The Ralph S. French Charitable Foundation recently awarded $65,000 to Goodwill Manasota in support of its award-winning GoodPartner Coach program.

This is the 13th year that Goodwill has received funding from the French Foundation for this purpose; the funds will help to defray costs associated with the salaries and benefits of two GoodPartner Coaches.The GoodPartner Coach program offers employability skills training and case management services to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Of Goodwill’s 800 employees, approximately 70% have a self-identified disability or disadvantage.

The goal of the program is to enable those who may have been overlooked elsewhere to gain positive personal and workplace behaviors and skills, feel the pride of earning a paycheck and move toward self-sufficiency, build a strong work history and develop the experience and skills to position them for higher-paying jobs within the organization or outside of Goodwill.In 2022, a significant number of Goodwill Manasota’s employees represented the following demographics: persons with disabilities, older workers, speaking a primary language other than English, lack of a high school diploma and those who are justice involved.

Individuals with significant barriers require more than just a job to move toward self-sufficiency. Consequently, Goodwill provides each team member with full-time employment, a competitive wage (all employees earn at least $14 an hour) and a life coach.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Grant to boost Goodwill Manasota's GoodPartner Coach program