Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Forbes recently released a list of America’s 25 Most Inspiring Companies that included Goodwill® this year for the first time.

The list was based on results from consulting firm Performance Inspired, Inc., which surveyed 2,175 consumers online to identify these “most inspiring” companies. These consumers responded by explaining the five companies they found most inspirational and why.

The Forbes article quoted Terry Barber, chief inspiration officer for Performance Inspired, as saying: “Consumers are really appreciative of the Goodwill retail stores and the perceived feel-good value they are bringing to local communities.”

According to a separate Forbes article, Goodwill was one of the smaller companies on the list that did well because of a good story behind the name.

“Goodwill has a tried and true history of being a household name and respected brand,” said Kim Zimmer, chief communications officer and senior VP of global affairs at Goodwill Industries International. “Consumers have come to understand that by shopping and donating at your local Goodwill store, they are investing in their local community.”

The research shows that consumers feel more inspired—and spend more at companies that inspire them—than ever before. In general, 92 percent of respondents said they felt inspired to share their experiences with others and another 86 would recommend the company to friends and family. Nearly 40 percent of respondents said that the nonprofit sector has a major role to play in making the world a better place.

Perhaps the most encouraging statistic? More than 70 percent of respondents said they would spend more money on a company that inspires them.

Keep up with more Goodwill news by following our blog, WOWGoodwill.com!

What: Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is hosting a back-to-school donation drive this weekend at the Park Road shopping center. As families prepare for their children for school, Goodwill wants to remind the community that by donating unwanted items and de-cluttering your home, you are helping others in our community through job training and employment programs.

Take advantage of this opportunity to drop off any clothing, shoes, coats, household items, computers or other electronics, small appliances and more to a convenient location. Receipts will be available to all donors.

When: Saturday, August 11, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where: Park Road Shopping Center (Harris Teeter parking lot)

Corner of Park Road and Woodlawn Road

Charlotte, NC

A graduate of the Construction Skills Training program receives his certificate

On Friday, July 7, Goodwill celebrated with 42 Occupational Skills Training program students as they graduated from their programs in Banking & Customer Service, Hospitality & Tourism, and Construction Skills Training. Held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the graduation featured keynote speaker Rev. Roderick Ewell and graduate representatives from each class. For an in-depth look at what was shared at this celebration, click here to read our blog. Congratulations to all of the graduates!

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has chosen Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, as the recipient of the 2012 Jack Callaghan Cornerstone Award. The highest honor given by Goodwill, the award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a passionate commitment to helping people who face barriers to employment, independence, and self-sufficiency.

Zeiss will receive the award at Goodwill’s annual Cornerstone Celebration, presented by Wells Fargo, on Thursday, May 24. The event will take place at The Westin Charlotte, beginning at 11:45 a.m. Established in 1994, the Cornerstone Celebration luncheon honors individuals and corporations for their support of Goodwill’s mission.
The Cornerstone Award is named after Jack Callaghan, the first recipient of the honor. Callaghan was a television personality at WSOC-TV and station manager. He played a leadership role in numerous local, state and national community service organizations, including Goodwill. Callaghan contracted polio later in his life, and became a passionate advocate for people who experience barriers to employment and independence.

Also during the event, Elizabeth Cobb will receive Goodwill’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Since 2007, Cobb has generously given more than 400 hours of her time as an Achieve Global trainer in Goodwill’s Occupational Skills Training (OST) courses, directly impacting nearly 1,000 students. Last year, Cobb was awarded a paid leave-of-absence by Wells Fargo, and she chose to spend six weeks with Goodwill, working tirelessly to advocate for Goodwill graduates.

The organization’s Corporate Champion awards will be given to Microsoft Corporation and Chartwells – UNC Charlotte. Microsoft awarded Goodwill with an Elevate America grant, which funded the organization’s Operation Independence programs for military veterans and their families, and has continued to provide software, funding and training to help Goodwill equip individuals with basic and more advanced technology skills.
Chartwells, a member of Charlotte-based Compass Group North America, provides dining services for UNC Charlotte as well as 230 other higher education establishments across the country. The organization has been working with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont since 2008, and has hired more than 35 individuals with disabilities with the help of the organization’s Vocational Coaching Services program.

Edwin Vazquez, Allen Taylor and Lisa Obeid will be honored with Good Work! awards.

About the CPCC/Goodwill Partnership
For more than 40 years, CPCC has served as a strategic partner with Goodwill in developing community workforce development programs. Together, CPCC and Goodwill have served nearly 600 individuals through a joint construction training program since 2007. The organizations also partner to serve area military veterans and their family members through the Operation Independence program, which is delivered on-site both at Goodwill’s Career Development Center and through CPCC’s Veterans Resource Center. The two organizations also partner to offer GED preparation courses.

CEO announces plan to rebuild store, will begin collecting donations today

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont announced its plan to rebuild the retail store and donation center located at 6607 South Blvd. in Charlotte, one month after arson destroyed the existing store. An attended donation center has temporarily been placed at the site, and the organization is encouraging residents to donate gently used clothing, household items, electronics, toys, sports equipment or small appliances to prepare for the new store.

“Our South Blvd. store employs about 20 people and generates approximately $500,000 in wages and benefits paid per year – a significant economic impact on this community,” said Michael Elder, President and CEO. “For these reasons, we have decided not to move this location, but to rebuild our store right here on South Blvd. This is a vibrant business corridor that has supported our store since it opened in 1993, and we want to make sure we continue to support business growth and vitality here.”

The new retail store and donation center will include many of the updated features from Goodwill’s newer-model stores, such as those recently opened in Ballantyne and Rock Hill. It will feature a fresh, modern design and incorporate environmentally-friendly elements including recycled materials, new fixtures and flooring.

Goodwill has already begun cleanup efforts, and expects to be fully operational at this site in 4-5 months. In the meantime, the organization is encouraging residents to bring their donations to help stock the new store. Store updates will be posted to our website, so stay tuned!

Charlotte Art League Gallery features art by students with disabilities

The Charlotte Art League (CAL) kicked off its fifth annual “Color My Dreams” exhibit on Friday, March 2 with an evening reception honoring local artists who are part of the Employment Skills Training program at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. The artists, many of whom face intellectual, physical or mental disabling conditions, have spent months creating more than 70 pieces of art that will be displayed and available for purchase, including drawings, paintings and mosaics.

The art will be displayed at the Charlotte Art League Gallery, 1517 Camden Road, through the month of March, with proceeds directly benefiting the artists.

“Our students look forward to this show every year,” said Diane Weekley, director of vocational services for Goodwill. “Exploring art helps these students build confidence and life skills that will help them in their future jobs and in becoming independent.”

CAL volunteers have spent countless hours teaching art methods to Goodwill’s participants and helping develop and reinforce their confidence and self-management skills. Funding for the program is provided in part by a cultural arts project grant from the Arts & Science Council. Goodwill’s Employment Skills Training program provides 12 to 18 months of job skills training to help individuals gain and keep competitive employment. Students range in age from 19 to 60.

The Charlotte Art League is a nonprofit adult arts organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts experience and fostering emerging fine and commercial artists through community exposure, networking, education and interaction with fellow artists. The show will also include works by people with developmental disabilities who work with Goodwill partner UMAR. March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

If you would like to attend (March 2 through March 31): The exhibit is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Call 704-376-2787 for more information, or visit www.charlotteartleague.org.

We experienced a fire at our Goodwill South Boulevard Retail Store and Donation Center, located at 6607 South Blvd. in Charlotte,  last night at approximately 10 p.m. We are grateful that there were no injuries, and no team members were inside the building at the time of the fire.

Based on preliminary investigation by a joint task force of the Charlotte Fire Department and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, it appears that a break-in occurred and that the fire was set intentionally. The incident is under active investigation. The damage has been categorized as a total loss, and this location will be closed until further notice.

We are thankful for the quick and comprehensive response from the fire department, police, and the American Red Cross, who were all on scene immediately and throughout the night.

Our store employees will be reassigned temporarily to other area locations, and no one will lose their employment status. Shoppers and donors are encouraged to visit one of our other 20 locations or attended donation centers. Our Career Development Center at 2122 Freedom Drive will be open, as will our other five job center locations, so our clients will be able to receive services as usual.

The best way for the community to support us at this point is to continue donating and shopping at our other locations. We are so grateful for your support and we will continue to update you via our website as we receive information. Any questions related to the investigation will be directed to the Charlotte Fire Department Office of Public Affairs.

- Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Country’s First-Ever ReHouse Project a Model of Affordable Green Building in Villa Heights

The unique renovation of a vacant home by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and Habitat Charlotte will be open to the public just hours after a VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 10:00am on Saturday February 18^th.

In what is believed to be the first such project of its kind in the country, the two nonprofits joined forces to transform a foreclosed home in the Villa Heights community into a model of energy efficiency in the affordable housing sector.

Aptly named the Goodwill/Habitat ReHouse, the house has been rehabbed, remade and repurposed for a Habitat Charlotte family in waiting.

The home was donated to Habitat last year by the City of Charlotte. When Goodwill sought on-the-job training for students in their recently launched Construction Services program, the house afforded the right opportunity. As presenting sponsor, Lowe’s Companies awarded a significant grant to provide energy-saving building materials, and Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas joined the effort as supporting sponsors.

Stephanie Thornton, Habitat Charlotte homeowner-in-process, will purchase the house with a no-interest mortgage, and is expected to move in with her daughter this spring when her sweat equity requirements are completed.

Who: City of Charlotte leadership, Lowe’s, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Villa Heights Community Organization will join Habitat and Goodwill officials

What: ReHouse ribbon cutting and Open House

When: Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10:00am

Where: 2420 Barry Street, in Charlotte’s Villa Heights community

Visuals: Photo opportunities of City and business leaders, volunteers, and future homeowner family

For more information, visit www.rehousecharlotte.com

For many Charlotte-area residents, the gift of employment would be the greatest gift of all this holiday season. The latest unemployment figures from the N.C. Department of Commerce show that the Charlotte metropolitan region’s unemployment rate continues to hover above 10 percent. Job training and employment programs offered through Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont are more critical than ever for local job seekers who have been searching for employment for months or even years.

Every donation makes a difference for local individuals who need employment. Ninety cents out of every dollar spent at one of Goodwill’s 20 local retail stores goes to help fund these important employment programs, which are offered free of charge to local job seekers.

“Whether they recognize it or not, Goodwill donors and shoppers are making an investment in our local community,” said Holly Cooper, director of marketing and communications for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “These supporters have made 2011 a better year for more than 15,000 individuals in our area who have taken advantage of job training, career services and other community-based Goodwill programs.”

Donated goods and financial contributions made by the end of the year are eligible for a 2011 tax deduction. Donors interested in claiming tax deductions should keep itemized lists of their donations. The Internal Revenue Service allows a deduction for each item, but the donor determines each item’s value.

Goodwill’s Donation Center attendants will provide all donors with a receipt for their tax records. If donors are unsure whether a particular item qualifies for a tax deduction, they should consider whether they would give it to a relative or friend. If the answer is yes, then the item is most likely in good condition and is appropriate to donate. For guidelines or to calculate the impact of a donation, click here.

Opened November 1999

Goodwill celebrated the grand re-opening of its Lancaster Retail Store and Donation Center on Thursday, August 18.

The store had just completed extensive interior renovations, including new fixtures, merchandising, signage and colorful graphics. The upgrades are part of Goodwill’s commitment to make every shopping trip an inviting and enjoyable experience for customers.

Proceeds from the sale of donated items at all Goodwill retail stores fund the organization’s job training and employment programs that assist thousands in the Southern Piedmont region each year.

To mark the event, Goodwill offered 30 percent off everything in the store all day Thursday. Shoppers received free refreshments and giveaways from 9:30 a.m. until noon to thank them for attending. Goodwill mascot “Smiling G” was on hand to greet the public and take photos.

The store, located at 1142 Highway 9 Bypass in Lancaster, opened in 1999. For more information on this location, visit the Lancaster Retail Store and Donation Center web page or call 803-313-9881.