Laura Pickett Receives Volunteer Board Leader of the Year Award
INDIANAPOLIS — Laura Pickett, a member of the board of directors of Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, is the 2017 recipient of Goodwill Industries International’s Volunteer Board Leader of the Year award. In announcing the award, the organization recognized Pickett for her skills in project management, fundraising, public speaking and strategic planning.
“The Greek derivation of philanthropy is love of humanity,” said Laura Pickett. “The opportunity to volunteer for Goodwill’s mission is an honor — a simple, individual act to build momentum in humanitarianism.”
Pickett chairs the Goodwill’s Mission Committee of the Young Leaders Board. In this role, she spreads the mission of Goodwill through internal and external engagement. Her volunteer work with graduating high school students from the organization’s Excel Center has been especially meaningful. She has reviewed résumés that have led to job placements and worked one-on-one with students conducting mock interviews. She also led the board in developing a new grant process, called Innovation Grant, which surpassed its fundraising goal in 2016, its first year.
“Laura Pickett’s leadership and innovative contributions to our organization have surpassed what I could expect from any of our board members,” said Kent Kramer, president and CEO of Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana. “She is a pleasure to work with, and I am proud to have such a talented, compassionate advocate in our community.”
In addition to serving on Goodwill’s Young Leaders Board, Pickett was recently named executive director of Philanthropic Operations, a new role within the Office of Mission & Values at Indiana University Health. In her role, Pickett creates and leads integrated philanthropic operations for the state, working with colleagues at more than a dozen IU Health foundations and offices of gift development to evolve and unify funding priorities for the IU health system.
“This award highlights Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is doing in our communities,” said Crystal Hinson Miller, IU Health chief philanthropy officer. “Goodwill has involved smart people on its Young Leaders Board to inform outreach and engagement. It is this type of collaborative decision-making that powers visionary thinking, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that Laura Pickett is being recognized for her leadership, civic engagement and innovation as the recipient of this prestigious award.”
The award, which recognizes superior service to a local Goodwill organization by a volunteer member of its board of directors, was presented at Goodwill Industries International’s annual Delegate Assembly in Louisville, KY, on Monday, June 26.
CONTACT:
Cindy Graham
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
Cell: (317) 459-4162
[email protected]
Lauren Lawson-Zilai
Senior Director, Public Relations
Phone: (240) 333-5266
[email protected]
About Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana changes lives every day by empowering people to increase their independence and reach their potential through education, health and employment. The organization serves 39 Indiana counties and operates more than 70 retail locations, as well as charter schools for adults and youth, a maternal-child health program, a child care center and more.
About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 162 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 13 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities. GII was also ranked by Enso as the #1 brand doing the most good in the world for two consecutive years, and was the only nonprofit brand rated in Forbes’ 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years. Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that create job training programs, employment placement and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,200 stores collectively and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill organizations also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food services preparation, and document imaging and shredding. Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed more than 312,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 35 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills, and more than 2 million people received in person services. To learn more, visit goodwill.org.
For more information or 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 or Instagram: GoodwillIntl.
