Goodwill® Services Help Hispanic Job Seekers Earn Employment

Rockville, MD – National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15 – October 15, 2014, and Goodwill is highlighting contributions made by America’s growing Hispanic population to the country’s economic and cultural vitality. In America, approximately 55 million Americans identify as Hispanic or Latino — an increase of 30 percent over 2000 Census figures. In 2013, the 165 local Goodwill agencies in the U.S. and Canada helped 225,925 people of Hispanic origin access services geared toward gaining job skills and earning meaningful employment.
Goodwill was founded in 1902 to help immigrants and new Americans in Boston build their work skills and care for their families. Over the past 112 years, Goodwill extended its tradition of building customized employment services to the Hispanic community, helping them navigate the special challenges they face in finding jobs and building their careers. For example, some Goodwill agencies provide English as a second language courses (ESL) as well as specialized courses in computer literacy, GED training and American civics and citizenship, offered in both English and Spanish.
“Goodwill has trained millions of people through employment services, job training and community-based programs,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries International. “In certain places, especially in areas with smaller Hispanic populations, Goodwill is one of the few nonprofit organizations offering specialized employment services to the Hispanic community.”
One such job seeker is Samuel Morales. Samuel served in the U.S. Army for 21 years. Leaving the military was a challenging transition and Samuel worried about finding a job to support himself and his family. He wanted to build his second career, taking care of others. Samuel has just completed the Pharmacy Technician program at the Good Careers Academy at Goodwill of San Antonio. He received education and job training through Goodwill to start a promising new career in a high-demand, high-growth occupation in the San Antonio area. To learn more about Samuel, view this video: www.goodwillsa.org/samuel
“Just as our founder Edgar Helms opened Goodwill’s doors to new Americans in Boston, Goodwill will always be a welcoming place for Hispanics, helping them find ways to build their economic security, “said Gibbons. “Goodwill is especially equipped to help individuals successfully overcome language and literacy challenges, and acquire education and work skills.”
To find your local Goodwill agency in your area, visit goodwill.org.
About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with a presence in 14 other countries. Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in 3,000 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Goodwill also builds revenue and creates jobs by contracting with businesses and government agencies to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2013, more than 9.8 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 83 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.
To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.
CONTACT
Charlene Sarmiento
Public Relations Program Manager
Goodwill Industries International
240-333-5590