GoodWorld News Fall 2015

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INSIDE: Welcome Aboard

FALL 2015

Funky Trunk

L E T T E R

F R O M

T H E

P R E S I D E N T

Sharing What’s In Store ®

While the first day of winter is nearly two months away, there’s something at the top of any wish list if you are in retail – cold weather!

President and CEO Deborah Passerini

Cold weather brings in shoppers, officially ushers in the holiday season, and stirs memories of holidays past. At Goodwill-Industries Suncoast, though, we are not planning to watch the thermometer.

Board Chair Heather Ceresoli Members of the Board Lee Bell Heather Ceresoli Robert D. Dobkowski Tom Falone IV Mark E. Gauthier Martin W. Gladysz Marie Hebbler Paul Horowitz Andrea D. Kiehl Louise R. Lopez John Maceovsky Dominic Macrone Carole F. Philipson Mark D. Pichowski Ed Rader Bob Wabbersen Sandra Young

We are focused on creating a positive shopping experience for all who enter our 16 retail stores. Our aim is to provide clean, brightly lit stores and a hassle-free shopping experience.

In this issue, I invite you to read about the grand re-opening of our store on Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg, which now includes an additional 3,000 square feet of retail space and a new drive-up donation area so you can drop off donations quickly and easily.

Construction has already begun on a new store in Clearwater, one of three retail stores we plan to open before the end of 2017. Our stores provide much of the funding for Goodwill’s services to the community, such as the one that helped Kami obtain job skills and find employment in the community. Her story is on page 7.

To assist even more people who are unemployed or underemployed, we’re opening a Job Connection Center at the Goodwill store on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg before the end of the year. This will be the first of several store-based centers where Goodwill staff will help people find and secure employment. This will support our goal of helping individuals and families achieve economic stability.

Each time you shop in our stores or donate to Goodwill you provide support for training and resources to help those without jobs overcome obstacles to employment. That’s something we can all celebrate.

Sincerely,

President and CEO Emeritus R. Lee Waits Our Mission: To help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work.

Deborah A. Passerini, President and Chief Executive Officer

GoodWorld News is a quarterly publication for friends and employees of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.

Welcome A-board!

Jennifer Fleming, Editor 727-523-1512, ext. 1015 jennifer.fleming@goodwill-suncoast.com 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.

Heather Heather Ceresoli Ceresoli

In September, Heather Ceresoli was elected as the new board chair of Goodwill-Suncoast’s Board of Directors. Heather is a partner and chief operating officer of Taylor White financial and accounting recruitment firm in St. Petersburg. She has been a very active and enthusiastic Goodwill board member and has served on every committee since she began her tenure in 2005.

We welcome Heather and say a sad goodbye to Oscar Horton, who was elected to the board in 2002 and served as chair from 2010 through 2015. His time and guidance were invaluable.

Dominic Macrone

Sandra Young

We’ve also welcomed two new members to our all-volunteer board – Dominic Macrone, director of human resources at Tampa International Airport, and Sandra Young, senior vice president of Regions Bank in Tampa.

Dominic has a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations from Cornell University and is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a musician who regularly plays, records and composes. He shares his interest in music with his three sons who range in age from 8 to 20. Dominic and his wife, Katherine, live in South Tampa.

Sandra lives in Belleair Beach with her husband, Norman. Sandra and Norman have three grown sons and a daughter-in-law. Sandra once served on the Goodwill of North Georgia board and is happy to once again be offering her expertise to a rewarding cause.

In Memoriam

Leopold “Leo” Bavol, maintenance supervisor at Goodwill’s Heritage Oaks of Palm Harbor apartments, passed away June 22. He had worked at Goodwill since 2005 and was a favorite of staff and residents. Leo was a hard worker who made sure jobs were completed quickly, yet he always had a smile and a joke for residents. A family man, Leo loved his jet ski and frequently enjoyed the Gulf waters. He is deeply missed.

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COVER STORY

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Tell your circle of friends about the drive

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Collect clothing and household items

id you know there’s a Goodwill program that allows schools, churches and other organizations to bring in some green while going green?

It’s called Giving Makes Cents, and it’s an excellent fundraising tool!

Here’s how it works: Students, family members or members of the community take donations to a Goodwill bin at participating schools or organizations. Or they take items to a designated Goodwill donation center and

Drop off at pre-assigned donation location

mention that they’re donating on behalf of a school or organization. The donations are weighed and Goodwill gives the organization a monthly check for the pounds donated.

Last year, 23 groups participated in Giving Makes Cents. In total, they donated 142,136 pounds of clothing and household items!

That includes groups such as Shore Acres Elementary, Giving the Gospel, Clearwater High School, Girl Scout Troop 30945, and our newest participant, the American Legion – Post 138.

E M P L O Y E E

Get a monthly check based on the weight of your donation

Equally impor tant, those par ticipating organizations are doing their part to keep the planet healthy while supporting Goodwill’s mission of helping people achieve their full potential. Some teachers are linking the program to lesson plans about recycling, tying in the fact that Goodwill repurposes billions of pounds of clothing and other items that may otherwise end up in landfills.

To find out more, call Darrell Courson at (888) 279-1988 ext. 1439.

P R O F I L E

A Career of Helping Others For Angela Harris, helping people succeed is a way of life.

She worked for Goodwill-Suncoast for 12 years as a behavioral assistant in one of our Life Skills Development programs for adults with disabilities. She then spent seven years in family support services for the Pinellas County Health Department.

Lucky for us, she has been back with Goodwill for two years now. This time, Angela is a Community Employment Coach. In her new role, once people with disabilities are placed in a job, Angela helps them succeed with regular follow-up, job training and development, and help with policies and procedures. She currently has a caseload of 15 people to assist in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

Angela lives in St. Petersburg and has two grown children. She is enjoying once again working with people with disabilities and helping them to succeed.

“Knowing my consumers have a sense of independence, are earning their own money, becoming active in the community – just seeing that alone is very rewarding,” she says.

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GoodLilly’s

A Bradley Backpack Donated item $8.36 Oldsmar Superstore This fashionable Vera Bradley backpack is the designer’s “retired” Buttercup pattern. Do you know what year it was retired? See the orange circle for the answer.

Tick-Tock Cool Clock!

New item $9.99 All superstores This surreal, Steampunk clock would make a great and unusual Christmas gifts.

Cherubic Décor Donated item $2.16 Lakeland Superstore When you’re looking for decorations, don’t forget to check out Goodwill and celebrate the season for less!

Turkey Time Donated item $3.16 Spring Hill Superstore Wouldn’t you just gobble up this cute turkey candleholder, just in time for Thanksgiving?

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A collection of brand new and donated items found at Goodwill-Suncoast stores

Keep it Together!

Donated items $2.16 Tampa Superstore What a pretty paperweight to keep your desk organized!

Pretty Plaque Donated item $2.16 St. Petersburg Superstore Goodwill always has a fun selection of wall hangings to match any home décor!

Swimming in Cuteness

Heads Up!

Donated item $3.16 Wesley Chapel Superstore

Donated item $2.16 Oxford Superstore

This adorable little mermaid would make waves in any kid’s décor!

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With shelves and shelves of interesting little knick-knacks, you never know what you’ll find at Goodwill!

Send us your Goodwill finds!

If we feature them here or on our Upcycle page we’ll send you a $20 gift card to any Goodwill-Suncoast store. Post your photos on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/goodwillsuncoast) or e-mail them to jennifer.fleming@goodwill-suncoast.com.

For Goodwill store locations, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

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GoodStuff

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Volunteers!

More than 40 Deloitte employees volunteered at Goodwill for their company’s IM PAC T Day, a national day of volunteering. The volunteers eagerly helped o u t i n o u r B o o k Wo r k s literac y program and in our Life Skills Development programs for adults with disabilities. Thanks everyone for graciously lending a hand!

Goodwill introduces our newest service If you’ve lost a loved one, are downsizing, or find yourself in another transitional stage of life, we can help lessen your burden. At no charge, we’ll come to your home, pack up the things you no longer need and take them to Goodwill. Your donations will support job training and employment services locally, and you’ll receive an itemized donation receipt for tax purposes. For more information about our White Glove Service, please call 866-604-6634, ext.1403.

A BASH TO REMEMBER Hundreds of costumed party-goers came out to celebrate Halloween during our annual fundraiser, Ghoulwill Bash. This year’s Carnival of Dread theme featured games, a silent auction, psychic readers, live music, a runway show of creative costumes using Goodwill finds, and much more! Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening, which benefitted our programs for adults with disabilities, a big success. A heartfelt thank you to the following sponsors:

If you would like to volunteer at G oodwill, please see the Volunteer page of our website. You’ll find volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups and corporations.

We’d love to hear from you!

Reduce Taxes, Increase Income!

Consider a Goodwill Gift Annuity.

60 years or older?

Invest in Goodwill for tax savings and lifetime income!

When you make a gift of cash or stock into a Goodwill annuity, you receive an immediate charitable income tax deduction. You also receive guaranteed income for life, after which Goodwill uses the remaining principle for services to people who are disabled or disadvantaged.

Annuity Rates Age 60 Age 65 Age 70 Age 75 Age 80 Age 90

4.8% 5.3% 5.8% 6.5% 7.5% 9.8%

Rates as of 6/1/2013

Doubletake Marketing and PR by Design Extravaganza Productions Gregory, Sharer & Stuart, CPAs Hawkins Construction, Inc. • HSN Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Piedmont Companies, Inc. • Skyway Business Center, Inc. The Bank of Tampa • Zeno Office Solutions 5

For a free proposal, please contact Jim Williams, Vice President for Fund Development (888) 279-1988 Ext. 1050 or e-mail jim.williams@goodwill-suncoast.com

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defg up• cy•cle rded objects or 1. reuse (disca create a product material) to ality or value of a higher qu al. than the origin

Jars and Jars of Décor

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Goodwill shopper Nancy T. found this jar at our Trinity Superstore for $2.16. It was already painted, with the barn inside and raffia ribbon on top.

Nancy added her handmade horse cross stitch jar lid,

AND BAM! A perfect match!

In search of more “jarring” crafts, we turned to Pinterest and found this pretty holiday inspiration.

In an attempt to recreate, we found smaller glass jars at Goodwill and filled them with Epsom salts and a small candle. Super easy, but not as cute as the Pinterest project! If you have better luck with upcycling your Goodwill finds, we’d love to hear about it!

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10596 Gandy Blvd.

St. Petersburg, FL 33702 ®

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GoodWorld News • Fall 2015

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Permit #5008 St. Petersburg, FL

GoodWorks The Power of Work With a contagious smile and positive attitude, Kami Eichorn is a great example of how work can transform someone’s life.

Kami, 29, came to Goodwill in 2012 and enrolled in our Supported Employment Program, which helps people with all types of disabilities find employment. As part of the program, a Goodwill employment specialist helps workers find a job consistent with their goals and abilities, then follows their progress to make sure both the employee and employer are satisfied.

Since July of 2014, Kami has been working as a lobby attendant at a Tampa McDonald’s. She enjoys working and thrives on being positive and speaking to others.

“I meet a lot of new friends and nice customers,” Kami says. “I like it!”

Kami’s Goodwill job coach says Kami is well-liked by all her co-workers and is a true team player.

“We enstill in her that she is a great worker and a valued employee,” her job coach says.

Bigger and Better Hundreds of shoppers turned out in September to check out our new and improved store at 10596 Gandy Blvd. in St. Petersburg! They enjoyed the store’s additional 3,000 square feet of bargain hunting space, additional cash register lanes, a new drive-through donation area and hourly drawings for Goodwill gift cards. If you haven’t visited yet, come check us out!

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Kami lives in Tampa with her parents and a brother and sister. She rides a bus to her job and takes great pride in her work. “When they tell me to do something, I do it,” she says, smiling.