Goodwill Industries Week

Help us celebrate Goodwill Industries Week every day

From May 3-9, Goodwill Industries International marks Goodwill Industries Week, a time for local Goodwills to celebrate their successes and educate their communities about their mission—helping people with disabilities and disadvantages find good work.

Each year, Goodwill Industries International honors its:

* Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year -- an outstanding person with a disability or disadvantaging condition who has completed a Goodwill career services program and is employed in the community. Dell, Inc. sponsors the award.

* Achiever of the Year --  an outstanding person with a disability or disadvantaging condition who has shown great progress in overcoming barriers to employment, but still benefits from the Goodwill work environment or receives supportive services. ADP sponsors the award.

Check out a photo gallery of the 2009 nominees (Opens up a new window.)

2009 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year: Janie (Portland, OR):

Janie once used her food stamps and welfare assistance -- along with her daughter’s disability checks -- to support her addictions to meth and alcohol. But after her 24th arrest, she began to turn her life around. While in prison, Janie completed a job-seeking skills program offered by Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette (Portland, OR). After her release from prison, Janie sought additional help from the Goodwill, and eventually landed a job with Oregon Green Landscape.

She credits "Team Goodwill" for her success in the job interview. "I wasn’t there alone," she said. "I pictured…everyone who helped me in the room. I didn’t want to let them down."

2009 Achiever of the Year: James (West Palm Beach, FL):

James’ dream to play high school basketball shattered in January 2005, when he was mistaken for a gang member and shot in the head and spine. Partially paralyzed, he went into a downward spiral that led to depression and drug use.

James decided to rewrite his future, enrolling in the traumatic brain injury program at Gulfstream Goodwill Industries (West Palm Beach, FL). At the end of the program, Goodwill hired James as a receptionist, where he answers the phone, takes messages, sorts mail, files documents, greets visitors and makes company announcements.

"Goodwill helped put me on the right road," James said. “I have a future and hope. It is the best gift I ever got."

Read more about James' story in the Spring 2009 issue of Working! magazine (PDF).