Our Mission: Transforming lives through lifelong learning and the power of work, while seeking ways to enhance our communities’ environmental resources.
GoodWorld News is a publication for friends and employees of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.
Visit our website at goodwill-suncoast.org
Call toll-free: 888-279-1988
TTY: 727-579-1068
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that provides services without regard to race, spiritual beliefs, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, socioeconomic status or disability. If you need accommodation or assistance in accessing any area of employment or program services, please let us know.
FROM THE PRESIDENT FORGING SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS
At Goodwill-Suncoast, we actively seek out like-minded businesses that share our commitment to the environment—because together, we can achieve more.
Our partnership with Osomtex, a company that creates new items from discarded clothing, has allowed us to dip our toe into a new line of upcycled Goodwill-Suncoast socks. These sustainably-made ankle socks are now available at all 20 of our retail stores and online at ShopGoodwill.com. You can read more about this partnership, the socks, and the Osomtex story in this issue’s cover article.
We’re also building key partnerships focused on responsible electronic waste disposal, including a collaboration with Dell Reconnect.
In addition, we’ve begun phasing out singleuse plastic bags in all of our retail stores. Customer response has been mostly positive— and in many cases, extremely enthusiastic! More and more people are recognizing that the convenience and reusability of cloth bags outweigh the short-term ease of plastic.
When you think about it, recycling is in Goodwill’s DNA. So it only makes sense that we’re fully committed to sustainability, upcycling, and responsible recycling.
We hope you enjoy learning about the many ways we’re doing our part for the greater good and exploring new ways to protect and enhance our communities’ environmental resources!
Sincerely,
Deborah A. Passerini President and Chief Executive Officer
a glance @
SCHOLARLY AMBITIONS
At this year’s 20th Dell Connect Conference, Goodwill-Suncoast was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, which will be used to support mission services that benefit our local communities.
PICTURED: Angela Becker, Global Consumer Recycling Program Manager, Dell; Ken Karbowski, Vice President for Goods Acquisition, Logistics, and Retail Operations, GoodwillSuncoast; India Appleton, Dell Reconnect Program Manager; Mike Long, Learning and Development Manager, Goodwill-Suncoast; Jim Williams, Vice President for Fund Development, Goodwill-Suncoast.
GRADUATING WITH HEART
Our Re-Entry Program proudly celebrated 138 graduates who earned certifications and degrees across multiple disciplines.
Three participants, pictured below, are now certified EKG Technicians. Congrats to all!
PEACE, LOVE, HIPPIES!
The 9th annual Hippie Dash at Safety Harbor’s Waterfront Park brought together 1,392 participants— and plenty of Goodwill staff—for a far-out day of running, walking, and good vibes. The event featured free food, live music from School of Rock, and groovy contests!
The morning was packed with exciting activities, including the main races: a 10K, 5K, and 1-Mile Walk. Young hippies joined in the fun during the Flower Child Fun Run, while the most ambitious runners took on the combined 10K and 5K challenge.
Thanks to the incredible support from participants and local businesses, Goodwill is able to expand its services within our communities. Right on!
Proceeds from the event benefit Goodwill’s programs that support individuals with barriers to employment—and more!
AND THE AWARD GOES TO ...
A special thanks to our Hippie Dash sponsors (who just happen to be on the back of this year’s custom shirts)!
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Josiah began a life-changing journey when he joined the JET After School Program. With a focus on soft skills and personalized support— including guidance from a Workforce Specialist and a tailored workload—he gradually gained confidence and began to thrive.
After completing the third phase of the program, Josiah was proud of the real-world experience he had gained, the independence he had built, and the preparation he had made for future opportunities.
Josiah’s story is a testament to the power of support, determination, and the right environment to unlock potential and build lasting confidence.
Goodwill-Suncoast and the Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Program have been named among the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation’s 2024 Recycling Champions! The awards were presented in November at the University of South Florida’s Patel College of Global Sustainability.
PICTURED: Tom Dickerson, Director of Logistics; Tessa Jones, Senior Ecommerce Manager; Alanna Delgado, Supplemental Store Processing and Donations Manager; Ken Karbowski, Vice President for Goods Acquisition, Logistics, and Retail Operations; Allen Star, VP for IT & CIO; Larry Hartman, Director of Retail Operations.
Through our partnership with Osomtex, we’re able to sustainably upcycle and give new life to well-worn donated clothing.
Through our partnership with Osomtex, we’re able to sustainably upcycle and give new life to well-worn donated clothing.
a stitch
ain
go from this to this! to this to this go from this to this
time.
s the saying goes, “A stitch in time saves nine.” In this case, that stitch represents the partnerships between Goodwill-Suncoast and responsible fabric upcycler Osomtex (pronounced “awesome + tex”), as well as electronic waste recycler Dell Reconnect. Early efforts to intercept textile and e-waste— and transform it into something useful—not only prevent bigger problems down the road but also extend the life of our resources, our environment, and our communities.
As we look to do more for the environment, reminders of how far we still have to go are ever-present. Every moment, landfills are stuffed with metric tons of garbage. According to the EPA, a majority of that trash could have been recycled—but wasn’t—meaning millions of tons will be left to slowly decompose. One of the more prominent pollutants is textiles, whose carbon footprint has grown significantly in the era of “fast fashion.” Despite most fabrics being recyclable, they are increasingly piling up in landfills around the world.
Having witnessed this waste firsthand, Patricia Ermecheo, founder of Osomtex decided it was time to act. In 2016, she started Osomtex through a $23,000 Kickstarter campaign with “the vision of transforming wasted
to this this!
clothing into yarn” and creating sustainable garments from what would otherwise be discarded materials.
Almost a decade later, Osomtex has made massive strides in their mission of closing the loop in the fashion industry. “Closing the loop” envisions a sustainable cycle where old clothes are continually upcycled into new ones, eliminating the need for raw materials and reducing waste at a scale that meets global demand.
Currently, the consumption of resources for even basic clothing items is drastically disproportionate. For example, producing a single cotton t-shirt requires over 713 gallons of water—more than three times what the average person drinks in a year. On a larger scale, the cotton industry consumes more than 40 trillion gallons of water annually—roughly equivalent to 40 Lake Okeechobees. During the treatment process, 226 billion gallons of contaminated wastewater—laden with toxins and pesticides—are discharged into rivers, rendering them uninhabitable.
Meanwhile, the Osomtex production process requires no water at all. From waste to product, the entire operation is built to combat these ecologically harmful practices. Osomtex is living proof that sustainability in the fashion industry is not only possible but practical. Beyond conserving water, the company guarantees fair treatment for workers, powers its operations primarily with solar energy, and maintains a high standard of product quality. Osomtex’s products have even made their way into space, with astronaut Doug Hurley praising the quality of the first upcycled socks ever worn in orbit.
Back on Earth, Goodwill-Suncoast has partnered with Osomtex to create a line of socks that support upcycling, reduce landfill-bound textiles,
and continue serving local communities. Goodwill-Suncoast CTO Allen Starr, one of the leaders behind this new initiative, says Osomtex stood out for its potential to maximize every end-of-life donation. “We’re trying to be stewards of that waste stream,” said Starr, “and look at alternative ways we can prevent fabric from going into landfills.”
This collaboration aligns with Goodwill-Suncoast’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, which predates its partnership with Osomtex. Of the 60 million pounds of yearly donations, GoodwillSuncoast already resells, reuses, or recycles upwards of 85%.
A similar collaboration with the Dell Reconnect project allows Goodwill to accept electronic waste from any brand in any condition. As of 2019, Dell Reconnect had surpassed its goal of diverting over two billion pounds of e-waste from landfills to recycling facilities.
Now, with Osomtex’s help, many clothing donations that would otherwise be unsellable are given a second life. Unlike many other recyclers that require sorting by color or fabric type, Osomtex’s process doesn’t require any sorting. This allows for a more efficient, inclusive approach to upcycling. It’s also reflected in the varying colors of Osom Brand socks, which are derived directly from the fabrics used to create them.
This partnership doesn’t just reduce textile waste—it broadens the range of donations Goodwill-Suncoast can accept.
“Reuse is our number one priority,” says Starr. “If there is life still left in the clothing, we want to get that clothing into the right markets.” Thanks to Osomtex’s innovative process, even heavily damaged
// Dell Technologies achieves many 2020 social impact goals ahead of Schedule. Dell Technologies. (2019, July 9). https://investors.delltechnologies.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dell-technologies-achievesmany-2020-social-impact-goals-ahead | Environmental Protection Agency. (2018a). National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-wasteand-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials | Environmental Protection Agency. (2018b). Textiles Material Specific Data. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/ textiles-material-specific-data#:~:text=The%20total%20amount%20of%20textiles,percent%20of%20all%20MSW%20landfilled. | Meyers, T. (2022, April 13). Female-founded OSOM brand talks plans for Miami factory. WWD.
Scan to buy women’s socks online
Scan to buy men’s socks online
garments—once deemed unsellable—can now be repurposed. The fabric remains valuable, helping divert material from contributing to the 11.3 million tons of textile waste found in American landfills each year. While some limitations still exist, making the most of every donation is a step in the right direction.
Closing the loop with Osomtex is also about empowering the Suncoast community. By offering Osomtex socks in Goodwill-Suncoast stores and online, more funding can be channeled into community initiatives like our Job Connection Centers inside Goodwill stores in St. Petersburg, Riverview, Lakeland and Hillsborough, as well as our virtual services site myjobconnection.org. With 88.8% of Goodwill-Suncoast’s operating budget going directly to its programs and services, every donation—and every sock—helps advance the mission of building a more sustainable and equitable future. q
Dell Reconnect partners with Goodwill’s across the US, including Goodwill-Suncoast, to provide a free service that accepts any brand of electronics, in any condition.
Plastic bags are convenient for shoppers and inexpensive for businesses—in a word: easy. But oftentimes, an easy solution isn’t the best solution.
At Goodwill-Suncoast, we do many things that aren’t easy. For example, we take in hundreds of thousands of books, clean them, categorize them, and then schedule book readings with volunteers so they can hand out a book to a deserving child.
We also accept thousands of donated formal dresses, inventory them, categorize them, and tag each one—just to give a single dress to a young lady so she can participate in a formal event.
And now, it’s time for single-use plastic bags to receive some attention from Goodwill-Suncoast.
In January, we launched the“Bag Singleuse Plastic Bags” initiative at our Ocala store. The vast majority of customers were thrilled that we, like many businesses, were doing away with single-use plastic bags. (It helped that we offered totally fun and fashionable reusable bags for just $1.49!)
After our successful launch in Ocala, we rolled the program out across our remaining 19 stores to continued enthusiasm. Many customers expressed awareness of the harm plastic does to the environment, especially to our beautiful Florida beaches. One customer shared a story of seeing baby turtles ensnared in plastic bags and said it broke their heart.
Is hurting another creature really worth the convenience?
When you think about it, single-use plastic bags aren’t that convenient after all.
| Sustainability: Goodwill Industries Suncoast. Goodwill. (2021, September 9). https://goodwill-suncoast.org/sustainability
According to a 2018 United Nations report on single-use plastics, more than 600 marine species are harmed by the debris.
The bag was removed by the photographer before the turtle had a chance to eat it.
Our Caring Supporters in Year 2024
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast extends our sincere appreciation to all of the Goodwill organizations throughout North America for their generous support. Their contributions played a vital role in the relief efforts for both our organization and the Tampa Bay communities we serve in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
We also recognize the following individuals, companies and organizations for their financial gifts to Goodwill-Suncoast between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
LEADERSHIP SOCIETY
PLATINUM
($10,000+)
Joye W. Braden
Fifth Third Bank
Dan and Tina Johnson
National Charity Services, Inc.
Debbie and Jim Passerini
Pinellas Community Foundation
Publix Super Markets Charities, Inc.
Regions Bank
Russell and Lillian Quarles
Margaret and E.W. Smith, III.
Thomas Family Foundation
Theodore P. and Marian Hadley Tonne
USI Consulting Group
GOLD
($5,000 - $9,999)
Acrisure
Anita Carr
Cigna
Mr. Lewis F. Colbert
Mr. and Mrs. Steven M. Erickson
Florida Insurance Trust
PACESETTERS
($500 - $999)
Derek and Amber Arnold
Best Damn Events
Dr. and Mrs. Peter W. Blumencranz
Bond Thomas Chiropractic
Mr. and Mrs. Jabbar BuggsGraham
Thomas A. and Mary S. James Foundation
Elizabeth H. King
Laube Family Foundation
Edward and Jeanne Mansfield
Marsh McLennan Agency
Raymond James Financial, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. R. Lee Waits
SILVER
($3,000 - $4,999)
Heather Ceresoli/Taylor White
DEX Imaging
HSN
Mrs. Charlotte Lehnherr
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Thomas
Jim and Sue Williams
BRONZE
($1,000 - $2,999)
Arbel Group, Inc.
Lee and Lisa Bell
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bivens
Lori J. Bremer
Shauna Burkes
Canteen
Cardinal Truck Body
Coppertail Brewing Company
Jane and Jamie Egasti
GEM Supply
Mr. Martin W. Gladysz
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hartman
Hawkins Construction, Inc.
Kenneth and Trena Karbowski
Kole Imports
Leon Korol Company
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Norrie Family Charitable Fund
Ogletree Deakins
Roger P Corporation
Rotary Club of St. Petersburg, Inc.
Ryder System
Mrs. Barbara J. Schmid
Solstice Sleep Products
Sun State International Trucks
Ms. Yvonne Taylor
Teknia Networks and Logistics, Inc.
Richard and Lee Zeh
CIRCLE of FRIENDS
Matthew Carroll
Jillian Doyle
Garson and Shaw LLC
Gold Medal International
My Employment Options
Mr. and Mrs. Donn R. Neurman
Oman Construction
Kimberly and Jorge Perez
Mrs. Marie Carson Hebbler
Ms. Cordelia A. Hinton
Impulse Solutions
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Marrs
MetLife
Mrs. Carole F. Philipson
Mark Pichowski
Power Design, Inc.
John and Diane Kerr Redding
Regent Products Corp.
Marisol and John Rivera
Ms. Mary Anne Snyder
Suncoast Credit Union
Foundation
The Wabbersen Family
Sandra and Norman Young
PATRONS
($250 - $499)
Allwaste Environmental
Services, Inc.
B & G Sales
Tracey and David Boucher
Mr. James L. Corey
Landen Crabill
Jamie Cyr
Shawn Daniels
Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park
Marcos and Louise Lopez
Melissa and Kevin Mora
Jonathan Rick
Mr. and Mrs. Scott C. Rutz
Ms. Margaret Schlairet
Allen and Barbara Starr
Robert G. Stern, Esq.
Kassandra Ward
Mike Weaver
Kathy and Mackey Williams
BENEFACTORS
($100 - $249)
Adver-T Screen Printing
Anchor Packaging, Inc.
Arctic Bath & Coffee
Ashley Paige Customs
Mark F. Binnion
The Blue Line Bakery
Peggy Boeving
Michael Boyce
Jennifer and Charles Brackney
Ms. Nancy L. Brickley
Ms. Meredith Manzella Brown
Coconut Bar
Mr. Matthew J. Coffey
Color Street Nails
Dog Stop
Wanda Dunmore
Shelley Einbecker
Stephen S. Elie
Fitlife Foods
Lester Forest
Free Spirit Boutique 727
Ruby Garvin
Douglas Gester
HCA Healthcare Foundation
Mr. Arthur C. Herman
Ryan Jordan
Connie Kelly
League of Women Voters North
Pinellas
Clark MacCullough
Mr. Dominic Macrone
Julia Manecke
Mr. and Mrs. Tony Martinez
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff A. McQuinn
Orangetheory Fitness
SUPPORTERS
($99 OR LESS)
Deann and Gary Abshagen
Nancy J. Ackerman
Daniel Adames
Michelle Adams
Mr. Robert Adams
Judy Allston
Mr. David M. Amick
Larry Ammon
James and Stephanie Anna
Linda Arant
Patricia E. Asquino
Dr. and Mrs. James M. Bader
Louis Baker
Cassandra Banning
Jeannine Beebe
Mikayla Beers
Linda Benjamin
Drs. Leonard L. and Ma Teresa
Bissonnette
Karen Bittinger
Allison Boaz
Linda Bocage
Amy Bouchard
David Brightwell
Eileen V. Brown
Pat B. Brown
Andrew Bryant
Roger and Carol Bryant
Ronald Bryant
Robyn Buttram
Nora Callahan
Mr. Robert Canale
Patricia Carr
Zachary Catherman
Gil Chaidez
Karen Chang
Douglas and Melissa
Christensen
David Clemens
Aaron Conlyn
Mr. and Mrs. Dabney L. Conner
Arnaldo and Renee Contreras
Carol Copper
Maria Cortes
Ms. Margaret Cowden
Ann Cox
Joel Cupp
Wendy Deblinger
Teresa Del Rio
Amy DeSouza
Chase Dill
Sharon Dindal
Natasha Dobowski
Lydia Domenech
Cheri Donohue
DonutNV
Mr. John Dorgan
Diane Dresback
Sean Eager
Donna Edwards
Mrs. Robin R. Edwards
Mr. and Mrs. Dale L. Ellis
Tiffany Embry
Nicole Espinal
Karla Eugenie
Kim Fair
Carlissa Felton
Lisa B. Filion
Maggie Finster
Mr. Harvey D. Fisher, Jr.
James FitzPatrick
Angela Floyd
Richard Forrest
George Freeman
Erin Fuller
Mr. Nathan I. Fursetzer
Victoria Galloway
Jason Gardner
Russell Genovaldi
Mr. Dennis Gilbert
Ted Gillette
Mrs. Lillian Giordano
Jessica Glackin
Jahzeel Gonzalez
Grain and Berry
Michaela Grandjacquet
Jennifer Grider
Phillip Grossoehme
Diane Haberman
Mr. Robert J. Halbing
Alexis Hale
Marc Hall
Daffodil Hallenbeck
Danielle Hambrick
Lisa Hamilton
Eonchul Han
Amy Hanley
Julie Harkins
Mr. Eric Harmon
Nathan and Kristin Heathcock
Diogenes Hernandez
Victoria Higgs
Terri Hinz
David and Jane Hodgson
Kelsey Holland
Steven Hollis
Mrs. Eileen Howe
Robert Huffaker
Lisa Hufnell
Krystle Hunt
Jenna Igoe
Mr. Fred Ionata
Claudia Rickert Isom
Cheryl Jacob
Linda Jacobsen
Mrs. Elena Jasaitis
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Patrick Johnson
Ms. Theresa Johnson
Jerry A. Kamens
Ron Kaplan
Tracy Kelly
Nadia Khalil
Sam Khamheng
Hao and Carly Kien
Gustavo M. King
Cindy Kirgis
Al and Mary Jane Kles
Ryan Kline
Klaus and Leona Koch
Harumi Kocsi
William Kritzer
Kathleen Krol
Cheryl Kross
Lisette Land
Bret Larkin
Michelle Latsko
Sarah Lawrence
Adam Leikensohn
Teri Linderman
Joanne Luski
Jessica Malka
Mr. Joseph Mandato
Lauren Mangini
Michael Maresca
Angela Marousakis
Karen Marra
Donna Matson
Clara H. McClelland
Jean L. McCormick
Brandon and Janette McElwain
Ms. Madeline McMahan
Carolyn McNulty
Carolyn Meadows
William Meadows
Angel D Mendez Acosta
Ms. Anne A. Mester
Staci Moles
Morgan Molisani
Jorge Monsalve
Yvonne Moore
Greg Morrissey
Munchies Kettle Korn
Mary Munk
Maria Munoz
Kaitlin Murphy-Knudsen
Marlic Namathao
Robert Nelson
Ms. Rita Neubauer
Ann Nevin
Carolyn Norton
Laura Nywening
Charlie O’Brien
Hunter O’Brien
Michael Oertle
Joseph Oleske
Ms. Susan E. Oliver
Kristin Osypka
Mark Palamar
Heather Passerini
Michelle Passon
Mike Pastore
Dr. James L. Pearlman
Jason Pena
Tex Perez
Dana Peterson
Chuck Phillips
Kim Philpott
Laurie Pinover
Mr. Henry Pniewski
Jacqueline Preston
Mr. Clifford Priem
Cindy Quinton
Raw Art Creations
Jaime Rease
Ms. Amy A. Reily
James and Kathleen Riehl
Brianna Rodriguez
Joel Rodriguez-Morales
Cara Ruscin
Guilherme Salvatore
Ms. Lynn San
Mallory Schindler
Mr. and Mrs. William
Schweighofer
Colleen Scott
Gary Severance
Cheri Shepherd
Mrs. Joan H. Sibiga
Richard and Elaine Silva
Ms. Carolyn R. Skinner
Michael Smigielski
Sharon Sobkowiak
Jerrica Soto Molina
Andrew Spaeth
Ms. Dorothy A. Spanik
Sherri Stedje
Ashley Stevens
Steven Stevenson
Deb Stotts
Melissa Sueling
Daniel F. Sullivan
Jodi Sullivan
Steven Sutton
Nick Tarquinio
Lilly Thongdara
Jeff Torkelson
Kim Towey
Maureen Townsend
Marc Tracey
Betsy Treloar
Nicole Triplett
James A. Tutorow
Daniel Velazquez Torres
Mr. Charles M. Voirin
Dawnde Wallen
Laurie Walters
Ivette Walton
Mr. John Warren
Erica Webb
Elizabeth Welch
Ann Welsh
Ms. Margaret Wernet
Angel Whitfield
Mary L. Widlowski
Jennifer Young
EDGAR J. HELMS HERITAGE SOCIETY
This society is named for the founder of the international Goodwill movement and honors those who have shared his vision and ensured the future of Goodwill-Suncoast through their wills or estate plans.
Ms. Caroline M. Adams
Ms. Irene A. Alexander
Ms. Rosamond Allen
Ms. Deborah Axtell
Mr. Joseph Bagnor
Ms. Marion Baker
Ms. Helen Beaumont
Mr. Frank R. Becker
Ms. Edith Bedole
Mr. Harry A. Beede
Mr. Richard Bekken
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur T. Bennett
Ms. Emilia S. Benz
Mrs. Frances K. Biggs
Mrs. Mary C. Black
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Bodwin
Ms. Mildred A. Boerckel
Ms. E. Barbara Boger
Ms. Mary Boghi
Mr. Paul H. Bojack
Mr. and Mrs. George C. Bossard
Col. George Brown
Ms. Monette R. Burns
Mr. J. Harry Carr
Miss Mary Alice Case
Ms. Jewell P. Chapek
Ms. Thelma F. Cherry
Ms. Catherine C. Clark
Ms. Helen K. Clark
Mr. Lewis F. Colbert
Ms. Florence G. Copeland
Ms. Anna S. Corbett
Mr. Pierre J. Costich, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Craig
Ms. Muriel H. Craig
David A. Cramer
Mr. Clement Crawford
Mr. William E. Culbreath, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Cummins
Mrs. Ruth Dahling
Dr. and Mrs. S. Alton Dallgaard
Mr. Edward W. Davis
Ms. Donna Day
Ms. Leonora W. Dearlove
Mrs. Gwendolyn M. Deckert
Ms. Sadie F. DeFlaun
Mr. Ronald Dew-Brittain
Ms. Stella F. Dixon
Mr. and Mrs. Adin M. Dosh
Mrs. Irene E. Draper
Mr. Thomas T. Dunn, Esq.
Ms. Phylista Dye
Miss H. Louise Eaton
Mrs. Sarah Eberhardt
Ms. Elizabeth English
Mr. Hubert E. Erickson
William and Barbara Faber
Ms. Leone A. Farmer
Mr. Richard Y. Fernandez
Mr. and Mrs. Albert C. Fetzer
Ms. Sylvia H. Forster
Mr. Thomas Frame
Mr. Alfred G. Frey
Miss Jo Ann Gemignani
Mrs. Dorothy L. Gittings
Mr. Sergei Gladilin
Jeanette Glynn
Mrs. Callie Grall
Mr. Raymond N. Gramm
Ms. Moni-Beth Griesemer
Ms. Helen Grunenwald
Ms. Gladys L. Hahn
Mrs. Norma L. Haldeman
Ms. Dorothy Hall
Ms. Myrtle A. Hall
Ms. Tucker Mae Hall
Hildur O. Halleen
Ms. Vera Hanifan
Mr. Aaron F. Head
Ms. Alma E. Hildred
Mr. and Mrs. James A. Hinton
Ms. Mathilda F. Hoffman
Mr. Luther Y. Holland
Ms. Laura E. Hollar
Ms. Jane Carver Holmes
Mr. Richard N. Holt
Dr. John W. Holter
Mr. Daniel Howe
Ms. Bessie R. Huff
Mr. Charles N. Hunt
Mrs. Mary F. Hutchins
Mr. and Mrs. Harold R. Jaberg
Ms. Alice Jacob
Mr. George Jara
Mr. Fred W. Jobe
Dan and Tina Johnson
Mrs. Helen M. H. Jones
Mr. Howard G. Keller
Ms. Rosemarie Kibitlewski
Dr. Alfred E. King
Capt. Leonard K. Kissack
Mr. William A. Klein
Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Knoblow
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kopp
Ms. Marianne Kormendy
Mr. and Mrs. Royce W. Ladd
Mrs. Kathryn E. Lading
Ms. Priscilla Lange
Mr. Arlo Langer
Rex C. and Marie Elizabeth Larabee
Ms. Genevieve J. Larges
Mr. Solvieg Larsen
Mr. Robert W. Laude
Ms. Carolyn W. Law
Mr. Frank A. Lay
Mrs. Carol M. LeBeau
Ms. Ethel A. Lee
Mrs. Charlotte Lehnherr
Ms. Sylvia Lerner
Ms. Vera M. Lillia
Ms. Dorothy A. Lindahl
Mrs. Julia Linscott
Ms. Marjorie J. Lyman
Ms. Katherine P. MacDonald
Mrs. Leona G. Mace
Ms. Mary Williams MacMonnies
Ms. Nellie M. Maedler
Ms. Julia Manecke
Edward and Jeanne Mansfield
Ester Marie Marshick
Mr. and Mrs. Gottfried Marti
Jean B. Mash
Mr. William G. Mawhinney
Mr. Robert T. McGeorge
Ms. Gertrude Spear McGrew
Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. McIntosh
Mrs. Ada B. McManeus
Mrs. Jane Damm McPherson
Mr. Raymond E. Meyer
Mrs. Ethel T. Michaud
Mr. F. Neuman Miller
Fred & Grace Miller
Ms. Lucille Miller
Ms. Margaret B. Miller
Frank T. and Gladys M. Mills
Irene Molski
Mrs. Beatrice L. Moon
Ms. Beni Morrison
Mr. Arthur A. Moulton
Ms. Bernice E. Muench
Mr. Harry C. Mulder
Audrey B. Munguia
Mr. Bob Murtagh
Ms. Lucille M. Netcott
Dwight and Ida Newberg
Mrs. Anne Noble
Mr. Montgomery G. Northcutt
Ms. Norma B. Nunlist
Mr. Malvin H. Olsen
Mr. Donald Overholt
Ms. Dorothy Marrs Owen
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Pargeans
Ms. Freda H. Pasanen
Joseph P. and Rose E. Patton
Louis A. Pavao
Ms. Nina I. Pease
Mr. and Mrs. Hobart D. Pelhank
Mrs. Margaret D. Pereira
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Peters
Mr. John Sharp Peyton
Mr. and Mrs. Rodney F. Pierce
Ms. Marie T. Pogar
Miss Anna Pollmann
Mr. and Mrs. J. Oliver Pore
Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Pouttu
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Quak
Ms. Mary Rabanus
Mrs. Louise W. Rahmel
Ms. Hortense L. Ramsay
Mr. David V. Ramsay
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Rankin Trust
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Rawcliffe
Victoria M. Ream
Mr. Carl H. Reed
Mrs. Fimie R. Richie
Ms. E. Hope Rietschlin
Mrs. Elizabeth C. Roberts
Ms. Grace C. Roe
Ms. Eva P. Rogers
Ms. Margaret G. Ruff
Mr. Charles Saltzman
Mr. Richard J. Sargent
Edward E. and Ella Schenk
Ms. Erika Schnabel
Mrs. Jean A. Schneider
Mr. William H. Schoenfeld, Jr.
Mrs. Anella B. Shapiro
Ms. Rita Sherman
Ms. Pearl F. Shuttlesworth
Mrs. Mabel I. Soine
Dr. Florence E. Stansbury
Ms. Kathryn B. Stenquist
Robert G. Stern, Esq.
Ms. Helen Hartinger Stevenson
Mr. Stephen K. Stimson
Mr. Harris M. Sullivan, Jr.
Mrs. Catherine L. Svoboda
Ms. Helen Swarthout
Mrs. Esther C. Swiney
Ms. Rita Tavenner
Mrs. Betty M. Teguns
Mrs. Muriel Terry
Mr. Lawrence J. Thiery
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Tinstman
Theodore P. and Marian Hadley Tonne
Ms. Bernice K. Trulsen
Mr. Henry W. Tuck
Ms. Hedy Tumillo
Mr. and Mrs. Herman B. Van Schooten
Mrs. Grace Vargo
Mrs. Adeline M. Vavrik
Kenneth N. Verriden Trust
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Volkman
Mr. and Mrs. R. Lee Waits
Mr. Henry E. Walters, Jr.
Mr. Frank Warren
Ms. Cora H. Wasser
Ms. Janet S. Weaver
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred R. West
Ms. Virginia F. Westervelt
Mr. Orville L. Westlund
Mr. Flernoy White
Ms. Laura White
Mrs. Janet L. Whitlock
Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Whitney
Mr. Roland E. Whitney
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Wilke
Jim and Sue Williams
Ms. Eva M. Wills
Mr. William B. Wood
Mrs. Helen M. Zachariasen
Richard and Lee Zeh
10596 Gandy Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
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GOODWORLD NEWS | SPRING/SUMMER 2025
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Project SEARCH
Emily, a recent graduate of the Goodwill-Suncoast Project SEARCH program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, first learned about the program from her sister, Brittani, a previous graduate. Brittani invited Emily to visit the Project SEARCH classroom and tour the hospital. With her sister’s support, Emily joined the program and quickly blossomed.
During her second rotation in food service, Emily gained confidence, made friends, and developed essential skills. As she approached graduation, a full-time job opened up in the department. She applied and was thrilled to receive an offer—with above-minimum wage pay and benefits. Her parents were overjoyed, grateful that Goodwill listened to Emily’s interests and aspirations throughout the job search.
Now, Emily is learning vital life skills like work-life balance and time management. She plans to save her paycheck for a car, demonstrating her commitment to independence.
We’re so proud to have been a part of Emily’s journey as she begins her professional career feeling valued and confident.
See Emily’s jouney on YouTube Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.
Permit #5008
St. Petersburg, FL
LEGISLATION THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS CHARITABLE GIVING
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which includes the SECURE Act 2.0, addresses several areas related to retirement planning. This legislation expanded the definition of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and introduced inflation indexing for the $100,000 annual QCD limit beginning in 2024. It also broadened the scope of eligible distributions to include certain life income gifts, specifically Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) and Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs).
Additionally, IRA owners are now allowed to make a one-time distribution of up to $50,000 to fund a CGA or CRT. This distribution must be made in a single year and may only be utilized once during the IRA owner’s lifetime. There are additional stipulations, so IRA owners should carefully review all details before proceeding with such a distribution.
If you are an IRA owner interested in converting a portion of your IRA into income while also supporting Goodwill-Suncoast, we would be honored to discuss this legacy gift opportunity with you. Please note that this is not legal, financial, or tax advice. We encourage you to consult with your professional advisors to determine whether this strategy aligns with your goals and objectives.
For more information, please contact: Jim Williams, Vice President of Fund Development, at (888) 279-1988 or via email at jim.williams@goodwill-suncoast.com.
