Goodwill Wins Non-Profit of the Year at The Chamber Awards
The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce recognized Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc. as the 2012 Non-Profit/Association of the Year at the annual Chamber Awards on Tuesday, May 8th. Goodwill was among three local non-profit organizations nominated as finalists.
“We are honored to be recognized as non-profit of the year,” said Fred Shelfer, CEO of Goodwill Industries – Big Bend. “At Goodwill, our mission is to turn donations into jobs for those who struggle to find a place in the workforce and homes for people with disabilities. We thank every member of the community who donates and shops with Goodwill. You help us achieve this critical mission.”
Goodwill Industries was founded in 1902 and Goodwill Industries – Big Bend has been operating in Tallahassee since 1965. It began with a small single location and three employees. Today Goodwill Industries –Big Bend has over 700 employees and multiple locations throughout the Big Bend including 7 Career Training Centers and 11 apartment complexes. Goodwill provides job training, education, employment and housing for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment using the income generated from their local stores.
Revenue from the retail stores is returned to the community through Goodwill services like job training and housing.
Goodwill Industries – Big Bend, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to provide job training, education and employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, helping them reach their fullest potential in supporting themselves and their families. Goodwill also provides barrier-free apartment complexes in which people with disabilities can live independently. Founded in Boston in 1902, Goodwill Industries first put people to work by hiring them to repair and sell donated goods. Today, Goodwill trains people for careers in fields such as financial services, computer programming, manufacturing and emerging industries, including technology and health care.
