Living the Mission Spring 2011

Livingthe

Mission

Spring 2011

Brides on a Budget They came, they stood in line for hours, and they saved...big time.

Plus:

Donating Forward SignSolutions Every Piece Counts giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

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Table of Contents Saving Matters Managing Stress I Change Lives Dear Goodwill Microsoft Grants Goodwill $236K Searching for Family Sign Solutions

Have a story idea? E-mail it to Suzanne.Kay-Pittman@givegw.org

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President & CEO - David Lifsey Sr. Dir. of Marketing & Community Relations/Publisher - Karl Houston Writer - Suzanne Kay-Pittman Art Director & Photographer - Scott Bryant Designers - Jeremy Hatfield & Danielle LaVone-Stout Additional Photography - Danielle LaVone-Stout

Paying it Forward Donate Forward A Clean Sweep Fear and Flight from Honduras Wedding Gala Retail Allocation Team Word on the Street

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Living the Mission is a quarterly magazine published by: Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc. 1015 Herman St. Nashville, TN 37208

Living the Mission provides a voice for our clients and employees. While we are happy to share their stories, opinions expressed by the employees and clients in this publication are theirs, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee.

Goodwill’s Mission: We sell donated goods to provide employment and training opportunities for people who have disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.

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giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

Saving Matters D

id you know the average American lives 20 years, or more, after their retirement? That’s a long time. It’s very important to give serious thought now to how you will live when you retire. It’s smart to save now to have more than your Social Security to rely on later.

We all have lots of demands on our income such as rent, credit card debt, car payments and school loans, to name a few. We know how important it is to pay these bills; and planning for your retirement is as important as paying for your current expenses. If you start saving now, even a small amount, your money will have time to grow.

Participating in a retirement plan can provide you with great benefits.

Goodwill understands the importance of saving money for retirement. To support you, and help you plan for the future, Goodwill offers the opportunity to participate in our 403(b) Retirement Plan. All employees can take advantage of this excellent savings opportunity.

Goodwill’s retirement plan lets you save money on a pre-tax basis.

Once you have signed up for the plan, you put money into your retirement account by having Goodwill make a payroll deduction each pay period before income taxes are withheld. This means you pay income taxes on a smaller amount of money, which allows you to put more money into the plan. You decide how much you put into your account, so you have complete control over how much you save.

Goodwill helps you save even more money by awarding you a matching contribution once you are 21 years old, have completed one year of service, and are actively putting money into the plan. For every dollar you put into the retirement plan in 2011, Goodwill will match 100 percent of your contributions up to four percent of your pay. Once you’ve met the plan entry requirements, the match is yours immediately. There is no additional waiting period.

Here’s how it works: • If you make $7.50 an hour/$600 per pay period and you put five percent of your pay/$30.00 into the plan every pay period, then, • Goodwill matches the first four percent of your pay, or $24.00 every pay period, and, •

Your savings are $54.00 every pay period,

• By the end of the first year you will have saved $1,404.00 toward your retirement.

For additional information, or to enroll in the Retirement Plan, please contact a human resources representative at (615)7424151. Our representatives want to help you, and they make enrolling easy. Saving now takes care of you later! It matters.

Managing

Goodwill is dedicated to the wellbeing of our employees. In the spirit of helping you tame your stress, here are some quick stress relief tips: 1. Get active - almost any form of exercise and physical activity can act as a stress reliever.

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ere’s your opportunity to start the year off right by focusing on how to manage what personally causes you stress. What causes stress is different for everyone. Juggling family, finances, work and other priorities are a normal part of life. At times, depending on what is going on, these responsibilities can create stress. In small amounts, stress can be good - it can motivate you and help you be more productive. However, too much stress or a strong reaction to stress, can affect your health. Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems. You control how you manage stress. Effectively managing stress allows you to balance your life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the energy to work well under pressure and meet challenges head on!

2. Meditate - during meditation you focus your attention and remove the many thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress.

3. Sleep - the quality and amount of sleep you get affects your mood, energy level, attention and overall functioning.

4. Journal - writing out thoughts and feelings can be a good release for otherwise unexpressed emotions.

5. Laugh - laughter increases your heart rate and blood pressure, producing a good, relaxed feeling.

giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

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I Change Dear Goodwill,

Lives.

Not all Goodwill clients are ready to transition into the workforce after taking classes through Career Solutions. Some may need more hands-on help and supervision, especially those who have a mental or physical disability. Shemika Rucker and her team of case managers work with clients ensuring they have the support they need to be successful once they are on the job. Clients take part in a six-month transitional program through Career Solutions, and when they are placed in a job, Rucker’s team supports them for another nine months. Rucker’s team includes Lee Anderson who is a program manager in Franklin, Lora McClurkin, a case manager based in Jackson, and three job coaches.

How do you help your clients overcome their challenges?

We give our clients confidence because some may not have an advocate within their family or social network. Some of our clients have been told throughout their lives that they can’t do a task or are incapable of working. We tell them they can do what they set out to accomplish.

Others are afraid to wean themselves off Social Security payments but I tell them there’s life beyond Social Security. They understand once we have worked together to manage their money, save money, and keep their bills current, and they realize that they can live on a paycheck.

What are your challenges?

It’s sometimes difficult for outside employers to understand how to best integrate an employee with disabilities into their workforce. Some of our clients have a lot of negative forces around them and they don’t know how to manage their personal life. When a client doesn’t come to work because of illness and doesn’t notify a supervisor, it’s a challenge. I help find resources for clients who have day care, housing or medication issues. I hold a lot of people’s hands along the way. I appreciate all the managers within Goodwill who work with my clients. They’re awesome!

What’s the most gratifying part of the job?

It’s working with people with various limitations. The clients give me an opportunity to learn something new every day. No day is the same. It makes me proud and happy when I see my clients succeed.

How do you change the lives of your clients?

I feel good because I know without my team our clients might not have the support or the patience of someone who cares. Patience is the key to the job, and I love what I do.

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Retail

Spring Hill: Modern, up-to-date.

The manager is professional and friendly. The store is well kept and generally clean and well sorted, easy to shop. Keep up the good work as many people like to shop where good merchandise is reasonable.

Hermitage: I go to this store specifically for the service, selection and cleanliness.

Lexington: The merchandise in the store is of very good quality.

All of the employees do their job very well. They were very helpful and had good attitudes.

Springfield: My husband and I shop Goodwill two to three times a week. I love Goodwill.

Fayetteville: Were very polite and a great cashier. This is one of the best Goodwill’s I have ever been in. Very clean and organized!

Union City: Your store is the BEST Goodwill store around.

Clean, well kept and FUN! Your manager, John, is why I shop at your store. He’s super!

Lawrenceburg: These people are the best. They make everyone feel like family.

Murfreesboro: Awesome! The friendliest staff and great quality and selection. Barbara and Miriam exceeded my expectations.

Donations Bellevue: I had a really positive experience. Montravil provided a great customer service experience for me, which is very rare these days. Hats off to what you do.

Wilson Pike: I appreciate what you guys do. I was at the Wilson Pike location and Charles and Patrick took very good care of me.

Just want to let you know you’re doing a great job and that’s a great location, as well. I’m glad Goodwill has trailers at that site.

Hillsboro: Wilbert helped me and he was wonderful and lovely. He was as nice as he could be and made me feel very good about giving my father’s things to Goodwill.

Lebanon: Terry Woods waited on

us and he is beyond excellent. He never lets me lift a box or anything else. We’ve been going there frequently for a long time and we have always gotten superb service. We are glad that this going to someone so good.

Nolensville Road: Phil helped me today and he was terrific! He was positive and very pleaseant and I appreciate that. He’s always helpful and I just want to let you know I think he’s doing a great job.

Thanks for all you do.

Trinity: I’d like to compliment Rodney. I’ve been bringing donations to this location for several months and have come to know Rodney. Now he seems like part of the family! He’s a great man and is a great image for Goodwill.

Comments

Erin wrote:

“I have a family of 4 children.

Goodwill half-off day is God-given to us. I don’t know how we would make it without it. And we ALWAYS get compliments on our outfits! I love the hunt! And I love teaching my kids how to be thrifty!

Thank you, Goodwill, for helping us and OTHERS!” Ladonna wrote: “Erin, I am with you. I go on Wednesday’s for the .99 day. I always end up buying tons of books, and things other than clothes, but it’s fine.”

Mindy wrote: “My first big find for the year was a merino wool and silk J. Crew cardigan with jeweled buttons. It’s beautiful!”

Tony wrote: “How am I doing it? If I need something, and if it’s not there, I go to the next Goodwill.”

Bettie wrote: About the wedding gala: “I think it is wonderful girls can find a dress and not pay thousands for it.”

Juan wrote: Thanks, Goodwill, for helping families.

Microsoft Grants Goodwill $236K

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he check has arrived! The $236,000 check from Microsoft grant money that will help Career Solutions grow its digital literacy training, will soon be used to hire five trainers who will rotate throughout our 16 Career Solutions Centers. In simple terms, the trainers will help employees and clients become better at using computers.

More than 300 nonprofit agencies applied for the $5 million in grant money up for grabs through the Microsoft Elevate America Community Initiative. Only 12 of those agencies, including our Goodwill, were given a piece of that large pie. And the money will soon be put to use. Matt Gloster, senior director of Career Solutions, wrote the draft proposal, and said, “The trainers will spend at least one day a week in each location teaching computer basics, including how to use a mouse, keyboard, create an e-mail address, do Internet job searches and build a resume.”

The plan is to train 3,500 employees and clients in 2011 and, according to Gloster, “If we perform to Microsoft’s expectations, we’ll have the opportunity to apply for the grant again in 2012.” There are other goals, too. Gloster is hoping to reach many of the folks in the outlying communities served by our Goodwill who may not have access to a computer, or whose area isn’t served by Internet services. “This underserved population lacks even the basics of computer skills, and if our trainers can help, then we’ll have used this grant money well.”

It’s expected the five new trainers will begin their job of traveling to our Career Solutions Centers no later than April 1. And the training isn’t just for clients. If you would like to learn how to use a computer, or want to improve your computer skills, check with the Career Solutions Center nearest you to find out when the trainer will be available to help. As always, this is a free service for clients and employees.

Searching for Family T

he Vietnam War enveloped the American psyche in the late 1960s. The evening news was filled with battle stories in villages and jungles, by air and by sea. As the fighting intensified, more troops were called up to serve, including David Lawrence (Larry) Eisenbraun, a Navy Corpsman who served with the Third Reconnaissance Battalion. He arrived in Vietnam just two days before the start of the infamous Tet Offensive. On September 17, 1968, while trying to protect a wounded Marine, Eisenbraun was killed in a mortar attack in a place the Marines called LZ Margo, in the Quang Tri Province.

Larry Eisenbraun, the brother of our Goodwill’s senior director of production, Mike Eisenbraun, was given a hero’s funeral in Ohio. “I was 14 at the time and I was certainly old

enough to know that Larry was in a dangerous place, but young enough to think that nothing bad would happen to him.

When we learned of Larry’s death, I was in shock.”

Before setting off for Vietnam, Larry was stationed in UP_Poster_c08.indd 1

Philadelphia and met, fell in love with, and asked Pat Moloney, a Navy nurse, for her hand in marriage. She said, “Yes.” It wasn’t until Larry’s funeral that his family met his fiancé.

“My only memory of Pat is when I saw her standing near

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Larry’s coffin with my mother.

She was in her Navy uniform and she was a beautiful woman.

That was the last contact we had with her,” said Mike.

Years later, Mike began his search for Pat Moloney but came up empty. That was until

Searching For… that would debut on OWN, the new Oprah Winfrey Network. The Eisenbraun brothers decided to send a note to the network telling their story about their search for Pat Moloney.

A month later Mike was contacted by the show’s producers. Several months later, Pam Slaton was on the hunt for Pat. How does the story end?

Watch Searching For… on Monday, March 28, at 8:00 p.m. on OWN, to find out.

another brother, T.J., happened to be watching the Oprah Winfrey Show. “The guest was Pam Slaton, a professional investigative genealogist. She talked about how she’s brought thousands of people together from her searches.” Also mentioned was the show, giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

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t’ easy to make Jeff Carter happy. Mention the HP Designjet L25500 printer and his eyes light up! The printer, installed in January, is the newest tool in his work arsenal, and is a primary component in helping to make our Goodwill’s SignSolutions a contender in the retail sign business. “We have the capacity to print outdoor and full-color signs and magnets, including vehicle wraps that can withstand the elements for as long as seven years. Now we’re competitive with any retail print shop. ”

We have the capacity to print outdoor and full-color signs and magnets....Now we’re competitive with any retail print shop.

Carter is the manager of SignSolutions, viewable at goodwillsignsolutions.com. It is the only print shop run by a Goodwill. In the beginning SignSolutions was primarily an in-house shop producing signs for our stores and DECs. There were also several outside clients, including the Cool Springs Galleria and Rivergate Mall, Norfolk Homes in Nashville, Keller Williams real estate agents, and signs for numerous sports teams and Brentwood High School’s booster clubs.

What makes the HP Designjet L25500 such an integral part of growing SignSolutions is that it gives Carter the ability to produce signs at a faster pace. The prints are completed quickly, they’re dry to the touch, and are ready to use as soon as 6

giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

NEED A or SIGN banner ?

Employees are welcome to place orders with SignSolutions for anything from a yard sign announcing a family member’s graduation from high school or college, to a banner for family reunions or a business. Employees receive a 20 percent discount.

To place an order, please contact Jeff Carter at 615-346-1206, e-mail him at jeff.carter@givegw.org or stop by his office in the Story Building in Nashville to discuss your order.

they come off the printer. The new printer is not only state-ofthe-art, it’s fast and eco-friendly. “The ink is non-toxic, and when sent to a landfill, is biodegradable since it’s water-based.”

“This machine is a money saver for us,” says Carter. “It saves labor because it takes fewer steps to produce a sign and increases the types of materials we can print on. Plus the ink and paper are less expensive because the technology has improved.” Time is always of the essence in a business and the new printer is also a time-saver. “It used to take 35 minutes to make a sign. Now we’ve cut that by more than two-thirds, to just 10 minutes.”

This machine is a money saver for us.

It saves labor because it takes fewer steps to produce a sign and increases the types of materials we can print on.

With an in-house sign shop, departments within our Goodwill utilize SignSolutions for their teams, including Loss Prevention Manager, David Pippin who recently ordered magnetized signs. “For me SignSolutions means quality, easy follow-up, and Jeff is great to work with during the proofing process.”

next few years.” Ernest Washington is the only other employee in SignSolutions. “As we grow, I see Ernest moving into a supervisory position and overseeing our newer staff members,” said Carter.

In his quest for new business for SignSolutions, Carter is targeting one company he’s comfortable servicing. He’s marketing SignSolutions to other Goodwills throughout the U.S. He’s also looking forward to the day when the print shop moves from its space in the Story Building in Nashville to a site attached to one of our retail stores or to a stand-alone location.

With the expected move will come growth, and Carter is ready for it. “I feel like this is the year we’ll take off as far as outside clientele. There are several vendors who already want to help us grow and offer their products through us. Our Web site will change and we’ll be more product driven. It’s time!”

For me, SignSolutions means quality, easy follow-up, and Jeff is great to work with during the proofing process.

-David Pippin Loss Prevention Manager

The new printer brings an added bonus. More job opportunities. “We’ll be marketing to outside clients so we’ll have more print jobs which means more work. I expect we may need to hire as many as four or five new employees within the giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

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Paying It Forward W

Acts of kindness from Goodwill supporters

e rely on the kindness of our donors and shoppers to support our mission of providing jobs and training for thousands of people every year. We are always grateful for the generosity of our supporters. But there are times when we’re surprised at the depth of goodness. Take, for instance, the first Saturday of the month sale in February. As shoppers were checking out at one of our stores something remarkable happened.

The store’s manager (we’re keeping this anonymous) was approached by a customer that Saturday. “He asked me if it was OK if he paid for a couple of our needy customers’ purchases.” And she gave her OK. That shopper, who has asked that we only use his first name, Alan, was surprised by the reaction of those around him.

“My wife and I had decided that rather than tithe at church, we wanted to help others more directly.”

As the manager tells it, when Alan paid for merchandise at checkout, “She thanked Alan and said her children had been in the hospital and she was buying clothes and items for them. As the customer was leaving the store, another customer followed her out and gave her some cash. At this point everyone in the parking lot was crying along with the customers inside the store and some of our employees.”

Alan and his wife, Tori, plan to continue paying it forward. He said, “Keep in mind that when you get to the point that you can help others, please do so.” As the manager said, “What a great way to start off a half-off sale.”

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giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

donate

forward

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One week of giving added up to hours of free training.

t’s that time of year. The weather is changing, we’re throwing open the windows and welcoming the sweet scent of Spring. As we say ‘goodbye’ to winter, what better way is there to get ready for Spring and Summer than to get rid of your clutter?

To encourage employees and our donors that now’s the time to give it to Goodwill, give yourself the gift of space and a client the gift of free job services by donating during our Donate Forward week. For the first time ever, we teamed with Nashville media to promote the event. WKRN, the ABC affiliate in Nashville, was our partner in our efforts to make the week of March 20 through March 26, one of the biggest donations weeks of the year.

donate and how each piece provides free job training and services.

As many of our own employees know, with employment comes self-sufficiency, the ability to support a family, and the chance to be an integral part of the community. Our Donations Express Centers are easy to find at giveit2goodwill.org/donations, our attendants are always ready to help, and your donations put people to work in our communities.

We work for a company whose mission is simple. We provide employment and training opportunities for people who have disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping a job. Donations are a gift that can also be measured by looking ahead. It’s also a great way to start the year!

And it worked! Donations were up double digits during this first time ever Donate Forward week. Goodwill has 67 Donation Express Centers located throughout the 46 counties in middle and west Tennessee that are served by the company. We made it easy to donate.

Through donations, we support the growing list of free job training programs and continuing services offered by Career Solutions. Donate six outgrown t-shirts, six purses that are so not your style any longer, six pairs of jeans in multiple sizes and six sweaters that don’t match your new slacks and you’ve donated 4.6 hours of free training. Want to know how your donations help our clients. It’s easy to see the hours add up. Click on giveit2goodwill.org and input the number of items you have to

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7shirts 2chairs

hour of job training

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A Clean Sweep

Janitorial program graduates first class. “...even though I have the experience, having the certificate will help make the case that I’m a good candidate to potential employers.”

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ike a proud dad, Rick Hamlett’s grin said it all as he watched his first class of janitorial program clients graduate. “I can tell you right now each of these clients can run any machine, clean any space, and do something they couldn’t do before. I’m happy that I had a chance to help them make changes in their lives.”

“We work with companies that have cleaning contracts with area hospitals and businesses. I think this program is awesome because this training helps the clients be more marketable, especially with the CMI certification,” said Leavell at the graduation. The CMI, or Cleaning and Maintenance Institute certification, also gives Goodwill clients a big advantage over others who are applying for jobs in the janitorial industry.

“I think this first set of graduates have set the bar high for the next group that comes in for janitorial training.”

The two-week program, based in the Lifsey Career Solutions Center in Nashville, put the three students under Hamlett’s guidance through a rigorous curriculum. Not only did they have to learn the hands-on techniques of the trade, but each also had homework every night with a test the following morning.

“It was hard,” said graduate Charles Owens. “I haven’t had homework in 20 years, and there was a lot of focus on the chemicals we use. But I did it!”

“I’ve been doing janitorial work all my life,” said Owens. “But even though I have the experience, having the certificate will help make the case that I’m a good candidate to potential employers.”

For Payne, the program means, “Knowing that the job is done well and knowing I can do it well gives me a sense of accomplishment because I’ll be able to make a living. And when people see how clean their work space is, it makes me feel like I’ve done it justice.”

Shannon Payne, who worked with counselor Dolores Morales, was happy to share he had the highest “Knowing that the job is done well and knowing I can do it well gives me a grade in the class, finishing with a sense of accomplishment because I’ll be able to make a living. score of 98 on the final exam. “I studied hard, especially about the chemistry of cleaning solutions and the dilution ratios.”

Each of the three clients was recommended by a career counselor. Kara Leavell, a counselor based in the Lifsey Building in Nashville, whose client Charles Owens is one of the graduates, hopes this is the “I’m happy that I had a beginning of big chance to help them make opportunities for all CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES.” janitorial graduates.

As for the graduating class, Leavell beamed and said, “I think this first set of graduates has set the bar high for the next group that comes in for janitorial training.”

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giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

The Janitor program’s first graduate - L to R: Shannon Payne, Alejandra Villanueva, Rick Hamlett (instructor), Charles Owens, Kara Leavell (career counselor) and Violeta Menjivar (Mt. View career counselor)

Fear and Flight from

Honduras Success and security in Tennessee.

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lejandra Villanueva never thought she’d be living in Nashville. The native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, left her home country in 2010 to escape what she believed to be certain death. “My family and I were threatened because of our political stand. I spoke with my husband and we decided one evening that we would leave the next morning. And we did.”

The couple’s journey led them first to Costa Rica where, as refugees, they had to wait six months to get a visa to the U.S. through the United Nations. By September of 2010, the couple arrived in Miami and, at the urging of a friend in LaVergne, they came to “When I found Tennessee.

Within six months of arriving in America, Villanueva became the first woman to graduate from Goodwill’s first janitorial training class. She has earned her CMI, or Cleaning and Maintenance Institute certification, a credential that gives her immediate recognition as an expert in the custodial and janitorial fields.

“I’m so proud of her,” said Menjivar at the graduation ceremony. “She did such a wonderful job. She mastered the machines she had to use in the class and is now working to improve her English skills. I think it’s amazing what she’s done since she came to the U.S.”

out about the custodial training program at Goodwill I wanted to take the class so we can start a business one day.”

Both Villanueva and her husband, Louis Santos, were in their junior year of college when they emigrated. She was in her third year at the University of Jesus Nazarene’s electronic engineering program. Santos was working toward his Bachelor’s degree in marketing.

As for college, both Villanueva and Santos plan to finish their degree programs. But first things first, they’re building their savings so they can build their lives.

Going back to college was not an immediate option for the couple. Finding a job was. Their friend in LaVergne suggested they go to Goodwill’s Career Solutions Center, and with the help of Mt. View career counselor, Violeta Menjivar, the search was on.

“Violeta helped us both get part-time jobs with a cleaning service. We work in school buildings four hours a day. I had been thinking about opening a janitorial franchise.

When I found out about the custodial training program at Goodwill, I wanted to take the class so we can start a business one day,” says Villanueva with the help of her counselor’s translation.

Alejandra Villanueva with career counselor, Violeta Menjivar, after the janitorial training program graduation.

giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

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They (171 to be exa T

he clock was ticking. It was 10:30 p.m. on the Friday evening before the second annual Wedding Gala, which was the following morning. The marketing, donations and Rivergate store teams, were busy transforming the store into a bride’s dream dress destination when someone noticed something outside the store. The first brides and their entourages were already camped out on the sidewalk. There were still eight hours before the doors were scheduled to open at 6:00 a.m.!

The early brides brought their reinforcements to help them through the night; Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee. “We’re here to be the first to get to the dresses,” said Holly Morelock, whose wedding will be a camouflage-themed event.

When their long wait finally ended, they were on the hunt.

Morelock didn’t find her dress, but her bridesmaid did.

More than 170 brides and their teams poured into the Rivergate store when the doors opened and they knew their time was short. The Wedding Gala lasted just three hours – from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and the earliest to arrive had first choice of the 500 gowns that had been donated to Goodwill.

The brides continued streaming in throughout the morning.

The Wedding Gala, planned and executed by NaTisha Moultry, the community relations manager, was flawless. “I contacted area bridal stores many months before the gala, asking the owners if they would donate discontinued and sample dresses to the wedding gala. They came through!” giveit2goodwill.org Jan. - March 2011

Moultry adds, “Watching mothers cry as their daughters tried on wedding gowns was so touching. It was also fun to see the expression on a bride’s face when she was able to find the perfect wedding dress. And, some brides were even able to find bridesmaids’ dresses and matching tuxedos vests for their groomsmen. Everything came together.”

In the crowd was Goodwill employee, Cindy Cook, a staff accountant, whose niece, Christy Wright, is getting married on June 19. Cook and Wright arrived at the Rivergate store at 4:00 a.m. “It was colder than we expected,” said Cook, who also said the wait was, ‘fun’.

Once the doors opened, Cook and Wright joined the rush to the gowns. “Christy didn’t know what style of dress she was looking for that morning,” said Cook, and whether she wanted a dress with sleeves, straps, or a strapless gown. For Wright, the seventh dress was the charm. “She turned in the mirror and she almost burst into tears,” says Aunt Cindy.

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Most of the wedding gowns, about 80 percent of them, had come to Goodwill from bridal salons throughout the area. The rest of the gowns had been come in through Donation Express Centers.

The same holds true for the bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride/groom dresses, flower girl dresses and veils. And the grooms weren’t left out. Street Tuxedo donated about 50 tuxedos and hundreds of tuxedo accessories.

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The strapless Jessica McClintock wedding gown, priced at just $199.99 fit Wright as though it had been custom-made. “It’s definitely her style.

She’s especially happy because the dress doesn’t have to be altered.”

Along with the dress, Wright also bought the shoes she’ll wear on her wedding day at the gala.

More than 170 of the 500 gowns were sold in the three-hour Wedding Gala. The dresses remained at the Rivergate store throughout the gala weekend and the remaining dresses are in storage. There’s something to be said about taking part in making a bride’s dream come true, and selling these generously donated goods to continue our mission of helping thousands of Tennesseans in their search for work. It was a good day!

act)

aid yes to the dress for less.

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Christy Wright, niece of Goodwill accountant Cindy Cook, found her wedding gown at the gala.

orting, tagging, and bagging 500 wedding gowns, hundreds of bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride/groom dresses, flower girl dresses, prom dresses, and several hundred tuxedo accessories is a long process. In fact, NaTisha Moultry’s team started the process in January, and were still at work marking price tags the night before the Wedding Gala.

When the wedding gowns finally made it to the Rivergate store, not only were they tagged and bagged, they were also freshly dry cleaned. Linda Say, who owns Nicholson’s Cleaners, generously cleaned more than 250 wedding gowns – for free! And, she and her daughter, Andrea, were at the Rivergate store before the doors opened so they could help the brides-to-be with alteration questions.

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Every Piece Counts I f you stand too long in the retail allocations area in the Nashville processing plant, you’ll likely be in the way. The six employees in the department are too busy to stop for casual conversation because they’re counting each piece of clothing that has to be shipped to the 22 stores that are served by the department.

Ten years ago, when she began supervising the allocations department, that number was just 11,000 items a day.

Orders for clothing come to Tapp from Director of Retail, David Jenkins. Each store receives three shipments a week and requests specific items. It’s the allocations team that fulfills those requests.

Each day the retail allocation team sends “Team members have to pull exactly what out as many as 50,000 pieces of clothing. each store requests. If too many sweaters That averages 8,300 pieces per person per go to one store day that have to be then another counted. At the Team members have to store will be end of each week, pull exactly what each store shorted. Each 330,000 pieces of day they zero in requests.

If too many sweaters clothing have been on exactly what processed and sent go to one store then another is needed for to our stores, with store will be shorted. each store,” says 250,000 of those Jenkins. items coming from the Nashville plant.

As Mary Ellen Tapp, the merchandise “We’re the nerve center of the company,” manager who supervises the area says, says Tapp. “We interact with several other “If you work for me, you have to be departments in the plant and are a direct a self-starter and be able to count.” link to the stores.” And, because of that

“

Tapp has on her desk a notebook filled with entries detailing each day’s shipment.

The notebook dates back several years so she can compare year-to-year numbers.

Just one year ago her team was sending out an average of 38,000 pieces each day.

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link, Tapp encourages her crew to think about the employees on the receiving end of each shipment. “We place the clothing into the large blue containers (duratainers) which are then unloaded at the store. I want every piece of clothing to be tagged,

on a hanger, and ready to go to the selling floor as soon as it arrives at the store.”

Success is easy to measure for Tapp and her team. At the end of the day, when all orders are loaded and shipped to the stores, members know they’ve provided Goodwill’s customers with the best product available.

Mary Ellen Tapp

A Second Chance, A New Life D

aniel Burton doesn’t shy away from the realities of his past life. “I was strung out on drugs. I got into trouble. I was arrested for aggravated burglary and spent 32 months in prison.” Once released, Burton knew time wasn’t on his side. Ex-cons aren’t always welcome in the job market but in order to satisfy the rules of his parole, and the halfway house where he was living, he had just a few weeks to find work. And the clock was ticking.

was just what he needed. “I’m proud of my job. I understand what some of my coworkers have gone through. I was once just like them.”

Burton’s boss, Tapp, has so much confidence in Burton, that she’s made him the lead in the department. “Daniel learned quickly. I’ve seen his confidence grow as his knowledge of Goodwill’s policies and procedures has grown.

Most gratifying to me is when I hear him encouraging others because he understands their situations.”

“My last chance was Goodwill. A friend at the halfway house told me about Idalba Tabares, It isn’t just on the job that Burton has seen his (Career Solutions counselor) at Berry Road.” life flourish. “I detoxed in jail and it was When Burton finally made it to the Berry Road horrible. I had to do it site, it was late in the alone. My family was afternoon and the office I’m proud of my job.

I fed up with me and was closed. “I knocked on understand what some of they all walked away. I the office window and to dig myself out Idalba looked out. I my coworkers have gone had of the hole I created mouthed the words, ‘I through. I was once just without any help. But need a job,’ and she told once I got clean, once I like them. me to come back in the got my job, my family morning.” He did. is proud of me again. Plus, this is the longest True to her word, when Burton appeared at her time I’ve ever held a job.” office the next day, Tabares was ready to help We all make him find a job. “Daniel came in and we worked choices in our together to get his paperwork in order. I knew lives. Burton he was in desperate need of work to keep him says he doesn’t from going back to jail.” Burton stayed in believe in touch with Tabares throughout that week and mistakes then received a call that sent him, as he says, because we “Into the middle of the street hollering because likely know I got a job.” we’re making That was April 2009. The job was in the retail bad choices allocations department. It’s not easy work. and harming Daniel Burton and his teammates pull clothing ordered ourselves and for 22 Goodwill stores. It’s fast-paced, requires the ones we a sense of responsibility, and it means a full day love. Today, he says, he’s making good of walking on a concrete floor. Burton said it choices and assuming responsibility.

“Without Goodwill I’d probably be locked up again and strung out on drugs. But because of Goodwill I have a real life. I have family, friends, pride and a future.”

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Burton

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Word on the

Street

Marketing Retail

We are working with the Career Solutions team on individualized marketing plans for each Center. The goal is to raise awareness of our job training and placement services, and ultimately to serve and place more Tennesseans into jobs. We plan to tackle this through a mix of targeted marketing and grassroots efforts which will begin in the second quarter of 2011.

IT

Checking out at our stores is going to be faster for our customers. IT is implementing Quick Pay, which eliminates the need for customer signatures for purchases of $25 or less when they pay by credit card. All stores should have Quick Pay by the end of March.

Accounting

Goodwill partnered with First Tennessee Bank to assist employees in establishing a checking account and direct deposit, which are both significant benefits. You may also be eligible for a $100 incentive if you sign up now with First Tennessee Bank. Your supervisor or a First Tennessee Bank branch employee can assist you with this benefit. If you go to a First Tennessee Bank branch, remember to let them know you are an employee of Goodwill.

HR

A new Human Resources generalist, Rachel Thomason, has joined the team. If you see Rachel, be sure to welcome her to Goodwill! We are pleased to share that 93 percent of our new hires in the company in the final quarter of 2010 were mission-related. We are truly ‘living the mission.’

Salvage

The Salvage/Recycling department diverted more than 21 million pounds of salvage and recycling products from the waste stream in 2010. That’s an increase of 1 ½ million pounds from the prior year.

E-Commerce

The retail stores continue to send their great finds to e-Commerce. February sales this year have already exceeded sales numbers for January, which totaled $33,315.24. Keep those items rolling into e-Commerce and we will do our best to get you top dollar! giveit2goodwill.org 16 Jan. - March 2011

The snow and cold weather the first three months of the year impacted retail sales. Although traffic was down, we still managed a three percent gain in same store sales in January. Plans are underway to relocate our Lawrenceburg store in May.

Career Solutions LSI, Landscaping Services, Inc., teamed with the Career

Solutions team in Nashville to host a job fair. LSI met with more than 100 applicants in the Lifsey Building in early February, hoping to hire employees for the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons. LSI offered jobs to 16 candidates.

Loss Prevention Isaac Bailey, the new job safety analyst, may soon pay a

visit to your work area. He has joined the loss prevention team after completing the transitional program. Bailey is working in all areas of the plant and in our stores to identify ways to make each job safer and more efficient.

We recognize that the best ideas usually come from the people who work in each are,a so be sure to chat with Bailey when he stops by, and give him your thoughts.

Production & Transportation

The transportation department is enjoying a short reprieve from the high demand of exchanges from our DEC sites during the holidays. The team is now able to manage other tasks including transporting the trailers with product to the warehouses. Our Production Teams have a goal in 2011 to continue to reduce accidents and injuries. A team of employees investigates all accidents, and every week four employees – different employees every week – tour the plant and look for safety hazards. In addition, all employees are asked to stretch twice a day to help reduce injuries.

Donations

A long-time leader in the donations department, Lisa Deal, has retired after 14 years. Donations manager, Jennifer Kalifa, calls Deal, “A huge asset to the company,” and added, “We wish her well.” Terry Kretz has been hired to replace Deal in the Clarksville region. We now have a supervisor covering every DEC at our stores.