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INSIDE: Groovy Sponsors Color Tag Discount SPRING 2017
L E T T E R
T H E
P R E S I D E N T
Hippies & Surveys & Fairs, Oh My!
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President and CEO Deborah Passerini
As you’ll see in this issue, it has been a busy quarter for us and will continue to be so as we keep on truckin’ on!
Board Chair Heather Ceresoli Members of the Board Lee Bell Steve Bivens Heather Ceresoli Robert D. Dobkowski Tom Falone IV Mark E. Gauthier Martin W. Gladysz Marie Hebbler Andrea D. Kiehl Louise R. Lopez John Maceovsky Dominic Macrone Christina Miller Melissa Mora, Esq. Carole F. Philipson Mark D. Pichowski Scott Rutz Bob Wabbersen Sandra Young
F R O M
Speaking of truckin’ on, our second-annual Hippie Dash 5k & Flower Child Fun Run in Gulfport was once again a huge success! We couldn’t have pulled off such an awesome vibe without the help of many community businesses that supported us – and you’ll see them all listed on the opposite page. What a groovy group! In April we invited CARF International (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) to take a close look at our services for people with disabilities and at our organization as a whole. You can read more about that in the article below. We’re very pleased with the surveyors’ initial impressions of our operation. But we can’t stop there! On May 10, Goodwill’s Job Connection Center is holding a free community job fair in honor of Goodwill Industries Week. Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill agencies across the United States and Canada celebrate the power of work through local events and promotions. You can read more about the job fair on page 5. As always, I thank you for supporting Goodwill throughout the entire year.
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. 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.
A Prestigious Accreditation In April, Goodwill-Suncoast was visited by three accreditation reviewers for CARF International Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Gaining CARF accreditation is the highest endorsement that can be awarded to agencies providing community integration and employment services for people with disabilities. While the final results of the accreditation survey aren’t yet in, one reviewer told the Goodwill-Suncoast team: “You should be very, very proud. You’re one of the best organizations I’ve ever surveyed…a motivated, professional and caring team.” Since 1971, Goodwill-Suncoast has earned continuous accreditation from CARF, and we’re very proud of the coveted designation, as it involves undergoing a rigorous peer review process and demonstrating the highest quality of programs and services.
In Memoriam
On Jan. 22 Goodwill and the world lost a creative talent when Rusty Peterman passed away while surrounded by friends. Rusty began working for Goodwill as a retail sales associate in 2008 and his talent for creating artistic retail displays soon became apparent. He was promoted to visual & merchandising specialist with responsibility for designing eye-catching displays in multiple Goodwill stores. Anyone who knew Rusty will remember that he had a flair like no other. He is truly missed.
Highland County BookWorks by the Numbers We’re Up and Running and Reading!
391 6 6
children served…and counting!
The Sebring location for Goodwill’s BookWorks program opened earlier this year and is busy putting books into the hands and homes of children who may not otherwise have them! The new BookWorks Book Room is adjacent to the Goodwill store in Sebring Square Mall on US 27. The BookWorks center is open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The new center, Goodwill’s third “book room,” is seeking volunteers and book donations to support the program. BookWorks promotes literacy by distributing books to children from low-income families. Goodwill volunteers read to children at Head Start centers and other locations and then present each child with a personalized book to take home. Volunteers may also help clean, sort and prepare books for distribution.
centers served
volunteers; 3 of which are dual volunteers with sorting
493
To volunteer for BookWorks, call 863-314-3200, ext 108 or email bookworks@goodwill-suncoast.com.
books distributed
Our 2017 Hippie Dash
Here’s to our GROOVY sponsors!
5k & Flower Child Fun Run
was a HUGE SUCCESS, thanks to more than 800 runners and 23 sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
BayCare
Canteen
City of Gulfport
Amscot Financial
Carrier Enterprise
Fit2Run
Gordon Food Service
Humana
Landscapers, Inc.
Nestle Waters North America/Zephyrhills Water
SEEDS Engineering
TECO Peoples Gas
UPA United Packaging Associates
Paul Norris
Jim Williams
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GoodLilly’s
Read All About It
Don’t Whine!
Donated item $1.18 Oldsmar Superstore
Donated item $1.98 Trinity Superstore
Why buy new when Goodwill has shelves and shelves of interesting books for all ages to choose from?
Get your glassware at Goodwill, you’ll find lots of variety and lower prices.
Tidy Up
Donated item $2.98 Wesley Chapel Superstore
Go Gecko
Donated item $1.98 St. Petersburg Superstore This colorful cutie is climbing the walls to go home with a Goodwill shopper!
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Keep the clutter off your counter with this flowery napkin holder, just one of the many household items you’ll find for less at Goodwill!
A collection of brand new and donated items found at Goodwill-Suncoast stores
Converse-ation Starter Donated item $3.98 Lakeland Superstore
It’s not every day you find a hot pink sneaker coin bank, right?
Home Decor
Donated item $3.98 Brandon Superstore When you need a quick refresh to your home décor, start looking at Goodwill first! You never know what you might find.
Ribbet!
New item $5.99 Most Goodwill Superstores This little garden frog will look cute in your yard while simultaneously keeping track of rainfall.
Spring Fashion
FOX 13’s Good Day Tampa Bay featured spring fashions on a budget from Goodwill, and this classic, colorful, casual Friday look was a winner! It was put together entirely with Goodwill finds, both donated and new.
Send us your Goodwill finds!
If we feature them here or on our Upcycle page we’ll send you a $20 gift certificate to any Goodwill-Suncoast store. Post your photos on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/goodwillsuncoast)or e-mail them to gw.marketing@goodwill-suncoast.com. For Goodwill store locations, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.
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GoodStuff On May 10, Goodwill’s Job Connection Center is holding a free community job fair with multiple employers in honor of Goodwill Industries Week.
Sail Away With Us!
Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill agencies across the United States and Canada celebrate the power of work through local events and promotions. The job fair is free to employers and job seekers, and offers lots of perks to both!
Mark your calendars now for a shipload of fun during our 2017 Ghoulwill Bash Ship of Ghouls haunted cruise! This year we will set sail October 20th at 7 p.m. on Tampa’s Yacht StarShip. Guests will enjoy dinner, dancing, costume contests, games and a night cruise around Tampa Bay.
For more information and to pre-register, go to www.goodwill-suncoast.com/job-fair
What could possibly go wrong?
A Dino-Mite Deal! Here’s a roaring good offer you won’t want to miss! When you donate to Goodwill-Suncoast in May you’ll get a coupon good for a free child’s ticket to Dinosaur World in Plant City with the purchase of an adult ticket. That’s a savings of $11.95! The coupons will be good through July 2017. Plan ahead for the long days of summer and welcome to the jungle! Dinosaur World has acres of shady exhibits and playgrounds.
G
D W I LL
Huntress
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On the Hunt for Bargains! We’re happy to introduce our new fashion blogger, the Goodwill Huntress! Her real name is Keleigh Knabel, and she’s a St. Petersburg resident who thrives on the thrill of the hunt! She can usually be found tracking down deals at Tampa Bay area Goodwill stores! You can see her many fashionable finds here https://blog.goodwillsuncoast.org/
Leave a Legacy Many people think of charitable giving as a one-sided or oneway gift. You give a donation to a charitable organization to be used for its programs and expect nothing more than a “thank you letter.” However, a charitable gift annuity is a simple way to make a substantial donation to Goodwill-Suncoast while you continue to receive a secure and steady income. A charitable gift annuity is an agreement between you and Goodwill-Suncoast. In exchange for your irrevocable gift of at least $10,000 in cash or public stock, Goodwill will pay you a guaranteed amount for life (including your spouse). Charitable gift annuities are easy to set up and the donors receive an immediate tax deduction for the gift portion of the annuity. A portion of the annuity payments is also tax deductible. One of the chief benefits is that you will play a significant role in helping Goodwill-Suncoast to continue to be able to help thousands of people access job training and find employment so that they can become self-confident, productive citizens. To learn more, please contact us toll free at 888-279-1988 or email jim.williams@goodwill-suncoast.com.
Hang it up!
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
Is there tangled jewelry all over your dresser? Try these simple DIY organizers! A simple corkboard and push pins—yes, anyone can do that!
A slightly more complicated option, starting with a $3 picture frame from Goodwill. Replace the glass with a piece of rolled corkboard from the craft store. Paint the corkboard if you want, add a few push pins and viola!
Shadowboxes often come with a “pinnable” back, in which case you can just add small hooks or push pins to hang your jewelry.
For a more rustic option, recycle a metal rake! Easy peasy!
Or, if needed, you can add corkboard to the back.
Do you have a project using Goodwill finds you’d like to share? Email Jennifer.Fleming@Goodwill-Suncoast.com for a chance to be featured here and win a $20 Goodwill gift card!
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GoodWorld News • Sping 2017
GoodWorks Project SEARCH A unique program & partnership provides work experience to youth with disabilities. What happens when Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students graduate from high school? The difficulty in transitioning to “real life” is a pressing issue for the students and their families. Now, in an unprecedented partnership, GoodwillSuncoast, Marion County Schools, Vocational Rehabilitation and Hilton Ocala are joining forces to launch a new Project SEARCH program in Marion County.
Goodwill-Suncoast was selected in December to operate in Florida for Project SEARCH, providing employment services to students with disabilities in Marion County. Goodwill will work with the Hilton Ocala to provide on-site job coaching, training and outplacement services to students. Internships will last the entire school year and after completion students will receive placement services from Goodwill’s Employment Services Program in Ocala.
The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a business-led, one-year, school-to-work program which takes place entirely at the workplace. It’s designed for people with significant disabilities whose goal is competitive employment.
For more information, contact Derek Arnold, Goodwill’s Manager of Community Employment Initiatives, at 352-427-1384
Color Tag Discount
is Here!
You asked for it, you got it! In April all Goodwill-Suncoast retail stores began a color tag discount program, making a good deal even better! Now you can save 50% on items tagged with the color of the week. Just stop in our retail stores to find out what color to look for, and happy hunting!
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