Opportunities

®

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.

www.goodwill-suncoast.org

Summer 2013

Beyoncé Lends Her Voice

GOOD

for Goodwill

Lending her Voice for

Goodwill is crazy in love with Beyoncé.

The A-list celebrity is lending her voice to help raise awareness about Goodwill's mission of transforming lives through the power of work. The announcement came just as Beyoncé kicked off The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.

"Goodwill helps people get back to work by providing education, job training and placement. I wanted to team up with an organization that puts people first and works every day to help them improve and re-establish their lives," said Beyoncé.

Beyoncé is promoting Goodwill donation drives at her North American concerts that began June 28. Goodwill is hosting mobile donation centers onsite at 28 tour venues in 24 cities, collecting clothing, electronics and small household goods. The revenue from the sale of these donations will directly benefit local Goodwill agencies in their work to help people with disabilities and disadvantages, and anyone facing challenges, find employment.

The Goodwill-Suncoast area is not a tour stop, but we encourage people to donate online via www.goodwill.org and direct the funds to GoodwillSuncoast.

Beyoncé is also helping to build awareness of Goodwill's mission through in-concert education, social media and online ticket auctions. Global charity auction site Charitybuzz.com is auctioning special ticket packages for The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, with the revenue benefitting Goodwill.

Trinity Puts the “Grand” in Grand Opening!

Paddling and Jamming Besides free gifts to early bird shoppers at our grand opening in Trinity and grand re-opening in Brandon, weekend shoppers at either store could also register to win one big prize: a bright yellow brand new kayak in Trinity and a new electric guitar kit in Brandon.

The lucky kayak winner was Brett Rein, who told our store manager he was also awarded a $10,000 college scholarship the same week! That’s one lucky guy. Congratulations Brett!

At the Brandon superstore, it was Melanie Hood of Valrico who walked away with the electric guitar set. Her son was the real winner, though. He already had his eye on the “everything you need to rock in one box” prize and was hoping his mom would win.

What a line! Dozens of shoppers waited patiently for the 9 a.m. grand opening.

The sun was barely up on the day Goodwill’s newest superstore in Trinity was set to open, but a line was already forming. Patiently waiting outside for the 9 a.m. official opening was New Port Richey resident AnneMarie Nece. She was first in line, armed with a grand opening coupon.

“I came here for the deal of the day,” said the long-time Goodwill shopper. “I’m always looking!”

AnneMarie was the first in line, but she was hardly the first early bird. Before the doors opened, a line had formed down two sides of the superstore and cars were “creatively” parked to make room in the parking lot.

In all, nearly 2,000 shoppers visited the bright, airy superstore during its grand opening weekend June 15 and 16, making it the most successful grand opening in Goodwill-Suncoast history. The first 200 shoppers were invited to pick a free prize from a “treasure chest” of goodies and register to win a brand new kayak (see sidebar).

At the same time, but in eastern Hillsborough County, our Brandon superstore was holding its grand re-opening, celebrating numerous upgrades to the store’s interior and exterior. Shoppers there were also invited to pick free prizes and register to win a new electric guitar.

“For all of you who support Goodwill during our grand openings and every other day, thank you!” said Debbie Passerini, president and CEO of Goodwill-Suncoast. “Your donations and purchases change lives in our local communities.”

Kayak winner Brett Rein

Guitar winner Melanie Hood

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. Page 2

Opportunities

Summer 2013

Suitable For All Ages President and CEO Deborah Passerini Board Chair Oscar J. Horton Members of the Board Lee Bell, CPA Joshua Beyer Mark W. Brown Heather Ceresoli Steven M. Erickson Tom Falone, IV Mark E. Gauthier Martin W. Gladysz Marie Carson Hebbler Paul Horowitz Karl Koch Louise R. Lopez Richard E. Ludwig John Maceovsky, CPA John McCaugherty David E. Murphy Carole Philipson Ed Rader Charlie Robinson, Jr. Timothy Salzsieder Loreen M. Spencer Robert G. Stern, Esq. President and CEO Emeritus R. Lee Waits

Our Mission: To help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work.

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

There's an old saying that first you learn, then you earn, and then you give back. Yet, we’re finding that people want to help others, regardless of their own age or experience.

In this newsletter, you can read about Beyoncé lending her support to Goodwill, college students making almost 30 tons of donations, and volunteers from organizations such as the Kiwanis Club reading and presenting books to preschoolers from lowincome families through Goodwill's Book-

Works program.

As we begin our new fiscal year, this support means everything to us!

Your continued support will allow us to help almost 80,000 people during the next year, and improve lives through job training and placement assistance. We are helping veterans find good jobs, and expanding our

efforts to place people with disabilities in community employment.

We are also broadening the scope of our BookWorks program to provide books to elementary age school children who may not otherwise have them.

Our reach, and our ability to help others, is a direct result of your generosity in donating goods, or time or treasure to support our mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. This creates greater opportunities for people and helps build a stronger community.

We are grateful that people of all ages have found us worthy of their support. Thank you!

Sincerely, Deborah A. Passerini President and Chief Executive Officer

Smitten by the Mission Loreen Spencer has always admired organizations that promote self-reliance. So when friends Robert Stern and Karl Koch told her about Goodwill’s mission, she was impressed.

She was invited to join her two friends on the Goodwill Industries-Suncoast Board of Directors in 1999. Since then she has served 13 years on the board, including three years as chair.

“I feel strongly about the mission,” says Loreen. “Goodwill is giving people independence and getting them to work.”

Loreen, a partner at Deloitte in Tampa, is particularly impressed with the fact that much of the support for Goodwill’s services is generated through its thrift stores and other enterprises.

She was excited to be on the board when Goodwill took the “strategic risk” of transitioning from small, less efficient stores to superstores.

“I like the fact that we’re innovative and a leader among other organizations,” she says.

Always eager to spread the word about Goodwill, Loreen has arranged for groups of Deloitte employees to volunteer at Goodwill three years in a row during the annual Deloitte Loreen models a wedding gown donated Impact Day. She also showed her support for Goodwill by modeling in a fashion show at to Goodwill.

Goodwill’s Heroes, Villians & Vixens fundraiser.

Loreen and her husband live in Tampa. The couple’s leisure activities revolve around their 15-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. The family particularly enjoys hiking and exploring in national parks.

A Green Team

In Memoriam Cathy Liss passed away April 4. Cathy was a database administrator at our Gandy headquarters, and had been employed with us since July 2009. Cathy had an uplifting, positive attitude and we miss her ready smile and fun personality. She enjoyed volunteering in the community, exercising and being outdoors. She is greatly missed by her own family and her Goodwill family.

Linda Irish, a service coordinator at Goodwill’s Freedom Village II apartment community in Tampa, passed away April 20. She was an employee of Goodwill since 2001. Linda is remembered for her love of people and animals and hobbies such as decorating, gardening and volunteering. The residents and staff of Freedom Village II say they loved her, confided in her and trusted her, and she is very much missed.

Jennifer Fleming Lugo, Editor (727) 523-1512, ext. 1015

jennifer.lugo@goodwill-suncoast.com

Visit our website at www.goodwill-suncoast.org Call toll-free: (888) 279-1988 TTY: (727) 579-1068

On Earth Day, participants at Goodwill’s Life Skills Development program in Pinellas Park visited Grow Financial to pick up free pine trees. They planted four trees at the Pinellas Park facility and the rest were taken home and planted. It was a day of friendship and fun, evidenced by the smiles on the faces of Denise Grace (left), Annie Walters and Chris Rolfe.

Celebrating Success!

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

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.

Age 60 Age 65 Age 70 Age 75 Age 80 Age 90 In May, 42 Goodwill employees celebrated their completion of the company’s CORE Management Training Program. The “students” were treated to a luncheon and graduation ceremony. The program – an investment in the professional growth and development of the managers and supervisors of Goodwill – is comprised of group and online classes unique to GoodwillSuncoast. Above, Debbie Passerini, CEO, hands Desiree Huff her certificate of completion. Desiree is a Goodwill program specialist for our workforce program in Pasco County.

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

Rates as of 6/1/2013

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

®

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc.

Opportunities

Volunteers Complete the Puzzle

Sandee Heidner’s countless hours of good work make her Goodwill-Suncoast 2013 Volunteer of the Year.

Like pieces in a giant jigsaw puzzle, volunteers are essential to the Goodwill mission. Consider that during the past year, 332 people donated more than 5,758 hours to support GoodwillSuncoast.

These all-important volunteers were honored in April during a luncheon at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

A highlight of the event was the announcement of GoodwillSuncoast’s 2013 Volunteer of the Year and Volunteer Group of the Year.

Sandee Heidner of Dunedin was named Volunteer of the Year. Sandee has volunteered for Goodwill’s BookWorks early childhood literacy program since 2002. She reads to the children at Dunedin Head Start center each week from October through April and presents a book to each child. A retired school teacher who winters in Florida, Sandee loves knowing that the books she presents are the beginning of each child’s personal library at home.

The Kiwanis Club of Top of the Bay, Oldsmar, was named Volunteer Group of the Year. Since members of the club started volunteering for Goodwill’s BookWorks program in 2004, they have presented thousands of books to low-income children. Once a month after their morning meeting, 14 club members read to preschoolers at four Clearwater Head Start centers and a preschool in Dunedin, reaching nearly 250 children with books each time.

Also honored were Regions Bank, The Sembler Company, and WordSmitten Media, Inc., as each For nine years and counting, the Kiwanis Club of Top of the Bay, Oldsmar, has made reading to kids supported the BookWorks program with book a high priority. drives.

The Goodwill store on Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg was recognized for collecting more books than any other store or department during the 2013 BookWorks community book drive.

A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated volunteers who make the pieces of our puzzle fall into place!

Donation Goodwill loves college students, and college students love Goodwill!

When we placed attended donation centers and bins at local schools, the students came out in droves to support our springtime drives. In all, they donated an astounding 29.5 tons of clothing and household items to Goodwill. We give them an A+ for their generosity and community spirit!

Here’s a look at the schools and their donation counts: • Eckerd College 12.9 tons • University of Tampa 9.5 tons An on-site donation trailer helped University of Tampa students • USF Tampa campus 5.7 tons donate 9.5 tons of clothing and household items to Goodwill.

• USF St. Petersburg campus 1.4 tons During July we had a donation bin drive at Hawks Landing, a student apartment complex at Hillsborough Community College, for the first time. Anyone interested in our Giving Makes Cents donation drives can call our donations department at 888-279-1988, ext. 1440.

The Right Ingredients

Vicki McWhorter Food Service Manager On any given day, Vicki McWhorter can be seen “behind the scenes” in the Smiley G’s cafeteria at Goodwill-Suncoast’s headquarters. Her job as food service manager is a big one, even for a die-hard “foodie” like herself. Vicki oversees two cafeterias that prepare 1,200 meals per day for Goodwill employees, Life Skills Development clients and work release participants.

While her job doesn’t require her to actually cook much, it’s cooking that is her passion. She grew up watching her self-sufficient grandparents grow their own vegetables, raise their own farm animals and prepare everything from scratch. Today she often spends her weekends cooking and canning her own pickles, jellies and jams for her own brand of “relaxation.”

Vicki got into the food business in Texas, where she owned a restaurant and catering company.

“My kids were little and I was crazy,” she says. When she later moved to Florida she entered into corporate dining and then began her career at Goodwill in 2006.

Besides offering a delicious and varied menu to Goodwill employees, Vicki is the brains behind Goodwill’s Good to Go Catering company. Good to Go offers a range of affordable catering options, from company barbeques, box lunches and breakfasts to cocktail party hors d’oeuvres and dinner parties. It is a steadily growing enterprise that Vicki hopes to expand greatly in the future.

Married for 33 years, Vicki lives in Clearwater. She has three grown children and one 10-monthold grandbaby.

“I’ve got all the right ingredients!” she says.

Summer 2013 Page 3

GoodStuff A Breakfast Break

On Mother's Day, Goodwill's own Good to Go Catering served up a hot breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg - for free, no questions asked, when another caterer backed out. Some 20 families, all there to support their critically ill children, were treated to a hot delicious breakfast. Way to go, Good to Go!

The Avengers Strike!

A team of employees from Ocala raised an impressive $1,850 for an American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life event in May. Monte Gill, an assistant manager at the Ocala Goodwill Superstore, spearheaded the Goodwill Avengers team. He pulled an 18-hour “all-nighter” for the fundraiser with other employees Mavis Nohr, Laura Collins, Tim Mayfield and Derek Arnold.

Even more Goodwill employees came throughout the night to join the fun and the fight against cancer. Great job, Avengers!

Nothing Beats Deloitte Day!

In June we welcomed 31 employees from Deloitte’s Tampa operations. The group fanned out to volunteer at different Goodwill sites and offered invaluable help. “It’s experiences like these that continue to spread the Goodwill message,” said Loreen Spencer, a partner with Deloitte and a Goodwill-Suncoast board member. Thanks to everyone who made it a great day all around!

Three Years & Counting

For the third year in a row Goodwill’s Hillsborough County Residential Re-entry Center (HCRRC) received a $1,000 grant from Wells Fargo. The bank helps residents of HCRRC improve their financial literacy, and each year chooses a nonprofit to honor with a grant. Here JoAnna Throop, a volunteer coordinator at HCRRC, receives the $1,000 check from Luis Dominguez (left) and Steve Schultz of Wells Fargo.

Movie Tickets for Donors

A round of applause to Muvico theaters for giving two free movie passes to each person who donates a car to Goodwill-Suncoast.

The passes are good at Muvico’s four Tampa Bay area locations.

Remember, when you donate your car to Goodwill, you help people move forward.

10596 Gandy Blvd.

St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Permit #5008

Change Service Requested

Opportunities

Summer 2013

St. Pete, FL 337

Page 4

Come for the Lunacy!

The Best of Goodwill Meet Bobby Bobby Garvin suffered from low self-esteem before coming to work at Goodwill’s outlet center in Lakeland.

“You just wake up and you feel like you don’t have a purpose,” he says. He was bitter about his disabilities and frustrated by being misunderstood.

Bobby found his purpose at Goodwill, where he helps assemble mops and assists in running the outlet store. He also learned gratitude and admiration, watching his coworkers struggle intensely to do tasks that come more easily to him.

“It means there’s hope for me,” he says. “If it wasn’t for Goodwill, I’d feel like I have no purpose in life. My work means so much to me, I’d do it for free.

“But don’t tell anyone that.”

Heroes, Villains & Vixens: Full Moon Madness Friday, Oct. 18 7 p.m.

It’s almost time for another fearsomely good time.

On Oct. 18, Goodwill-Suncoast will host its third annual Heroes, Villains & Vixens fundraiser at Clearwater’s Kapok Special Events Pavilion. It just so happens that date falls on a full moon night, so beware the lunatics who may make an appearance!

The event, with local news celebrity Gayle Guyardo as emcee, celebrates Goodwill’s mission and features a theatrical – and maybe even bloodcurdling – fashion show comprised entirely of Goodwill finds.

The creative evening event of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music is one you don’t want to miss. All proceeds benefit Goodwill’s programs for people with disabilities.

Stay up to date on the details and learn how you can attend our most important fundraiser by visiting our website or “liking” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/goodwillsuncoast.

A “contestant” from Toddlers & Tiaras graces our runway with her Goodwill finds.

Goodwill Attended Donation Centers

Clean and Green

Donations also gratefully accepted at Goodwill stores Hillsborough County APOLLO BEACH MiraBay Village, Sweetbay U.S. 41 & Leisey Rd. BRANDON Bloomingdale Wal-Mart 949 E. Bloomingdale Ave. LUTZ Lake Chapman Plaza 16301 N. Florida Ave.

TEMPLE TERRACE Gas Kwik/Marathon 7105 Temple Terrace Hwy.

HUDSON 9717 S.R. 52 at Parkwood St.

Pinellas County CLEARWATER Advance Auto Parts 22991 U.S. 19 N. (Weekends only)

LAND O' LAKES Mobile Station S.R. 52 at Suncoast Pkwy.

2250 Gulf to Bay Blvd.

(Accepts furniture)

Van Dyke Shell station 5524 Van Dyke Rd.

Tri-City Plaza East Bay Dr. and U.S. 19 N.

NORTHDALE 16010 Mapledale Blvd.

Near LA Fitness

LARGO Liberty Tax 1941 West Bay Dr. Publix Plaza 12002 Indian Rocks Rd. Twedts Bowling Alley 13100 Seminole Blvd.

OLDSMAR S.R. 580 W. at Duane Ave. PALM HARBOR Bill’s SuperGas and Auto Service Center Corner Alt. 19 & Nebraska Ave. Curlew Crossing S.W. corner Curlew Rd. and U.S. 19

Northdale Walmart N. Dale Mabry at Bearss Ave. (Weekends only) RIVERVIEW Riverview Oaks Plaza 9624 U.S. 301 South Advance Auto Parts 13324 Boyette Rd. SEFFNER Parsons Village Plaza 710 W. Dr. MLK Blvd.

TAMPA Advance Auto Parts 5399 Gunn Hwy.

3400 East Lake Rd. at Tampa Rd. Riviere Plaza 35349 US Hwy 19 N NEW !

Corner Ehrlich Rd. and Lynn Turner Rd. (Behind McDonald’s) D1 Sports Training 6918 Gunn Hwy.

NEW !

3619 W. Spruce St. Across from Staples Lowe’s 4210 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. U-Save 7733 W. Hillsborough Ave. Waters U-Save 7555 W. Waters Ave. Westchase Primrose School Linebaugh Ave. and Countryway (Weekends only) (Accepts furniture)

PASADENA Sweetbay Plaza 6851 Gulfport Blvd. S. PINELLAS PARK 7601 Park Blvd.

(Accepts furniture) ST. PETERSBURG 68th St. and Tyrone Blvd. N. 3100 4th St. N. Coquina Key Center 4250 6th St. S. Pasco County BAYONET POINT Point Plaza 12023 U.S. 19 at S.R. 52

LUTZ Willow Bend Chevron 22932 S.R. 54 NEW PORT RICHEY Pasco Square - Badcock 7201 S.R. 54 ODESSA Shell Station S.R. 54 at Suncoast Pkwy.

PORT RICHEY Jasmine Plaza NEW !

10047 US Hwy 19 ZEPHYRHILLS Sweetbay 7333 Gall Blvd.

Hernando County SPRING HILL Mariner Square 13050 Cortez Blvd.

Advance Auto 14321 Spring Hill Dr. at Barclay Ave. Polk County LAKELAND Advance Auto Parts 4120 Clubhouse Rd. Barclay Plaza 4945 U.S. Hwy. 98 Marion County BELLEVIEW Belleview Square 10751 Hwy. 441 OCALA Friendship Center 8449 S.W. Hwy. 200 Ocala Springs Sweetbay 7131 N. Hwy. 441 Silver Springs Kmart 3711 E. Silver Springs Blvd.

SUMMERFIELD Spruce Creek 17860 Hwy. 441

A participant in our Life Skills Development program puts the finishing touch on a Swiftee assembly.

What’s sustainable, machine washable, reusable and multi-purpose?

It’s the Swiftee, and it’s our newest product assembled by participants in our Life Skill Development programs. The Swiftee, on sale at all Goodwill-Suncoast superstores, can be used dry as a duster and wet as a mop.

Its long pole makes it perfect for hard-to-reach spaces.

The Swiftee is sustainable not only because it can be washed and re-used many times, but also because the head is made from the edge trim of material that would otherwise be thrown away.

It retails for $7.99, but the pride it gives our participants who help assemble it is priceless!

Take the Work Out of Finding Workers

Let Goodwill Temporary Staffing take the stress out of filling positions.

We’ll handle recruiting, screening and all the paperwork, saving you time and money.

You’ll get qualified workers, specially selected to meet your needs, at rates that won’t dent your bottom line.

For donation hours, store or donation bin locations, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org Thank you for donating to Goodwill.

(727) 577-6411 www.sbsgoodwill.com ®