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.

Dear Team Members, Volunteers and Friends of Goodwill,

As you may have already heard, Goodwill suffered a devastating fire at our store and donation center on South Boulevard on Thursday, February 23, resulting in damage to the building and destruction of the contents inside. We remain extremely grateful that the store had closed for the day and no one was inside at the time of the fire.

We have since learned the distressing news that the fire was intentionally set, and the arson task force is actively working to bring the responsible parties to justice. The fact that someone would purposely set out to harm our organization and its team members who call this their work home is deeply troubling and, quite frankly, hard to comprehend. Whatever the motive or intent, we will do what the people of Goodwill always do in the face of life’s challenges: we will press forward and work to overcome these temporary barriers, while continuing to seek the greater good for the people we serve and the community.

I would like to take this opportunity to keep you informed of what we currently know and where we are in our recovery efforts:

• The store and its contents were fully insured and we are working with our insurance carrier to estimate damages and process claims as quickly as possible.
• As part of that process, the building will receive a full inspection to determine the status of the structure and its mechanical and electrical systems. Once we have a clear picture of the extent of the damage, we will determine the viability of remaining at this location and rebuilding, or begin looking for an alternative location.
• We estimate that rebuilding or relocating to an alternative site would take at least six months. In the interim, all the team members at this location have been assigned to other stores to minimize any disruption to their employment. We will meet with these team members later this week to provide additional information and address any concerns.
• We are actively seeking a location on South Boulevard to place a temporary attended donation center and will communicate that location to the public as soon as a site is secured.
• We will continue to encourage the public to support Goodwill by donating to and shopping at our other locations in the region.

I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and expressions of concern we have received. During a challenging time such as this, it is reassuring to know that we live in a community where so many care about helping others and display the utmost generosity in times of crisis. I am also extraordinarily grateful for the dedicated team of professionals that I have the privilege of working with on a daily basis. Since the first alarm went out, our team members jumped into action and have demonstrated great flexibility and ingenuity in responding to this crisis.

Through periodic updates, we will keep you updated about our progress in resolving this matter. If you have suggestions, questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or Holly Cooper, Director of Marketing & Communications. You may reach me at 704.332.0261 or Michael.elder@goodwillsp.org ,  and Holly at 704.332.0262 or holly.cooper@goodwillsp.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Michael Elder

President & CEO

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Charlotte)

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

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is pleased to announce the grand opening of its newest location in Ballantyne on Saturday, Jan. 28. The new retail store and donation center, located at 16025 Lancaster Highway, is the organization’s 21^st store in this region.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 8:30 a.m., followed by music, giveaways and other festivities from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Doors will open to the public at 9:00 a.m. and shoppers will have a chance every hour to win a $250 US Airways gift card.

Goodwill mascot Smiling G will join the Charlotte Checkers’ mascot “Chubby” and the Checkmates to welcome shoppers, pose for fan photos and give away tickets to future Checkers games. Radio stations Kiss 95.1, K104.7, Lite 102.9, Praise 100.9, My 92.7, and the new 103.7 will each be on-hand throughout the day to help provide entertainment and interview shoppers about the new location.

The Ballantyne Goodwill Center will employ 20-25 people and generate approximately $500,000 in wages and sales taxes paid per year. Normal store hours for will be Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds from the sale of donated items at Goodwill’s retail stores fund the organization’s job training and employment programs that assist thousands in the Southern Piedmont region each year. Ninety cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill assist with funding these programs.

Volunteer tax professionals will be available to help through Goodwill's VITA site

Organization is serving as one of five local VITA sites

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service and the Family Financial Literacy Coalition (FFLC), will open its doors next Tuesday to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) for those who qualify.

The organization will operate the VITA site at its Career Development Center at 2122 Freedom Drive in Charlotte during the 2011 tax season, which ends on April 17. The site will be open by appointment only each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for walk-ins.

“Tax season can be difficult to navigate, not only for the more than 44,000 people in Mecklenburg County who are unemployed, but also for their families,” said Jaslyn Roberts, manager of family strengthening at Goodwill. “Serving as a VITA site allows Goodwill to bring together community resources to help taxpayers understand how to make the best financial decisions, which will affect their careers, families and futures.”

Goodwill encourages taxpayers to ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides tax breaks for some working families who earn up to $50,000 and can provide refunds up to $5,751. The IRS estimates that nearly 25 percent of eligible workers do not claim the EITC each year because they lack awareness of the program, cannot afford costly tax preparation fees or fear they will lose public benefits by filing. For more information about the EITC, click here.

To better educate local taxpayers about the EITC and community resources that are available, Goodwill is also hosting two special events at its Freedom Dr. location:

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day
Saturday, Jan. 28 (9 a.m. until 1 p.m.)
Open to all taxpayers, EITC Awareness Day is sponsored by Community Link and will feature education and resources from Goodwill, Wells Fargo, Piedmont Natural Gas and Fifth Third Bank

Veterans Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Appreciation Day
Saturday, Feb. 4 (9 a.m. until 1 p.m.)
Open to veterans (former service members) and their families, this day will include information and resources specific to veterans. Sponsored by Community Link, Veterans EITC Appreciation Day will include participation by Goodwill’s Operation Independence program, The Benefit Bank, and Veteran Services of Mecklenburg Co.

To schedule an appointment for Goodwill’s VITA site, or to see if you qualify for free tax preparation, please call (704) 761-VITA (8482).

Please bring the following items with you:
• Photo ID
• Social Security cards and birth dates for you, your spouse and your dependents (if you file a joint return with your spouse, both of you must be present to sign)
• Wage and earning statements from all employers or income sources for 2011
• Total amounts of itemized deductions (charitable contributions, donations, etc.)
• Bank documents if you would like direct deposit

For more information on VITA sites in our area, visit Community Link.

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.

Goodwill graduates show off their certificates

On Friday, November 18, friends and family gathered at the Carole Hoefener Center in Charlotte to celebrate the graduation of 76 participants from our Occupational Skills Training (OST) programs. With certifications in Banking & Customer Service, Hospitality & Tourism, and Construction & Green Jobs, these graduates are now better prepared to face a tough job market. In fact, several graduates have already been offered jobs and are beginning a new career path.

Class speaker Rashad Jones painted a picture of the hope that he had received at Goodwill. He said of his instructor, “Mr. Thomas had only known me for only a couple of hours, and he was already cheering me on. I was some accustomed to negative responses in life, but the responses were positive at Goodwill.”

Click here to check out more photos from our graduation ceremony and reception.

Class speaker Angelica Hurtado with her family

Representing the Banking & Customer Service class, speaker Angelica Hurtado said, “We found not only great teachers here; they are friends and people who really care and bring us all their knowledge, making us work very hard to improve our skills. They worked with us one by one. I leave this place full of love and gratitude, confident and stronger than ever.”

Congratulations to all of our graduates!