News

The U.S. Department of Labor's $7.3 million award to Goodwill Industries International as a part of its Pathways Out of Poverty Grants program will provide a will provide a major boost in needed operations funding to Goodwill of Central Arizona's efforts to Put People to Work.

Goodwill of Central Arizona is one of six member organizations that were included in the Goodwill Goes Green (G³) proposal. According to Lisa Kizer, Vice President of Workforce Development, our agency will receive $1.5 million in funds that will allow Goodwill of Central Arizona to serve about 200 people.

Jason Kerns, 25, is confident that his experiences with Goodwill during the past seven months have set him on a path of success for life.

Kerns, who has lived in Arizona for two years, was having a difficult time finding work before he visited the Goodyear Career Center in June 2009.

"I spent a lot of time looking for work on my own before I came to the Goodwill Career Center," said Kerns.

In partnership with the Maricopa County's Juvenile Public Defender's Office, Goodwill of Central Arizona supports youth offenders by putting the law to work on the side of youth program participants.

Consumers may drop off computers for recycling at any Goodwill location

Goodwill of Central Arizona and Dell have expanded the company’s existing ReConnect program, designed to enable consumers to responsibly recycle any brand of unwanted computers and computer accessories at no cost, to Arizona. Revenue generated from the recycled computer equipment supports Goodwill’s job training programs, workforce development and placement services and other community-based programs for people with barriers to employment.

Goodwill of Central Arizona President and CEO Jim Teter visited the KFNN 1510 Financial News Radio studios on Tuesday for the “Business for Breakfast” segment with Ken Morgan and Julie Dougherty.

Goodwill of Central Arizona has opened eight convenient, temporary donation drop-off sites throughout the Valley. The sites will be open through Jan. 31, 2010 and will allow Valley residents to easily drop-off unwanted household items, clothing and electronics. Goodwill needs donations to continue to help central Arizona’s disadvantaged youth and adults and 100 percent of the dollars raised from community donations stay with the Goodwill organization.

Goodwill recently welcomed six members to its board of directors: Donald Beaver, Senior Vice President and CIO for PetSmart; Dr. Victoria Jones, Diversity Officer Vice President for Apollo Group; Steve Kedzior, Senior Vice President, Field Sales and Services, Insight; Al Maag, Chief Communications Officer for Avnet; Chris Koziol, Managing Director of Mission Advisory Services and Dr. Jim McGovern, President for National Municipal Advisors, LLC.

The Fall 2009 edition of GoodStuff - a Quarterly Newsletter for Friends, Partners and Clients of Goodwill of Central Arizona - is hot off the presses!

You will be able to find copies at our stores and Career Centers this week. We are also sending GoodStuff to approximately 5,800 e-mail subscribers.

GoodStuff is another excellent communication tool that will help the public keep up with the latest and greatest stories about Goodwill and how we are impacting Arizona’s communities.

The green collar economy may not be new, but as the United States continues to research the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency, the industry is on the brink of a revolution.

The Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ, co-founders of the “Best Places to Work” list, recently announced that Goodwill of Central Arizona has been named to the 2009 list in the Large Company-sized category. Goodwill, an organization that has been successful in its Commitment to Put People to Work, is also dedicated to fostering a positive work environment for its 1,345 employees.