Richmond Goodwill’s Commitment to Public Policy and Relationship-Building Recognized at Annual Advocacy Event
ROCKVILLE, MD — Goodwill Serving the Communities of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia (Richmond) has been honored with a 2012 Advocacy Leader Award from Goodwill Industries International for its dedication to building relationships with policymakers who help further Goodwill’s mission of putting people in the workforce.
The Richmond Goodwill demonstrated its commitment to public policy in 2011 by scheduling several meetings to educate their representatives in both the state and federal legislatures on topics such as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and vocational rehabilitation funding, re-entry programs that assist people with criminal backgrounds, the AbilityOne Program, and 14c wage-and-hour issues.
In June 2011, the Richmond Goodwill hosted an event during which Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) signed seven pieces of legislation that strengthened re-entry policies in the Commonwealth of Virginia for people with criminal backgrounds. The governor and several dignitaries at the signing recognized Goodwill’s key role in preparing people to return home and become positive contributors to their communities after serving their prison sentences.
Team members from the Goodwill are also present at the annual sessions of the State General Assembly to track legislative priorities that could impact Goodwill’s ability to serve people with disabilities and those with other challenges to finding and maintaining employment.
“The Richmond Goodwill has an impressive track record of being a strong voice in the public policy arena,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “In 2011, the agency met with their U.S. senators and congressmen, several delegates to the State General Assembly, and local leaders to ensure that Goodwill’s legislative priorities are kept on the table.”
The award was presented to the Goodwill during a reception on Tuesday, April 17 at Goodwill Industries International’s sixth annual Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill: “Local to Global: Strengthening Our Community.”
