Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA Honored with the 2014 Goodwill Volunteer Program of the Year Award
Macon, GA — Last year, more than 900 trained volunteers gave 38,000 hours to help Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA carry out critical mission services. This cadre of dedicated volunteers, dubbed GForce, has been named Goodwill Industries International’s 2014 Volunteer Program of the Year.
Recognizing the value of volunteerism, the Goodwill formalized its program by hiring two full-time and two part-time employees who recruit, train, place, and evaluate all volunteers. The program has evolved to focus on volunteer placement in mission services programs, which means more one-on-one support for job seekers at the Job Connection Centers and additional tutors to serve more individuals in Goodwill’s Academic Achievement Centers.
Volunteers also serve as mentors, coordinate donation drives, teach classes, speak at community events about Goodwill’s mission, and assist at fundraising events. Many volunteers are bilingual to assist participants in Goodwill’s Buena Vida program.
“Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA has proven itself a leader and innovator in harnessing the power of volunteers,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “GForce is a model program that benefits the agency, its program participants, the individuals who volunteer and the community at large. Other nonprofits could benefit from employing a similar model.”
The award will be presented during Goodwill’s annual Delegate Assembly in Austin, TX, on Sunday, June 29.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Volunteer Program of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding volunteer-driven program at a member Goodwill organization that is mission focused and outcomes oriented. The winning program has a lasting impact on the people Goodwill serves and is a model for other Goodwill organizations to replicate.
