Ac h ie ve
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Lily Smith
MEET THE OPERATING BOARD
CHAIR: Anthony Warren
of Success:
Meet Richard, Natalie, and Daesha Stories
president's message
As you know, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is a local not-for-profit organization. When you drop your items off to one of our retail stores or make a gift to the Foundation, you support the individuals we employ, educate and serve right here in our community.
Thanks to supporters like you, Goodwill has been serving our most vulnerable neighbors for nearly 100 years. Ensuring that our neighbors – including people with disabilities, low-income moms and the justice involved – have Goodwill as a resource when they’re ready to change their lives. One thing these underserved populations have in common is that they’re more likely to experience poverty, but Goodwill supports these individuals in a number of ways.
Every employee, student and program participant at Goodwill has access to a coach who helps them navigate their personal challenges, while also supporting them in achieving their short-and-long-term goals. Some common barriers that coaches help address include lack of transportation, food insecurity, and unstable housing, but barriers can vary widely.
Coaches take a holistic approach to empowering the individuals they work with by building a trusting relationship, helping with goal-setting, outlining the steps necessary to succeed, and providing ongoing support and accountability.
If you were able to join us at Goodwill: UNBOXED, you had an opportunity to see how coaches provide individuals with tools and prepare them to achieve significant growth and success over the long term. Goodwill Coaches wouldn’t be possible without the financial support of generous donors like you.
Scan the QR code to watch a short story about two individuals whose lives were changed through Goodwill’s coaching model.
Make sure to read this issue of Achieve to learn more about Goodwill’s partners and donors and to see how your support is empowering people in our community to change their lives.
Gratefully,
Kent A. Kramer President and CEO | Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana President, Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana
Meet the Goodwill Operating Board Chair: Anthony Warren
Anthony Warren is a local business leader who brings more than 25 years of experience and knowledge to his role as chair of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Board of Directors. Currently serving as President of Shrewsberry & Associates, Warren’s extensive background in business strategy, technology, and growth leadership make him an excellent fit for a notfor-profit organization like Goodwill that operates a retail business.
“I am incredibly proud of the evidence-based mission work done here at Goodwill every day, which makes volunteering my time on the Board exceptionally enjoyable,” Warren said.
Warren was introduced to Goodwill in 2018 as part of a delegation of business and community leaders who convened in Denver for the Indianapolis Chamber’s Leadership Exchange. This annual event immerses leaders into the economic infrastructure of peer/ aspirational cities to identify best practices that help address challenging problems in our communities.
“For me, it’s all about the mission,” Warren said. “Before joining the Board, I thought that Goodwill was simply a place to donate my clothes and find unique items or a good deal. But since joining, I discovered all of the incredible mission work
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
Westcomm
Goodwill does from education to healthcare, training, employment, and more.”
Warren later joined Goodwill’s Board where he served as vice chair before being appointed chair earlier this year.
“I love the powerful stories of transformation that occur as each person is empowered to change their life trajectory through Goodwill’s programs,” Warren added.
If you’ve ever watched a video of a Hoosier achieving success through Goodwill, you’ve likely seen the excellent work of Westcomm, a longtime partner of Goodwill. Westcomm produces several videos each year highlighting the stories of Goodwill’s award recipients.
Scan the QR code for a sampling of mission videos produced by Westcomm.
Later, when Westcomm needed contract packaging services, they hired Goodwill Commercial Services, which provides employment to Hoosiers with job barriers. Nearly 90% of Goodwill Commercial Services employees report a disability or involvement with the criminal justice system.
Westcomm has also contributed nearly $30,000 through a combination of direct donations and in-kind gifts to the Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana. Thank you, Westcomm, for your commitment to Goodwill’s mission and the people we serve!
Stories of
SU CCESS
Thanks to your support, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana serves over 10,000 Hoosiers every day. Here are just a few of their stories.
MEET:
Richard Natalie Daesha
Achieving Meaningful Employment Through Supportive Services
When Richard Wagoner was 24 years old, he was involved in a car accident that left him with lifelong paralysis. For nearly 30 years since, he has navigated life in a wheelchair.
Faced with a permanent and often debilitating disability, Richard turned to illegal substances following the accident to cope with the physical, emotional and mental pain he was experiencing. These choices led to his incarceration for nearly 13 years.
“I didn’t see the bigger picture when I was younger, but I’m proud of how I’ve turned my life around,” Richard said.
Upon his release, Richard sought part-time employment and discovered Goodwill, where he was hired as a cashier in 2018.
“The managers at Goodwill are wonderful,” Richard said. “They’re understanding about my challenges.
If I’m experiencing back pain due to my disability and need to leave early or take a day off, they don’t punish me or make me feel bad.”
One challenge Richard encountered in his new role was that the cash registers were designed for a standing cashier. However, with some simple adjustments to one of the cashier stations, the Goodwill facilities team created a workspace to lower the cash register, keyboard and cash drawer, allowing Richard to do his job comfortably.
“I’m proud to work for an organization that does good work in the community,” Richard said. ”What I enjoy most is the people I get to meet and work with.”
Richard also connected with a Goodwill coach a career and life coach who works with Goodwill’s employees, students, and program participants to help them address
any life barriers to help him overcome a health concern. In order to weigh himself, he had to go to a medical facility that had a roll-on scale designed for an individual in a wheelchair, but with the assistance of his coach, Goodwill helped cover the costs of a roll-on scale for Richard’s home.
“ I’m grateful to work with people who understand my disability, support me and treat me with respect,” Richard said. “Goodwill practices what it preaches.”
The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities is double that of persons without disabilities. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana employs ~1,100 Hoosiers with a disability about 30% of our workforce and is one of the largest employers in the state of persons with disabilities.
From Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership
Mom
to Nurse Natalie
When Natalie Preimesberger enrolled in Goodwill NurseFamily Partnership® (NFP) in 2019, she had no job, no transportation, no stable housing, no high school diploma and many challenges to overcome. She grew up in a household where she experienced trauma, including exposure to substance abuse.
“Seeing my kids smile, be happy and be kids is a great feeling because I didn’t get to do that as a child. I had to grow up early,” Natalie said.
She is committed to providing a safe and stable upbringing for her two children, Daxton and Destiny.
“Being a single parent wasn’t part of my plan,” Natalie said. “It’s been challenging but also rewarding.”
During her pregnancy, Natalie was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. She also struggled with postpartum depression, but with the coaching support of her NFP Nurse, she has continued to tackle each challenge head-on.
“ My NFP Nurse gave me a lot of hope. She was someone I could talk to and who could help me find the resources that I needed,” Natalie said.
Natalie’s nurse helped her enroll at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, where she earned her high school diploma in 2021.
“Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership provided consistency in Natalie’s life and someone who could celebrate the highs as well as support her through the lows,” said Jessica Harpenau, Natalie’s NFP Nurse.
In addition to graduating from NFP and The Excel Center, Natalie also purchased a car and her first home. She is also employed as a Certified Nurse’s Aide and will graduate with her degree in nursing this fall, bringing her story full circle.
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School (Indy Met) is a free public school offering a high school education to students in grades 9-12 that is operated by Goodwill Education Initiatives. It is a best-fit school for students experiencing circumstances that may present a barrier to education and places an emphasis on ensuring students enroll in college or enter into a career that offers a living wage post-graduation. The school recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Since 2004, nearly 1,000 students have earned their diploma at Indy Met, like Daesha Cottrell. Although Daesha graduated from Indy Met in 2019, it was 2017 the year she enrolled that represented a significant turning point in her life. She learned about Indy Met from her cousin, who previously attended the school, and decided to enroll after learning transportation assistance was available.
“ The free transportation helped me manage my time as a busy student,” Daesha said.
She maintained a 3.85 GPA while participating in several extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Her hard work and dedication earned her a 21st Century Scholarship, which covers up to four years of undergraduate tuition.
She also received multiple scholarships through the Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana to assist with her education expenses, including the William F. Kraas and Julia Kraas scholarship to assist with tuition expenses during her first year of college; a McClelland Scholarship, which helped cover additional expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the Bowen Barrier Busting Scholarship, which helped cover her meal plan, the purchase of a vehicle and housing assistance as she approached graduation.
Indy Met Graduate EARNS
BACHELOR’S DEGREE FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY
As a first-generation college student with socioeconomic barriers, she was admitted to Indiana’s Groups Scholars Program, which not only provided financial support, but also taught her other important life skills, allowing her to graduate college without any debt.
In December 2023, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology for sports marketing and management from the Indiana University School of Public Health and Kinesiology. Her dream job includes marketing for the Indiana Pacers or Indianapolis Colts, but she is currently focused on discipleship. Daesha has also maintained relationships with some of the educators she met while at Indy Met.
“My high school volleyball coach invited me to coach with her in 2021, and we are currently coaching at Horizon Christian School,” Daesha said. “I am also a physical education teacher and assistant Athletic Director at the school.”
Being a first-generation college graduate has come with pressures, but Daesha is proud of her successes thus far.
“My biggest strength is perseverance,” she said. She also credits her foster parents for her success and for moving her into their home back in 2017.
“They have been my lifeline and my biggest supporters,” Daesha said. “I would never have been able to achieve what I have without them.”
Donor Spotlight Lily Smith
Lily Smith, Vice Chair of the Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana Board, explains why she gives to Goodwill
How did you get involved with Goodwill? I became involved in 2012 when I was encouraged to take a tour. I was instantly impressed by the social enterprise that is Goodwill and was fortunate enough to be part of the initial cohort that founded and created the Goodwill Young Leaders Board in 2014.
What makes Goodwill’s mission so powerful? I love that Goodwill provides multi-generational wraparound support for people in our community. It is one of the truest examples of a social enterprise taking proceeds from the retail stores to achieve the mission goals of the organization. Goodwill has an entrepreneurial spirit and is willing to pilot new programs, new technologies, and new approaches to solve social challenges. The organization does a great job of tracking and measuring mission data, which is used to help
others understand the value of investing in people (and also to pivot when something isn’t working). The people who work at Goodwill tirelessly commit themselves day-in-and-day-out to leading the business and mission of Goodwill.
What makes Goodwill unique? The strong tapestry that Goodwill has woven with their mission programs and their ability to crosspollinate is what makes Goodwill such a unique and powerful organization. I appreciate and respect that Goodwill recognizes the dynamic nature of humans and therefore has created a reflectively dynamic system of support. I will forever have a soft spot for Goodwill Mission Coaches as they are working one-on-one with the people Goodwill employs, educates and serves to help them feel seen, supported and connected to themselves and their communities.
What excites you about the future of the organization? I feel like I am always at the edge of my seat to see what Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is going to do next. I am excited to see the organization continue to innovate and evolve as society continues to shift and grow. I wish we lived in a society that didn’t depend so much on an organization like Goodwill, but knowing that Goodwill will be there for generations to come gives me a sense of hope.
Why did you choose to make a planned gift? I chose to make a planned gift because there is no better steward of your dollars than the Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana. Money to me is a tool, and my hope for my money when I am gone is that it can continue to be used as a tool for good and for transformation. There is no other organization that I have found that could leverage the tool of money like our Goodwill.
Join Lily Smith in becoming a member of the GW Society, which recognizes donors that have provided a bequest or other deferred gift to the Goodwill Foundation. To learn more or to make a gift, contact Cindy Tow at cindy.tow@goodwillindy.org.
Lily Smith with her partner, Leonid Sirotkin, at Goodwill: UNBOXED.
GOODWILL HOSTS 500 VOLUNTEERS FOR LILLY’S GLOBAL DAY OF SERVICE
Since 2018, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana has hosted volunteers on Lilly’s Global Day of Service. Nearly 2,500 Lilly employees have dedicated 8,000 hours of volunteer service to Goodwill. This year, we hosted 500 volunteers across 23 locations, including Indianapolis Metropolitan High School. Lilly also organized a donation drive this year and collected 12,500 bags of clothing.
We’re grateful for our partnership with Lilly on this special day of giving back.
Presenting Sponsors
Thanks to generous supporters like you, the Goodwill: UNBOXED event has raised nearly $1 million over the past three years! The proceeds from this sold-out event support our most vulnerable neighbors. Join us in fall 2025 for the fourth annual Goodwill: UNBOXED. Stay tuned for more details.
Platinum Sponsors
GOLD Sponsors
SILVER Sponsors
BRonze Sponsors
Heritage Group was our “sustainability” sponsor this year we appreciate you!
Goodwill Young Leaders
The Glaser Family
YOUR SUPPORT IS CHANGING LIVES
GATHER FOR GOODWILL
This past summer, Goodwill Young Leaders (GWYL), an advisory group of young professionals, hosted Gather for Goodwill, its annual fundraising event. Guests enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres and participated in olympic-themed activities as well as a silent auction Since 2014, GWYL have raised $180,000 to support Goodwill’s mission.
Though there could only be one winning team (GO RED TEAM!), all teams helped the event surpass its fundraising and attendance goals.
The crowd gathers for the “Mission Moment” highlighting John Thompson’s story of overcoming barriers.
Goodwill Young Leaders Board Chair, Kris Subler, kicking off the program.
Past GWYL and current Foundation Board Member Vivian Liechty brings her A game.
1635 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46222-3852
317.524.4313 | goodwillindy.org
upcoming events
New Beginnings Graduation
Friday, December 20, 1–3 p.m.
Goodwill Corporate Office
1635 W. Michigan Street, Indianapolis
Legacy Club Reception
Thursday, November 14, 5–7:30 p.m.
What is Goodwill New Beginnings?
Launched in 2011, Goodwill New Beginnings provides employment, educational training and coaching for recently incarcerated individuals through on-the-job training and classroom learning. Participants are supported through a number of wraparound services, including financial literacy, access to health care, referrals to stable housing and help developing a support system that will sustain them well beyond the program.