Delaware Goodwill awarded during Goodwill’s annual Spring Conference
Wilmington, DE — Goodwill Industries of Delaware and Delaware County (Wilmington) has been announced as one of three local Goodwill® organizations to be designated as a 2017 Center of Excellence.
Goodwill Industries of Delaware and Delaware County was recognized for its GOODworks program, a work-based learning experience offering career exploration activities, interest inventories, and an introduction to the retail and customer service fields. The goal of this program is to provide students with disabilities, ages 14 to 21, an opportunity to transition to meaningful employment after graduation.
The program has drastically increased community awareness of the programs that Goodwill provides and has expanded its service reach. GOODWorks started as a summer pilot program and now spans across five school districts and two counties, with three of its own retail locations. Students are currently on a wait list, eager for a chance to participate in the program.
“The GOODworks program is so important to our fulfilling mission through community and family strengthening,” said Colleen Morrone, president and CEO of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County. “In only three years, we have provided job training and employment skills to countless Delaware youth and young adults who otherwise likely would not have received it.”
In addition to GOODworks, Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County provides training for job opportunities from sustainability cleaning to working as a cashier, as well as financial coaching, among other services.
“Goodwill Industries International understands how important it is to provide meaningful employment opportunities to youth and young adults, especially to those with barriers to employment,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “What Goodwill Industries of Delaware and Delaware County is doing with the GOODworks program is remarkable, and we are proud to recognize the organization as a 2017 Center of Excellence.”
Goodwill Industries of Delaware and Delaware County was recognized as a Center of Excellence at Goodwill’s Spring Conference in Sarasota, FL, alongside two other organizations:
- Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County (Long Beach, CA)
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Louisiana (New Orleans)
In recognition of their achievement and three-year designations, the local Goodwill organizations each received a $2,500 award and a plaque recognizing its exemplary work.
CONTACT:
Colleen Morrone
President and Chief Executive Officer
Goodwill Industries of Delaware and Delaware County
Phone: (302) 504.5734
[email protected]
CONTACT:
Savanna Mickens
Public Relations Specialist
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5293
[email protected]
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF DELAWARE AND DELAWARE COUNTY
Goodwill is one of the largest employers in Delaware, providing jobs to nearly 1,000 individuals. We devote 90 cents of every dollar to our mission of improving the quality of life for people with barriers to self-sufficiency through the “Power of Work.”
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 162 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities. GII was also ranked by Enso as the #1 brand doing the most good in the world for two consecutive years, and was the only nonprofit brand rated in Forbes’ 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years. Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that create job training programs, employment placement and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,200 stores collectively and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill organizations build revenues and create jobs by contracting with commercial, state, government and non-government organizations to provide a wide range of business services, including manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, packaging, assembly, food preparation, document management, groundskeeping and administrative. Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed more than 288,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 38 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills, and more than 1.7 million people received in person services. To learn more, visit goodwill.org.
