Robert “Bob” May is a veteran of the U.S. armed services and spent a decade homeless, living on riverbanks and wandering along railroad tracks. A divorce had triggered severe depression. He also stopped taking medication for his bi-polar disorder and began drinking heavily and abusing drugs. One day in 1995, a local organization for American veterans with disabilities discovered May living under a bridge and referred him to the Goodwill Serving Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa in Omaha. He was initially hired as a custodian and, today, works as an equipment repair technician. As part of Goodwill’s commercial services program with NISH/AbilityOne, he restores and repairs a wide array of janitorial equipment at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
Volunteer Program of the Year
Men at Work African-American Male Mentor Group Goodwill Industries of Denver (CO) When a resource counselor at Goodwill Industries® of Denver saw that, without caring adult mentors to offer guidance, African-American males at a local high school faced multiple personal struggles, the agency created the Men at Work African-American Male Mentor Group. This year, Goodwill
Volunteer Leader of the Year
When William ‘Bill’ Carver first approached Goodwill of North Georgia to volunteer, he committed to one, seven-hour day each week at the agency’s Woodstock Career Center. He has been a Goodwill volunteer for only 18 months but has far exceeded his original goal. For his commitment to volunteerism and the Goodwlll® mission, Carver has been honored by Goodwill Industries International with the 2011 Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year Award.
Community Guidelines
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Success Story: Candy Nunez-Jura
Alcohol abuse and violence were a part of Candy Nunez-Jura’s childhood. She and her younger sisters would hide in the family car to escape from her father’s abuse. At age 18, Candy became pregnant and got married. Her new husband was also abusive. After several years and the birth of her second child, Candy left her abusive husband and had a difficult time finding a job and supporting her family as a single mother. She suffers from dyslexia, therefore, never learned to read or write and struggled with severe arthritis in her hands.
Goodwill's Heritage, Mission, Vision and Values
Our Heritage “Friends of Goodwill, be dissatisfied with your work until every handicapped and unfortunate person in your community has an opportunity to develop to his fullest usefulness and enjoy a maximum of abundant living.” — Dr. Edgar J. Helms, 1941 Our Mission Goodwill® works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals
READ MORE from Goodwill's Heritage, Mission, Vision and Values
Goodwill’s History
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given
Success Story: Eddie Leonard
Eddie Leonard is passionate about Goodwill. Eddie was once an active high school athlete and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He lived overseas while working for the Department of Defense and later worked as a supervisor with an agency that served youth and group homes in his home state. Eddie was once an active high school athlete and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He lived overseas while working for the Department of Defense and later worked as a supervisor with an agency that served youth and group homes in his home state.
Success Story: James Bennett
James Bennett dreamed of playing professional basketball. He was a talented player and was scouted by local high schools. But that dream ended in January 2005, when he was shot in the head and spine, leaving him with partial paralysis, because he was mistaken for a gang member's rival. James spent a month in the hospital and five months in rehabilitation. His school system failed to reassign him to a new school. He sat at home for three years, started using drugs and slipped into depression. Then, shortly after he turned 18, his mother abandoned James and his younger siblings.
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