Category: The Goodwill Blog

Last week, approximately 160 people representing Goodwill agencies all across the country came to Washington to inform members of Congress about how Goodwill helps people who have employment challenges to find jobs and advance in careers. They noted that many of our achievements depend on a public-private partnership that exists between Goodwill and government programs that leverage our resources and expertise. Unfortunately, this public-private partnership is becoming lopsided. Over the course of the past decade, we have aggressively worked to increase our capacity to do more, while government resources have steadily declined.

READ MORE from Goodwill’s Capacity Is Increasing: Can Policymakers Hold Up Their End of the Deal?

Mallorie from Bakersfield, CA, asks, “I’ve been applying for jobs for several months now with no luck. All of these ‘no’s and lack of responses are making me feel pretty hopeless. What am I supposed to do?”

READ MORE from Three Strategies for Managing Rejection in Your Job Search

Jim Gibbons at Sarnia receptionOn May 5, Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Hines performed a free concert to kick off a year-long 80th anniversary celebration of Goodwill Industries – Essex Kent Lambton (Sarnia, ON). HVM Holdings and Glenn Recycling sponsored the concert, which was held at the Imperial Theatre. On May 6, Jim Gibbons, the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, spoke at a breakfast hosted by the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

READ MORE from Sarnia Goodwill Kicks Off Year-Long Anniversary with Free Concert and Welcome Luncheon

When Keith came to Goodwill, he brought a history of substance abuse and a criminal background with him. He embraced the chance to make a change in his life, rising through five promotions to be an assistant director of plant operations. Today, he says he enjoys the opportunity to give new people the same chance he was given to succeed.

READ MORE from My Story – Keith Buckley

Today, Goodwill® advocates from around the country will visit Capitol Hill and meet with hundreds of lawmakers to advocate for federal investments in programs that leverage Goodwill and benefit the people we serve, and the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). You can take part in the Goodwill on the Hill Virtual Advocacy Day to make your voice heard!

READ MORE from Join the Goodwill® on the Hill Virtual Advocacy Day!

Helen from Astoria, NY, asks, “I overheard one of the women I work with complaining to another coworker that I send too many emails. I’m just trying to make sure I cover all of my bases and that my boss sees that I’m working. Tell me what you think.”

READ MORE from Five Tips for Using Email Effectively in the Workplace

A cadre of more than 300 volunteers dedicated 25,000 hours in 2012 to spreading the mission of Goodwill Industries-Manasota (Sarasota, FL). Ambassadors from the program routinely speak with service clubs, faith-based organizations, professional associations, youth groups and others to build awareness of Goodwill’s programs and services, as well as Goodwill’s contribution to the community.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Advances Mission in Florida with Support from Volunteers

Jia Fang Deng was diagnosed with a degenerative condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis Arthritis. After his friends and family started to remove themselves from his life, Jia recognized he needed to make a change. Jia received training and learned skills that made him employable. Now, he works with students with disabilities to teach self-sufficiency to others.

READ MORE from My Story: Jia Fang Deng

This Sunday marks the annual praising-of-the-moms day. If you’re anything like me, you’ve waited until the last minute. But here’s a quick rundown ideas if you’re still unsure of what to do -- ones that won’t break the budge

READ MORE from Get Thrifty with Mom This Mother’s Day

This Sunday marks the annual praising-of-the-moms day. If you’re anything like me, you’ve waited until the last minute. But here’s a quick rundown ideas if you’re still unsure of what to do -- ones that won’t break the budge

READ MORE from Get Thrifty with Mom This Mother's Day

In the spirit of Goodwill Industries Week, a time when Goodwill® celebrates the power of work, I’d like to take a break from my usual focus on the week’s pressing issues in order to consider important lessons we can learn from Goodwill’s origins. Just as it did for Progressive Era pioneers like Helms, today's success depends on vision, faith, luck and leadership.

READ MORE from Empowering People to Work Depends on Inspiring Change

Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County (Long Beach) is now in the seventh year of its Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide training program. Between 2008 and 2012, nearly 900 people have been trained through this program, an 11-week program combining classroom instruction with hands on clinical training. These students in cohorts of 10-20 people receive the clinical training by Long Beach School for Adults instructors with weekly tests. They then attend an employer’s breakfast — set up “speed dating” style — that allows them to meet one-on-one with employers looking to hire.

READ MORE from Health Care Industry Training Enables Path to Self Sufficiency in California