Category: The Goodwill Blog

For policy wonks like me, 2016 is off to an exciting start. Congress wrapped up 2015 without shutting down the government, a threat of falling off a “fiscal cliff” is no longer looming, and there is a new speaker of the House. Of course this year there is a presidential election and a number of lawmakers have announced their retirements at the end of this congressional session, providing an opportunity for Goodwill® advocates to make new connections with policymakers.

READ MORE from Get to Know Goodwill’s® Legislative Priorities and Become an Advocate

As we enter a new year, it's important to reflect on where we are as an organization and whether our efforts are as effective and far-reaching as they could be. With that in mind, it's my pleasure to introduce you to our new blog, Social Good. Goodwill® has been devoted to social good for more than 113 years with a core focus on providing employment services to local job seekers. Moving forward, we want to ensure that we continue to be a leading voice and a force for change on a grand scale, bringing the issues that are important to Goodwill to the forefront of a national dialogue.

READ MORE from Introducing Social Good: Our New Digital Series Promoting Big-Picture Social Change

It’s the first day of a new year. 365 days stretch out before us with all the shimmering promise of good intention. In a few weeks, you may find yourself hitting a wall and slipping back into old habits no matter how much you swore you would do better this year to work toward your goals (whatever they may be). To help you combat that mid-January battle to keep your resolutions, we’ve got a few tips.

READ MORE from Find Success in 2016 with Any Resolution

Goodwill Industries of Tenneva (Kingsport, TN) program participant and employee Matthew McCurry shares how his life has changed since being introduced to the organization.

READ MORE from My Story: Matthew McCurry

Here are some career and financial advice articles published this month—read each piece, share your thoughts, and join GoodProspects to take advantage of everything at Goodwill’s online career navigation portal!

READ MORE from Career and Financial Advice for December 2015

Last week, as Hollywood celebrated the much-anticipated film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, people in Washington, DC (or as I like to call it, “Hollywood for Geeks”), celebrated the end of the year’s Congressional session with the passage of a $1.1 trillion spending bill along with a tax extenders bill. Having just purchased my tickets for The Force Awakens, the DC geek in me can’t help but feel as though the credits are rolling on the second part of a three-part Congressional trilogy.

READ MORE from May the Force Awaken in Congress

ForTheFit.com, a company that designs, manufactures and sells short men’s clothes (under 5’9”) and tall men’s clothing (over 6 feet, slim to big), recently donated 1,400 pairs of new athletic pants to Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan (Traverse City). The pants, which are made of heavy fleece and jersey, regularly retail for $53,200 — or $38 per pair.

READ MORE from ForTheFit.com Donates 1,400 Pairs of Athletic Pants to Traverse City, MI Goodwill

As the end of 2015 approaches, it’s natural to begin contemplating changes and improvements for the new year ahead. The ringing in of 2016 isn’t just about throwing a great party – although, let’s be honest, going the extra mile to find fun dress and décor is a wonderful way to start on a positive

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Tis’ the season of giving, and it appears that Congress has delivered a gift to individual taxpayers and the charitable sector this week. While negotiating a budget deal to keep the government open, lawmakers were also negotiating the extension of a number of tax provisions (52 to be exact), which were set to expire at the end of the year. The tax agreement passed the House on Thursday. The Senate is likely to pass the bill on Friday. Some of the provisions in the agreement were made permanent while others would be reinstated through 2019, reinstated through 2016, or phased out over time.

READ MORE from Taxpayers Receive a Special Gift Just in Time for the Holidays

The Aspen Institute’s Workforce Strategies Initiatives (AspenWSI) and Achieving the Dream recently released a new case study, titled“Working Together, Making a Difference”, which highlights the partnership between Goodwill Industries of the Valleys (Roanoke) and Virginia Western Community College. The partnership is part of the Courses to Employment project.

READ MORE from Roanoke Goodwill Featured in National Publication for Workforce Development

One of my favorite ways to save time is to shop online, yet one of my least favorite jobs is breaking down the cardboard boxes that show up when my stuff is delivered! And while I love to get new things, I also follow the “One In, One Out” rule, so for everything new, something else gets donated to Goodwill®.

READ MORE from How to Make More Room for New Stuff

It isn’t often that I get sucked into YouTube, watching one video after another, but I have to admit that I get hopelessly lost whenever I start watching $5 Goodwill Challenge videos. Tonight was especially bad because two of my loves were combined: Goodwill and Christmas. But how could I help myself? It turns out that there are some truly posh holiday displays shared online designed around Goodwill finds. Here are a few.

READ MORE from Take a Goodwill® Challenge