SPRING 2018
On Bug O ur to r e v al O u n n 3rd A Das h! ie p p i H
L E T T E R
F R O M
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P R E S I D E N T
Coming Together for a Cause ®
It’s no secret that hippies in the ‘60s had an unconventional way of looking at things. In a very different way, so, too, does Goodwill.
President and CEO Deborah Passerini
Many people who are struggling are down on their luck through no fault of their own. So Goodwill approaches the needs in our community by offering a hand up, providing people with the tools to make their own way. Because we believe that where a person is today is not as important as where they’re going tomorrow.
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 President and CEO Emeritus R. Lee Waits Our Mission: To help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. 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.
On Saturday, May 19 in downtown Gulfport, we will hold our third annual Hippie Dash, a family event with 8K and 5K runs, a dog and stroller friendly one-mile Walk, Woof & Roll, and a Flower Child Fun Run. Everyone is welcome! To register, visit goodwill-suncoast.org/hippie-dash Goodwill holds Hippie Dash, its biggest fundraiser of the year, to bring people together to promote “peace, love and goodwill” in a society that sometimes divides us. When you participate, you are helping people like Amey, whose story appears on page 7. With your support, we plan to do even more to help people achieve brighter futures. Goodwill is part of a new Junior Achievement Finance Park opening soon in Tampa that will help 8th graders learn about managing their finances. We recently opened our newest retail store and distribution center on U.S. 301 near the Selmon Expressway in Tampa, which have brought new jobs to the area. Sales from our stores also support Goodwill’s services. I leave you with a flashback to a song from the ‘60s that reflects the spirit of coming together for the greater good.
“Come on people now, Smile on your brother, Everybody get together Try to love one another Right Now.”
Sincerely,
Deborah A. Passerini President and Chief Executive Officer
The Volunteer Guy Scott Coursen first learned about Goodwill-Suncoast while volunteering at our affordable housing communities. He later applied for a job and as luck would have it, Scott is now our Community Relations Coordinator, in charge of recruiting volunteers to Goodwill! Since he began his career with us in 2014, Scott has implemented our Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill (JAG) program for high school students (more on page 3), and is instrumental in recruiting volunteers for our fundraisers, such as the Hippie Dash (cover story). To learn more about volunteering for Goodwill-Suncoast, contact Scott at scott. coursen@goodwill-suncoast.com or call 727-440-7861.
In Memoriam
Jack Amenda, maintenance technician with Goodwill-Suncoast, passed away in January. He had been with Goodwill for more than 16 years and was considered a go-to guy, always ready to do whatever was needed. Colleagues remember him as someone who could make you smile, with a wink and a tip of his bald eagle/USA hat. He was a family man who loved going home to Wisconsin to see his children and grandchildren. He will be missed but not forgotten.
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Come On,
Get Hippie!
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On May 19th our 3rd annual Hippie Dash for Peace, Love & Goodwill is coming to Gulfport, and we hope you’ll join us! Choose from an 8k, 5k, 1-mile Walk, Woof & Roll (dogs welcome) and a Flower Child Fun Run for the little hippies! We invite adults, kids and even dogs to come dressed in hippie costumes for a chance to win far-out prizes. A DJ will be spinning 1960s-era tunes and all runners and walkers get a groovy medal, branded t-shirt, and an air-conditioned after party with free munchies and beer. Runners can create their own team during registration, and the largest team will win a special prize. The 8k and 5k are chip-timed events along certified courses, and most excellent award medals will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group. The Hippie Dash raises funds for Goodwill’s mission of putting local people back to work! Last year’s event had more than 800 hippies running, walking and rolling through Gulfport’s quirky downtown. A post-race survey of runners showed that 97 percent would like to do the run again this year! Come join us along Gulfport’s historic waterfront, the perfect funky location for a counter-culture meet up. If you can’t make it, you can participate virtually and still receive a medal and t-shirt.
See you May 19, you dig? To register go to https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Gulfport/HippieDash
Presented by
& these Groovy Sponsors!
Ad Partners • BayCare • Canteen • Coppertail Brewing Co. • Humana • Leon Korol Company • Sabal Trust Company • Taylor White • Winters & Yonker, P.A. AAA Tile Service • Advantica Benefits • Arvil Hammons, LLC • Carrier Enterprise, LLC • DWK Corporation • FGX International Gold Medal International • Gordon Food Service • Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems of Tampa • MAC Wholesale Paul Norris • Debbie & Jim Passerini • The Marketing Posse • Regent Products Corp. • Rush Truck Centers SJL • Sun State International Trucks • TECO-Tampa Electric • Jim & Sue Williams
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GoodStuff
No-Haggle Used Car Sales We’ve revamped our monthly Saturday-only car sales to an appointment-based no-haggle sales experience! Thanks to our generous donors, we have a wide variety of vehicles to choose from. To see what’s available just visit our website and choose “Car Sales” under the “Shop” menu. If you find something you like, set up an appointment to view it. If you like what you see, you’ll get new wheels and your purchase will support our Goodwill programs that help people find jobs!
Need Volunteer Hours?
Get Back ! We’re excited to announce our new Back to Your Future program for the general public and Goodwill employees. The free program is designed to help you plan your career goals and map out the education needed to achieve them. To learn more, contact our Job Connection Center at 727-321-7337 or email jobconnection@goodwill-suncoast.com
If your high schooler needs community service hours, or would just like to spend some time in the summer helping out, our Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill (JAG) program is now taking online registrations. Teens can earn 35 community service hours in a one-weeklong summer program that introduces them to Goodwill and our daily operations. Each day is spent volunteering in a different setting, helping others in the community. Learn more under the “Volunteer” tab on our website.
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.
A New Mobile App We’re pleased to announce the Goodwill Mobile App, a smartphone app for iOS (Apple) and Android smartphones that helps people find and connect with Goodwill locations nearby. It also contains topics ranging from career and financial advice to DIY fashion and décor tips. The Goodwill Mobile App is available in Google play for Android and the App Store for Apple devices.
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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.
U P C Y C L E
P R O J E C T
Fringe Society
Join the Hippie Dash counter-culture with this easy DIY fringe vest!
❶ Grab an old t-shirt – easy, right? If your t-shirt isn’t a v-neck, begin by cutting out the collar.
Next, cut off the sleeves
❸ To give your shirt a more vest-y feel, flip it over and cut only the back side armholes a little bit inwards.
Now cut some fringe, as high or as low as you want it!
❷
❺
❹ Flip it back over and cut the front part in half.
BAM!
FRINGE VEST! Next stop: Downtown Gulfport for the Hippie Dash! Who knows, you may even win the costume contest…
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GoodLilly’s
Adventures in Art Donated item $5.98 Spring Hill Superstore A like-new graphic art print with the original $14.99 price tag from Old Time Pottery.
Spring Bling It’s a Polka Party! Donated item $1.18 Trinity Superstore
Donated item $5.98 Brandon Superstore This sparkly little clutch would make the perfect accessory to any spring outfit.
The album jacket says the polka is “a must at any self-respecting Polish picnic,” so put your old turntable to good use with Goodwill’s fun selection of vinyl!
Garden Gloves New item $1.39 Most Goodwill Superstores How does your garden grow? With a new pair of gloves from Goodwill!
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A collection of brand new and donated items found at Goodwill-Suncoast stores
Diary of a Smart Shopper Donated item $2.18 Wesley Chapel Superstore Why buy new when Goodwill has hundreds of popular books for sale? When you’re done reading, pay it forward and donate them back!
Kitsch Me if You Can Donated item $1.98 Sebring Superstore This glittery mermaid has just the right attitude to hang out at your pool bar, on your Christmas tree, wherever!
A Spring in your Step Donated item $6.96 St. Petersburg 34th St. N. Superstore These cute and colorful Impo heels would add a pop of color to a spring or summer outfit.
Cutest Canister Donated item $4.98 Oldsmar Superstore The top of this ceramic “stove” opens up into a storage canister, and it’s adorable!
Send us your Goodwill finds!
If we feature them here or on our Upcycle page we’ll send you a $20 gift card good at any Goodwill-Suncoast retail 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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10596 Gandy Blvd. St. Petersburg, FL 33702 ®
Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE
PAID
Permit #5008 St. Petersburg, FL
Change Service Requested
GoodWorld News • Spring 2018
GoodWorks Maxx-imum Success! Amey Patterson has come a long way since she first came to Goodwill. Then she was shy and had never been employed. She started with Goodwill’s Lakeland Life Skills Development program and learned to work with the compactor and baler. As her skills and experience grew, so did her confidence.
Amey moved on to Goodwill’s outlet store, where she excelled as an associate and cashier. Last summer she was ready to try community employment so she entered our Supported Employment program. After two months of on-the-job training at TJ Maxx she was offered a job as a back room associate. She enjoys her work pricing and putting security sensors on shoes and purses and laying out clothing to be tagged. “They like me!” Amey says proudly.
New in East Tampa! In April we opened our newest Goodwill retail store at 1407 US Hwy 301 in Tampa! The 12,000-square-footstore joins our new 200,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center at the same address. The store features a convenient drive-through donation lane, and of course, lots and lots of bargain shopping! Come see for yourself!