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president's message

This season marks an exciting milestone for our organization. We are proud to announce the launch of Goodwill Legacy Group, a new multi-regional network that brings together Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Goodwill of Central Illinois, and Goodwill de Puerto Rico. By bringing these organizations together, we are strengthening our collective ability to address systemic barriers and expand opportunity across the communities we serve.

At Goodwill, we often talk about opportunity, but what inspires me most is seeing how opportunity becomes momentum. The stories in this spring edition of Achieve reflect that transformation in powerful ways, reminding us that success is rarely a single moment. It’s a path, shaped by support, perseverance, and people who believe in what’s possible.

You’ll meet individuals who began their journeys through programs like Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) and New Beginnings, gaining the skills, confidence and credentials needed to move forward. What makes these stories especially meaningful is where those paths led: to fulfilling employment, including roles right here at Goodwill.

Your support makes these stories possible. Because of your generosity, Goodwill can meet people where they are and provide the guidance, training and resources they need to move forward with confidence.

You help create opportunities for individuals and families to build stability, pursue education and careers, and envision a future defined by possibility.

Thank you for being part of this work and for helping create pathways to success that endure.

Gratefully,

Kent A. Kramer President and CEO | Goodwill Legacy Group President | Goodwill Foundation

We’re thrilled to welcome Alleato Group as the Title Sponsor of Goodwill: UNBOXED 2026!

Their partnership helps drive Goodwill’s mission forward — creating opportunities in education, employment, health and housing. Thank you, Alleato, for supporting meaningful impact in our community!

employment, stability, and economic mobility across the communities we serve. We are grateful for Alleato Group’s continued partnership and shared commitment to building stronger communities.

Regional Updates INTRODUCING

Goodwill Legacy Group is a growing, multi-regional network of scalable nonprofit organizations designed to address complex social challenges with depth, collaboration, and long-term impact. By aligning expertise and resources across regions, we invest in the interconnected drivers of economic mobility and family stability.

Rooted in the mission of Goodwill, we create pathways to meaningful work, stable housing, lifelong learning, accessible health services, and the foundational resources that support long-term well-being. These investments generate lasting momentum, advancing economic mobility and strengthening families across generations.

For more information about Goodwill Legacy Group and its mission, visit GoodwillLegacyGroup.org.

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE

We invest in our four pillars employment, housing, education, and health with solutions that are locally grounded, nationally informed, and built to endure.

6,000+ people employed directly by Goodwill in career-building jobs across 100+ retail locations

185+ lives enhanced by safe affordable housing in 2025

11,000+ earned a high school diploma from The Excel Center®, Goodwill's high school for adults

10,000+ families served by Goodwill's Nurse-Family Partnership®

DONOR APPRECIATION EVENT CELEBRATING SUPPORTERS OF GOODWILL HORIZON HOUSE

We had the pleasure of welcoming Horizon House donors to the Foundation office for a special reception. Supporters came together to gather and reflect on powerful stories of progress, highlighting how partnership and investment create pathways toward housing stability and success. Guests heard from Thomas, who shared his story of resilience and perseverance that reminded us all why this work matters.

NEW STORE OPENINGS

HUNTINGTON BANK 2026 SERVICE HEART DAY

This spring, Huntington Bank partnered with us for their 2026 Service Heart Day. Associates made sandwiches to support our neighbors at Horizon House and others volunteered at a Goodwill Outlet. For more information on volunteering, please reach out to Jenna, jenna.hadley@goodwilllegacygroup.org.

Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana completed three new store openings in the first quarter of 2026 in Zionsville, Geist and Mooresville. Each new store brings more opportunity and support to those we serve through items purchased and wares donated.

MEET TIM!

Tim O’Malley is the first Goodwill Foundation Development Manager serving our donors in central Illinois. Please reach out to Tim if you have any questions, tim.omalley@goodwilllegacygroup.org.

GCI PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Goodwill of Central Illinois provides employment and training services like hiring events and job search assistance; youth mentoring; and veteran services and support through General Downing Veterans Home.

DONOR APPRECIATION EVENT RECAP

The Goodwill Foundation welcomed Illinois donors for an evening of connection and conversation, sharing updates on programs serving local communities and celebrating collective community impact.

NEW STORE OPENING

Goodwill of Central Illinois celebrated its first store opening in East Peoria since merging with GCSI. Every purchase and donation contributes to our mission of changing the lives of our community members and employees.

LOS COLOBOS STORE OPENING

Our work continues to grow across the island, including the recent grand opening of the Los Colobos store. More than just a new store, every transaction and donation expands access to employment, training and community support.

NFP IN PUERTO RICO

Nurse-Family Partnership has arrived in Puerto Rico! The evidence-based model is new to the island.

First-time parents have access to nurse support to have healthier pregnancies and build brighter futures for their families. We had our first Community Advisory Board meeting in September!

Stories of

SU CCESS

Goodwill Legacy Group supports over 15,000 people every day. Here are three of their stories.

MEET: India Desiray Megan

to

One Bright Future from Two Jobs

When Goodwill and Per Scholas officially partnered in late 2022, they shared a simple but powerful goal: to open doors to opportunity through education. Per Scholas, a national nonprofit that provides no-cost technology career training and job connections, especially for individuals traditionally underrepresented in tech, moved into Goodwill’s corporate offices on West Michigan Street in January 2023. By March, the first cohort of learners had begun, bringing new energy, hope, and possibility into the space.

One of those stories of possibility belongs to India Hayes.

Not long ago, India was balancing two jobs, working as a preschool teacher while also serving part-time at a country club. She loved caring for children, but she knew she wanted a future with more stability and growth opportunities. The turning point came through her mother who introduced her to GoodwillNext, a program designed to help individuals with a high school diploma earn certifications, increase economic mobility, and close critical skills gaps.

Through her GoodwillNext coach, India was introduced to the Per Scholas program. With encouragement and determination, she applied for the October 2024 cohort and was accepted. Just a few months later, in January 2025, India graduated with her CompTIA A+ certification, an achievement that marked the start of a brand-new chapter.

The program offered more than technical skills. Weekly professional development classes helped India prepare for the corporate environment, building confidence alongside knowledge. So when an IT Tier 1 Helpdesk Associate position opened at Goodwill, she felt ready. She applied, and was hired just one week later.

“Per Scholas felt like an investment in myself,” India shared. “Something to better myself and get me into a lifelong career.”

She’s quick to add that the journey wasn’t easy. “It was really fast-paced. I even had to take a break from my smartphone so I could stay focused on studying. It was serious but worth it.”

Today, India is grateful for the opportunity and for the people who made it possible. The program has transformed her life and continues to create pathways for others who might not otherwise afford this kind of education. Looking ahead, she’s excited to explore the many facets of IT and discover where her passion will lead her next.

India’s story is a reminder that with the right support, access, and belief, a single opportunity can open the door to a lifetime of possibility.

Staying Focused & Building Confidence

with Goodwill NFP

Excited to learn more about having a healthy birth and breastfeeding, Desiray Graves enrolled in Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP), a maternal-child program that pairs registered nurses with first-time families. Until participants’ children turn two, nurses walk alongside their parents and deliver trusted information so they can provide the very best start during the earliest, most developmentally critical years.

For Desiray, this meant asking many questions to prepare for motherhood. Her nurse, Jennifer, ensured that she felt knowledgeable about the birthing process and empowered in her goals for breastfeeding. This empowerment allowed her to advocate for herself and prioritize breastfeeding over bottle feeding with hospital staff, shortly after giving birth. Desiray went on to breastfeed for over two years.

After birth, she experienced stressors in her life that would affect her emotional well-being. Desiray’s nurse noticed the change and recognized it as symptoms of depression. That led to Desiray taking the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, a screening specifically geared toward the mental health of pregnant or postpartum women. Her score also showed increased symptoms of depression; following the screening, Desiray shifted gears to seek help. She immediately visited a doctor and was prescribed medication. She kept a keen focus on her mental health, working with her doctor to develop a plan to forgo medication.

Desiray has become an avid advocate for postpartum mental health and home visitation programs such as Goodwill NFP. She participates in Goodwill NFP’s Parent Advisory Board,

gathering feedback from parents who completed the program and using that information to better the experience for newly enrolled families.

Moreover, her personal experiences in Goodwill NFP inspired her to to work with others to achieve their birthing goals. Working with her nurse, she enrolled in a doula certification and lactation course and once certified, she and her nurse even found resources to start her own business as a doula.

Desiray realized that she wanted to do even more and set a new goal of becoming a nurse and a Certified Nurse Midwife. A few weeks after graduating from Goodwill NFP, she began nursing school. As of August 2025, Desiray graduated with her degree in nursing and is looking forward to changing lives for families in Indiana.

“My nurse, Jennifer, emphasized empowerment by encouraging me to set meaningful goals and giving me the confidence to achieve them,” said Desiray.

“Overall, Goodwill NFP has allowed me to build a stronger foundation for myself and my children, creating lasting benefits for our future.”

Goodwill New Beginnings is Goodwill’s reentry program, offering resources, wraparound support and intensive case management services to those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. This program not only helps program participants secure healthcare and housing, but also helps them develop the skills and preparation they need to progress professionally.

Megan Wise, a graduate of the program, has been able to grow immensely due to her participation in Goodwill New Beginnings.

She began her journey with Goodwill in August 2020, following her release from incarceration. Megan was uncertain about how to rebuild her life and what steps she needed to take to move forward from her past. Recognizing her concerns, her parole officer recommended she explore employment opportunities at Goodwill, a second-chance employer.

Megan was hired as an assembler for Goodwill Commercial Services. Shortly after, she was introduced to Goodwill New Beginnings to develop the skills and knowledge needed for both personal and professional growth.

“When I learned what Goodwill New Beginnings was, it sounded great!” said Megan. “What really interested me was gaining the skills I needed to get back into the workforce and how to sell myself to employers.”

Taking the Next Steps WITH GOODWILL NEW BEGINNINGS

When Megan graduated from the program in 2021, she had a new outlook on life and was ready to take on new challenges at work. She was promoted twice within the same year, eventually earning a role as a line lead and held that leadership position for over three years.

“Sometimes it feels surreal to have reentered,” said Megan. “I’ve just been maintaining my confidence in myself. I have great mentors and a great team. It’s nice to come to a workplace that has open communication and where I can show up and be myself.”

During her time as a line lead, Megan continued to embrace opportunities for growth and became a trusted and respected leader among her peers. In May of 2025, Megan was promoted to Department Supervisor. She’s credited as a passionate, empathetic, and driven leader, and she attributes much of her success to the support systems she found after her release. She sees herself learning and growing in her current role, enjoying the ability she has to help forward the mission.

“I like that we can work and be a part of the community,” said Megan. “We can help employees come to terms with some of the things that are going on in their lives. To be a part of that mission and help people along their journey is really nice it makes it all worth it!”

Donor Spotlight YOUR LEGACY

Through consistent support and forward-looking generosity, Goodwill is able to strengthen programs that help individuals and families build skills, gain stability and move toward lasting independence. This kind of investment allows us to grow alongside the community we serve and adapt as needs change.

We’re pleased to introduce you to a Legacy Club donor whose commitment reflects a deep connection to Goodwill’s mission. Their story highlights the role thoughtful giving plays in creating continuity ensuring that support is there not just for today’s success stories, but for those still finding their path.

As Goodwill continues to expand services that create meaningful pathways to education, employment, health and housing, we invite you to consider how you might be part of that future. Joining the Legacy Club is one way to help carry this work forward, creating stability and opportunity for generations to come.

Thank you for standing with Goodwill and believing in the possibility of lasting change. Your generosity helps turn potential into progress and strengthens the communities we serve every day.

Rachel Cline Eble Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer Goodwill Legacy Group Goodwill Foundation

Nick Stephenson

For Nick Stephenson, community involvement is both a personal commitment and a natural extension of his professional life. Nick’s connection to Goodwill began through his involvement with Horizon House, where he joined the board in 2020 after completing service on another local nonprofit board.

When Horizon House later formalized its relationship with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Nick continued his service as a member of the Goodwill Foundation Board while remaining engaged with Goodwill Horizon House. What began as a desire to give back to his community has grown into a deep appreciation for the breadth and impact of Goodwill’s work.

What inspired you to get involved with Horizon House and continue supporting Goodwill today?

I was looking for a place to dedicate meaningful time after finishing a term with another nonprofit board. I had attended some Horizon House events and knew a few people involved, and it quickly became clear that it was a special place with a powerful mission of serving our most vulnerable neighbors. I also felt strongly about helping dispel misconceptions around homelessness and educating both myself and others.

As Horizon House and Goodwill began working together, I had the opportunity to get to know Goodwill’s leadership and learn more about the organization. Like many people, I was familiar with the retail stores but didn’t fully understand the local leadership or the wide range of programs addressing health, education, employment, and housing.

The more I learned, the more impressed I became, and the more I wanted to stay involved.

What motivates your continued support year after year?

Seeing the impact firsthand makes it easy to stay motivated. Both organizations are excellent stewards of donors’ time and resources, and you can clearly see the difference they make. Whether it’s hearing a personal story from someone served, attending an Excel Center graduation, or witnessing the progress people make, those moments really crystallize why the work matters. It reinforces that giving your time, talent, and treasure truly changes lives.

Have there been experiences that reinforced your decision to stay involved?

One particularly meaningful moment was seeing the opening of Compass on Washington Apartments, a permanent supportive housing development next to the Horizon House service center. Walking through the building and realizing that dozens of individuals would now have homes that didn’t previously exist was incredibly powerful. It showed what sustained commitment and partnership can accomplish.

What would you tell someone considering supporting Goodwill for the first time?

I would encourage them to take time to understand the full scope of Goodwill’s impact. It’s far broader than many people realize touching housing, education, employment, and health across our community. I’d also emphasize that it’s a very well-run organization that uses donor dollars thoughtfully and effectively.

What excites you most about Goodwill’s future?

I’m especially excited about the growing focus on housing. I’ve seen how critical stable housing is to long-term success. I’m encouraged to see Goodwill expanding its role in this space because housing stability is such a pressing need in our community.

Nick’s journey reflects a powerful truth: meaningful engagement often begins with a single connection and deepens through understanding and experience. By combining professional expertise with handson service and a passion for community impact, he continues to help advance Goodwill’s mission, ensuring more individuals and families have the opportunity to thrive.

Join Nick in becoming a part of the Legacy Club by becoming a member in one of our three Legacy Club Giving Societies: the GW Society, Dustman Society and 1635 Society.

Reach out to Rachel at Rachel.Eble@GoodwillLegacyGroup.org to learn more about joining.

thursday, September 17, 2026

Join fellow business and community leaders from across central and southern Indiana for an evening of great food and entertainment that celebrates a compelling mission.

100% of proceeds from Goodwill: UNBOXED support life-changing programs at Goodwill.