Goodwill Outlook Spring/Summer 2009 Edition

SPRING 2009

A publication of Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries

Goodwill’s Let’s Talk Shop Means Business

inside this issue Fresh Air Camp For Boys and Girls 2009........................page 2

There has been no shortage of stories about the difficulties people are facing in today’s economy. But the success of a Let’s Talk Shop class at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries gave people something to cheer about.

Building Goodwill Through Good Works.......................page 3 Goodwill Opens New Attended Donation Centers .........page 4

‘Arthur’ and Goodwill Team Up for Episode

On January 23, 13 participants graduated from the two-week class and all 13 were offered jobs by Stop & Shop the same day. Stop & Shop also hired another seven Goodwill trainees that day, bringing the total to 20.

Boston Globe/Matthew J. Lee /Landov

Goodwill participant Evans Ampofo graduated from Let’s Talk Shop and was offered a job at the South Bay Stop & Shop in Dorchester.

The two-week Let’s Talk Shop class is part of Goodwill’s First Step program and grew out of a collaboration with The TJX Companies, in the late 1990s to train people to work in retail stores.

The success of the Let’s Talk Shop class was highlighted in a February 18 story in the Business section of the Boston Globe.

“They are the lucky 13,” the Boston Globe wrote. “In today’s shrinking job market, a single mother, a former high school track athlete, and 11 other members of a new Morgan

Along with the 13 graduates that were offered jobs, Stop & Shop also hired seven other Goodwill trainees that day.

Memorial Goodwill Industries job training class pulled off a minor miracle: They all found work.”

Goodwill’s First Step is a job readiness program that can be tailored to fit the needs of a particular industry or population. In the case of Let’s Talk Shop, the students in the class were guaranteed an interview with Stop & Shop on graduation day, although not employment.

In addition to learning about appropriate work attire, timeliness, and workplace culture, participants also took part in mock job interviews, which many said were very helpful and kept them calm during their actual interviews with Stop & Shop.

“The climate is challenging,” said Goodwill President and CEO Joanne K. Hilferty.

“But that has been the case for many of our participants for a long time. Thanks to wonderful partners like Stop & Shop and TJX, we will continue to provide employment opportunities for our participants.”

G

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries and third graders from neighboring Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Arthur” on PBS Kids. The theme of the episode is giving back to your community. continued on page 2

It’s Spring (Really!)

And Time to Clean Out Those Closets It happens every year, but each time it seems a bit like a miracle.

The weather warms, the snow melts, and the days grow longer. Spring is here at long last and that can only mean one thing: spring cleaning. And that’s good news because Goodwill needs your donations now more than ever.

“This year, the need for donations is greater than ever because more and more individuals and families are relying on Goodwill for clothing and household needs,” said Joanne K. Hilferty, President and CEO of Goodwill. “That is why we are asking our friends and supporters to help this spring by sorting through their drawers and closets today, and donating items they no longer use or need.” continued on page 2

For more than 100 years, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries has provided an idyllic summer respite for city youth – its Fresh Air Camp nestled in 500 acres in South Athol, Massachusetts.

This year, 500 campers from Boston and other communities will enjoy two weeks in a natural setting that will be filled with recreation, learning, and exciting adventures they will cherish for a lifetime.

Offering four two-week sessions, the overnight summer camp for children 8-16 provides a full range of activities – from arts and crafts to swimming, fishing, and hiking. Educational and social development components are integrated into the children’s daily activities. This year the themes of “All Creature Great and Small” and “Saving Planet Earth” will be woven into the curriculum and fabric of the camp.

The camp curriculum will also feature the return of MythMania, a popular course where campers learn about Greek and Roman mythology. “For a lot of the campers, this is their first exposure to mythology,” said Avery Perry, the Fresh Air Camp director. “But they really enjoy it and find it has more relevance than they thought.”

The Fresh Air Camp’s location in north central Massachusetts has an abundance of fish and wildlife and is a prime example of the natural wilderness that New England has to offer. In fact, to protect the camp’s land and wildlife for generations to come, Goodwill has arranged for a segment of it to be designated as conservation land.

Spring Cleaning – continued Goodwill is also spreading the word with a new ad called “Jeans into Jobs.” The ad is running in a number of local publications and illustrates how donated goods help support Goodwill’s job training programs.

“Your donations can really make an impact – not just for those who really need them, but also those enrolled in our programs and services,” Hilferty said, adding that Goodwill also provides clothing for the guests of Pine Street Inn. G

Goodwill® turns your jeans* into jobs. *and shoes, clocks, lamps, coats, jewelry, books, chairs, vases, tools, handbags, collectibles, etc.

Here’s how...

1

You donate to Goodwill

For a Fresh Air Camp application, please visit Goodwill’s website at www.goodwillmass.org.

2

Bill LaBelle, director of retail operations, shows, from left, Jasmine Gandy, Nataesha Atwater, and Davonn Suarez, third graders from Orchard Gardens K-8 School, how to sort books at Goodwill for an upcoming episode of “Arthur” on PBS.

Goodwill sells donations in stores in eastern and central Massachusetts

3

The sales fund training and other career services that prepare people for job success

‘Arthur’ and Goodwill – continued The animated series, which is aimed at children ages four to eight, features real-life segments that tie back to the theme of the particular episode. So, when the producers wanted to show how young people could help their community, they thought of Goodwill.

4

People find good jobs

Twelve third graders from Casey Malanga’s class came to Goodwill in January to volunteer in the distribution center sorting books and clothes. A film crew from “Arthur” tagged along to record the fun. Bill LaBelle, director of retail operations, met with the students and talked to them about Goodwill’s mission.

Donate today!

“This was great exposure for the students to see how Goodwill works and what it does,” said Malanga. “They all got a lot out of the experience and have a better understanding of what it means to volunteer and help other people.”

For more information on stores and attended donation centers, go to www.goodwillmass.org

Heidi Shin, a producer for the show, said the aim of “Arthur” is education. “One of the goals of our show is helping kids develop positive social skills. In this episode, we wanted to show young people how great it is to give back to your local community.”

The episode is expected to run in September 2009.

G

Building Goodwill through Good Works Goodwill’s annual meeting on January 29 Huong Nguyen, a long-term participant in Goodwill’s job training operation in Salem, dreamed of working at Stop & Shop one day – today, she has her dream job thanks to a program Goodwill runs in collaboration with the Department of Mental Retardation.

When Brian Stewart aspired to a management position, Goodwill’s Boston Career Link connected him to MetroPCS at a job fair—now Brian is an assistant manager at this wireless company’s new store in Roxbury and on a great career path, too.

These were two of the “good work” stories that about 80 business and community leaders, board members and staff heard at Goodwill’s Annual Meeting on January 29. Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney was the keynote speaker.

“For over 100 years, this organization has held to the principles of its mission statement,” Feeney said. “Not just giving a hand out, but helping someone to step up, to achieve, and to accomplish.”

Goodwill President and CEO Joanne Hilferty told the audience that Goodwill is meeting the economic challenges of 2009 and helping people find work. “People coming to Goodwill need us now more than ever,” she said. “We’re going to figure out how to serve them, and we’re going to do that by working with all of you.”

Board chair Allen Maltz, who is the CFO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, welcomed Kevin Bottomley, the president and CEO of Danversbank, as a new board member.

Maltz also thanked outgoing board members William B. Huff, the former president of the Boston Globe, Michael M. Morrow, East Region Assurance Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and J. Keith Motley, Ph.D., the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Boston, for their years of service on the board.

G

Help Goodwill Raise the Roof and More!

Goodwill’s headquarters at 1010 Harrison Avenue in Roxbury is a much-relied upon community resource and a vibrant place bustling with more than 200,000 visits each year as well as another 200,000 visits by shoppers!

However, the headquarters is showing its age and is in urgent need of repair and replacement of its roof and key systems.

In order to raise funds for this critical need, Goodwill is commencing a three-year, $5 million campaign with the theme Building Goodwill…By Raising the Roof and More! The campaign will make it possible to make the comprehensive repairs and renovations to the physical plant that are direly needed 23 years after Goodwill first opened the doors of its Roxbury headquarters.

The building is almost as large as two football fields – it is 100,000 square feet – and includes a job training center with classrooms and computer labs, a one-stop career center, administrative offices, a retail distribution center, the largest Goodwill Store and the Goodwill Outlet Store. The renovation of the headquarters is essential for Goodwill to be able to provide uninterrupted service to its constituents and to safeguard Goodwill’s most valuable physical asset.

The investment is needed despite careful maintenance; many of the systems have just reached the end of their useful lives. The roof is leaking. The heating/air conditioning rooftop units are failing. The bathrooms are shabby. And, there is little or no insulation.

The design of the project is complete and includes many “green” elements that will reduce energy use thereby saving money and preserving the environment.

The speakers at Goodwill’s annual meeting were, from left, Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney, MetroPCS Vice President Bruce Martin, Goodwill participant Huong Nguyen, MetroPCS Assistant Manger Brian Stewart, Goodwill President and CEO Joanne K. Hilferty, HELP graduate Barbara Murray, and BNY Mellon Academy for Girls participant Arielle Romain.

Save the Date Thursday, June 11, 2009 5:30-9:00 pm Goodwill Headquarters 1010 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02119 The elegance of champagne. The best of barbecue and other diverse local flavors.

Delicious sweet treats. And more. What a good way to celebrate and benefit a great cause – Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries!

As Goodwill is restoring its headquarters, the organization continues to build much-needed goodwill in the community – and value, too – through the numerous activities, programs and services that take place daily in the headquarters to help people build better futures and better lives for themselves and their families. This includes people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, young people with enormous potential but limited opportunities, and others from the local community who want to change their lives. They find Goodwill’s headquarters is a place to help them succeed.

To make a contribution or for more information, please contact Chris Lojko in the Development Office at 617-541-1213 or clojko@goodwillmass.org.

Goodwill Opens New Attended Donation Centers Donating clothes and household items to Goodwill just got a little easier.

Since the beginning of this year, Goodwill has opened three attended donation centers (ADC) - one in Peabody, another in Norwood, and a third in Woburn.

As Goodwill opens more stores, it also needs to keep up the selection of goods available by opening more donation centers. Goodwill opened a very successful new store on Commonwealth Avenue last year and is looking to open two more stores this year.

Member of the England Patrio New running back Sats Morris lends a mmy hand at the 14th annu Thanksgiving- al Basket event atin-aGoodwill on N 2008. More thov. 24, 200 baskets weran distributed by e members of the Patriots organi zation.

“We want to make donating as convenient as possible for our donors,” said Terry Fitzpatrick, vice president of social enterprises at Goodwill.

The ADC in Woburn is a first ever for Goodwill. It’s located at 400 Cambridge Road in the Whole Foods Market parking lot. The Norwood ADC is at 134 Nahatan Street in the Shaw’s parking lot, while the Peabody site is at 19 Howley Street in the Stop & Shop parking lot.

All the ADCs are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tax receipts are available.

G

GOOD

news

To commemorate the inauguration of President Barack Obama, girls from the BNY Mellon Academy recorded their hopes for the future. Cleopatra Lewis, left, and Daysha Washington pose with the letters.

Super model G Betty Smith at isele Bundchen and HELP stu Nov. 26, 2008 Goodwill’s Thanksgiving dinndent Brady helped se. Bundchen and Patriots QB er on than 400 particirve a Thanksgiving dinner toTom more pants.

Companies honor their clients in a special way Several companies, including Danversbank, made donations to Goodwill in honor of their clients this past holiday season.

“Goodwill has a long history of community service. Its network of stores, which provide affordable clothing and household wares, along with its job training programs and youth services make it an invaluable organization,” said Kevin Bottomley, President and CEO of Danversbank and a new member of Goodwill’s Board of Directors. Danversbank made a $10,000 donation to Goodwill.

Other companies honoring their clients in this way included Boston Private Bank & Trust Co., Beals and Thomas and Morrissey & Company.

Patriots QB To hand-off at the m Brady makes a pumpkin pi e Thanksgiving di nner at Goodw ill.

outlook

Got Art? Goodwill Does

GOODWILL

On Friday, May 8, from noon to 4 p.m., participants from Salem’s day habilitation program and training center will showcase their art work, including paintings, jewelry, note cards, book marks, and other items. Tours of the center will also be given. The event is free and open to the public. Donations for the artwork are welcome and will be used to help support the day habilitation art therapy program.

Goodwill’s mission is to provide exemplary job training and related services to help individuals with disabilities and other barriers to self-sufficiency to achieve independence and dignity through work. Not charity, but a chance.

For more information, please contact Emily Phipps at 978-825-5000, ext. 229, or by email at ephipps@goodwillmass.org.

Joanne K. Hilferty President & CEO

Runners, Lace Your Shoes Now in its fifth year, Goodwill’s Running for Great Kids Boston Marathon® Team is hitting the pavement and gearing up for the 113th Boston Marathon on April 20. This year, 18 team members will undertake the 26.2 mile course that stretches from Hopkinton to Boston. The runners will be raising money for Goodwill’s youth programs, including the BNY Mellon Academy. The girls from the academy partner with the runners as they train for the race and will cheer them on the course in April!

Goodwill is now on Facebook!

Check us out. www.facebook.com

Goodwill and National Day of Service More than 50 people participated in the National Day of Service on January 19 by donating items to Goodwill. The National Day of Service is held every year on Martin Luther King Day and this year volunteers could sign up to donate at their local Goodwill.

Patrick Duff Vice President, Finance & CFO Terrence M. Fitzpatrick Vice President, Social Enterprises Carol D. Ishkanian Vice President, Development & External Affairs James Harder Director of Communications Editor, Goodwill Outlook Photo Credits Bethany Versoy James Harder Design Studio A Design

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries 1010 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02119 (617) 445-1010 www.goodwillmass.org