A Community Report | Winter 2018
GOODWILLWORKS
Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region
Treasure hunting in the cyberworld New technologies position Goodwill for success
People donate amazing things to thrift stores and savvy shoppers scour shelves in search of hidden treasures. The most celebrated finds include a Michael Jackson performance jacket valued at $2 million and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence fetching $477,650 at auction. The days of treasure hunting in our stores still exist, but the thrill of the hunt has now expanded to the online world. And Goodwill’s innovation once again is meeting the demand. Now modern shoppers along with a local industry of antique and curio dealers are doing more Goodwill treasure hunting from home, work or on the go – at shopgoodwill.com/goodwillwa. In 2017, our online sales increased by 12%, thanks in part to an improved user interface featuring easy smartphone/tablet access and a keyword personal cyber shopper. These customer service improvements allow treasure hunting to continue 24-7 on the customer’s behalf. And the time to support online thrift is now, thanks to an annual year-end surge in household donations. The peak in donations means early 2018 one-of-a-kind online bargains in antiques, art, collectibles of all sorts, jewelry, musical instruments, high end clothing, electronics and much more. Try shopgoodwill.com/goodwillwa for local finds and the best from Goodwills across the country, more than 93,000 items at any one time!
a message froM THE CEO As 2018 gets underway, our team is delighted to work with so many community partners to deliver job training and placement programs that serve the evolving needs of people across our region.
Nine hundred clients will visit Goodwill’s free Tacoma tax center More and more families are in need of assistance with their taxes and Goodwill is there to support them. Thanks to a critical grant from the Key Bank Foundation, Goodwill’s free tax center in Tacoma will serve 900 lower income singles and families this tax season. In late January, Goodwill, the IRS, the Key Bank Foundation and the Pierce County Asset Building Coalition opened the Tax Center for singles and families making less than $54,000 a year. The $32,500 award from Key Bank will support three 2018 programs - Goodwill’s tax center, Tacoma’s Key Bank sponsored Super Refund Saturday (February 3rd), and a personal financial fitness program integrated into Goodwill career pathways training that will serve 492 adults and youth throughout the year.
Today’s changing economic and political dynamics require us to be nimble and responsive to the interests of our students and to the requirements of employers seeking to hire people with great job skills. For that reason, we are grateful for the support of the programs highlighted in this issue, which are preparing our students for work in the growing fields of manufacturing, banking, and construction.
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Milgard Windows and Doors staff in front of their Goodwill truck community ad.
Culinary school manager Jeff Pratt and program graduate Anita Davis.
Two partners recognized for community service Two outstanding community partners, Milgard Windows and Doors and Tacoma Public Schools, became the latest organizations to be recognized as Premier members of Goodwill’s Corporate Alliance Program (CAP). Unveiling ceremonies in late 2017 revealed partner mobile community ads that will run on three Goodwill trucks apiece in 2018. Milgard’s Vice President of Human Resources Cory Hall and Goodwill President and CEO Lori Forte Harnick detailed the community support Milgard has provided over the years, including hiring nine Goodwill career training graduates, participating in the Jeans & Jerseys for Jobs Day fundraiser, and coordinating an employee household goods donation drive.
Tacoma Public Schools celebrated 31 Goodwill program hires over the past two years with a special student event at Stewart Middle School to recognize Goodwill Culinary School graduate and popular school Nutritional Services team employee, Anita Davis. Superintendent Carla Santorno and Goodwill CEO Harnick each spoke about the importance of community partnering to provide free education and job placement to the thousands of unemployed in Pierce County. Following a student musical performance, Goodwill and Tacoma Schools presented Davis with a model Goodwill truck bearing her likeness.
Boeing and Wells Fargo fund Veteran networking events in 2018 The needs of transitioning veterans continues to grow, and thanks to key support from corporate partners Boeing and Wells Fargo, Goodwill’s quarterly Veteran Networking Event at Joint Base Lewis McChord will continue in 2018. In support of service members transitioning to civilian life in the region each year, the Boeing Company presented $90,000 to Goodwill for its 2018 Military and Veteran Services Program, Operation GoodJobs. The Wells Fargo Foundation is also partnering with Goodwill in 2018, presenting a check for $50,000 to support the effort. Goodwill’s program, in its sixth year of operation, assisted 2,090 transitioning servicemen and women, veterans and military family members last year with civilian job training and placement services. Goodwill’s JBLM quarterly events put nearly 275 transitioning service members in touch with 75 employers and training organizations.
Goodwill partners with successful BankWork$ Program As the banking industry continues to evolve, qualified workers are needed now more than ever. In 2017, Goodwill’s Milgard Work Opportunity Center in Tacoma served as a new site for the successful banking career pathway program – BankWork$. This new partnership with the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish Counties has prepared Pierce County job seekers for high-demand, entry-level positions in the financial industry.
Hiring market & top wages await 2018 YouthBuild graduates Pierce County youth in Goodwill’s YouthBuild construction training program will build several small homes for people experiencing homelessness in 2018. And YouthBuild graduates will find their new skills in demand in 2018, as seventy percent of contractors are having difficulty finding qualified workers.
The intensive eight-week training program, administered by the YWCA and designed in partnership with the financial industry, produces graduates who receive both their diploma and job interviews at their graduation ceremony. Initial positions, such as bank teller, customer service representative and personal banker are gateways into a variety of financial services positions, including managerial work. Twenty five percent of BankWork$ graduates are promoted in their first year with an average wage increase of $4 per hour.
New mission for Army retiree Cliff Ragadio … thanks to Bankwork$
In early 2017, Cliff Ragadio retired after 20 years of Army service and faced a daunting decision – what’s next?
While more construction industry jobs open up in the wake of retiring baby boomers, fewer youth are favoring the field. The result is a profession with rapid advancement potential willing to pay premium wages - $25/hr. for qualified entry level employees. Under the six-month Tacoma YouthBuild career pathways program, Goodwill, Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity and funding partner the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), work with low-income young adults to build lives and careers. The program features life, leadership and organizational skills, construction training and certifications, educational support, financial incentives, and one year of safe and supportive follow-up services. In 2015 and again in 2017 the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration awarded $1.1 million to fund Goodwill in Tacoma’s construction career program for three more years. DOL funds 80% of the Tacoma YouthBuild program while $275,000 is provided through Goodwill retail sales, with additional support from Habitat for Humanity, the REACH Center in Tacoma, and other local partners.
At 39, Ragadio wanted to grow beyond the structured life that he had enjoyed since 19, and he needed the financial capacity to help his children through college. He wanted room to grow and a career path where his discipline, dedication and desire to help people would be put to good use. BankWork$ became his gateway to a new opportunity. Since it is a free program underwritten by the banking industry and WorkForce Central, he wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time or money on a college degree and would enter a field of high demand and growth. “BankWork$ training gave me the confidence to impress during the interview process,” said Ragadio. Immediately after graduation, the class attended a job fair with more than 15 different banks. I was offered positions on the spot. The hardest part about BankWork$ was picking which bank to go with!”
a message froM THE CEO continued... And, we are fortunate to receive support for programs that tailor our services for particular segments of the population, such as veterans, families, and youth. These programs are life-changing for so many of our community members. Thank you for joining Goodwill in service to our community.
Thank you for helping people change their lives through the power of work. Lori Forte Harnick
President & CEO
Our 2017 IMPACT is thanks to you!
9,420 Shannon Davis picks up Thanksgiving Dinner from Women2Work staff Gale Hemmann, Luisa Jensen and Kelly Blucher.
holiday support for 33 families through Women2Work Life Center Tacoma and Goodwill teamed up to provide holiday gifts to 93 children, and Thanksgiving and year-end dinners to 33 families receiving services under the Women2Work program. Since Goodwill kicked off the program two years ago, 80 single mothers with young children have been guided toward self-sufficiency. Funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Women2Work helps families facing social and economic barriers to achieve economic security and stability, and provides education and counsel to aid families in child development.
get involved with Goodwill
GIVE
donate
Give a financial contribution to sustain our impactful community programs goodwillwa.org/give
volunteer Volunteer your time at Goodwill to help others goodwillwa.org/ about/volunteer
SHOP Shop at one of our retail stores goodwillwa.org/shop or shop online shopgoodwill.com/goodwillwa
Donate gently used clothing and household items goodwillwa.com/donate
REFER Refer someone to a Goodwill job training program. goodwillwa.org/training
HIRE Hire a Goodwill program graduate to access great talent, eager to work goodwillwa.org/businesses/ hire-our-grads
PARTNER Become a Goodwill Corporate Alliance Partner goodwillwa.org/ businesses/corporate-alliance
1,425
people were provided job training, placement and support including 2,519 young adults at the REACH Center
individuals were placed in jobs in the community
Among those served:
22% are transitioning military, veterans or family members
35% are young adults (16-24) 10% are senior workers New Board Members and 2018 Officers Goodwill is proud to announce the appointment of five new Board members and three new officers for 2018. New officers include Board Chairman Christopher Algeo, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair Shahrokh Saudagaran and At Large member SuzY Esposito. New Board members include: Charelle Foege, an Owner and Vice President of Personnel at Stormans, Inc. an independent grocer in Olympia; Demetrius Forte, store manager for Walgreens in Steilacoom and Lakewood; Daniel Glover, Chief Estimator for Tucci & Sons Construction in Tacoma; Shannon D. Govia, Assistant Executive Director for the Washington Health Care Facilities Authority in Olympia and Mark Rodriguez, Executive Director of a Manufacturing Business Unit in Auburn for Boeing.
Goodwill Board Executive Committee Chair
Christopher Algeo past chair
C.W. Herchold Shahrokh Saudagaran Judy Swain
Bill Dickens Suzy Esposito Barbara Mitchell-Briner Colette Taylor Directors
Treasurer Secretary
Directors (cont.)
At Large
Anthony Chen, MD Rory Connally Charelle Foege
Demetrius Forte Josh Garcia Daniel Glover Shannon Govia Drew Henrickson Terry Jones Mark Rodriguez Carlyn Roy
Corporate Office 714 S 27th St • Tacoma, WA 98409 • 253.573.6500 • goodwillwa.org Work Opportunity Centers: Tacoma 253.573.6500 | Longview 360.501.8340
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