of the Aiken store. “The time they invest contributes to our ability to train future members of the workforce.”

The mission of the Youth Challenge Academy is aligned with that of Goodwill Industries, which seeks to prepare individuals for the workforce, regardless of any disabilities, lack of education or other obstacles they may face.

“Alliances like the one between the Youth Challenge Academy from Camp Long and the Macon Goodwill are a wonderful example of how seemingly different organizations have similar goals at heart,” says Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “We are pleased to honor efforts to ensure that all youth have an equal opportunity for success.”

The Volunteer Group of the Year Award honors an outstanding Goodwill Industries volunteer group that works in support of a member Goodwill organization.

For free broadcast-quality video, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/Goodwill .

Lauren Lawson
Manager, Media Relations (Media Calls Only)
Phone: (240) 333-5266
Cell:	(240) 388-8309

Charlene Sarmiento
Specialist, Media Relations (Media Calls Only)
Phone: (240) 333-5590
Cell:	(240) 620-7703

For media interviews, e-mail Lauren or Charlene.