'We are the solution.' Goodwill annual breakfast touts nonprofit's services, achievements
JACKSON TWP. – After two years of being an online event, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland & East Central Ohio hosted its annual breakfast in-person Thursday at the Kent State Stark Conference Center to highlight its accomplishments over the past two years and to recognize some outstanding clients, employees and employers.
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Steven Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, was the keynote speaker.
Local President and CEO Anne Richards told the crowd of more than 1,000 that the breakfast's theme, "Rise & Shine," describes what the nonprofit has done in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We never stopped serving clients at the time they needed us the most," she said.
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The local Goodwill serves 14,000 people in its 10-county region. It operates 28 programs which are supported by retail stores and individual donations.
Richards said Goodwill received 815,454 donations last year, totaling more than 800,000 pounds of clothing, housewares and furniture recycled f.
"We need 1 million pounds to keep the stores full," she said.
Richards said new stores in Canton, Westlake, and Lyndhurst have opened, with plans to open stores in Massillon and Garfield Heights.
"We're also looking for additional space for new stores," Richards said. "We believe there are millions in untapped revenue for our stores."
'Our collective impact is massive.'
Preston, who oversees 155 Goodwill CEOS, 3,300 stores and 600 job centers, lauded Richards as one of Goodwill's top leaders.
"Our collective impact is massive," he said. "The individual impact is what makes the work exciting."
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by the Rev. Edgar J. Helms.
"He was tireless in his efforts to reach every person," Preston said. "He wanted to help everyone reach their full potential."
He said Goodwill, which offers a number of job training programs, still upholds Helms' principles.
"I believe he dedicated his life to Goodwill because he knew the power of work in the life of an individual," he said. "Work is a central part of a human flourishing."
Preston noted there are 11.5 million job openings across the country, the highest in U.S. history.
There's "a huge 'opportunity gap' between opportunity and need," he said, adding that the while the economy is strong, a large segment of "invisible workers" are not thriving due to underemployment or a lack of marketable job skills.
That was reinforced in the results of a national poll conducted by the nonprofit.
"Across all groups, one overriding message people told us was the lack of skills and training prevented them from getting better jobs," he said. "We dug deeper and we found that people wanted to get better skills. People want to do better, but they're not finding a pathway to get there."
Preston said obstacles include childcare and mental health.
Tackling the opportunity gap
"Something we've known at Goodwill for a very long time is that people need help navigating their skills," Preston said. "They need coaching and someone to cheer them on."
Richards said the pandemic made Goodwill stronger, more tenacious and adaptable than its ever been in its history.
"But we're not satisfied with that until everyone is served," she said. "People in our community rise and shine every day to overcome obstacles, to learn new skills and to beat the odds."
Preston said Goodwill is the perfect place to do it.
"This is a huge opportunity for employers and people," he said. "Can we make it happen? The answer has huge implications for us. Our communities need strong Goodwills because we are the solution for closing the opportunity gap for so many people."
Goodwill hands out awards
The breakfast included an auction, and highlighted the 25th anniversary of Compass, which serves survivors of sexual abuse. Goodwill also handed out several annual awards:
The Tuscarawas County Victims' Assistance program received an Excellence in Collaboration award.
Kaylee Frazier was recognized as Achiever of the Year.
Marlene Sullenberger, a survivor of domestic violence, was given the Edgar J. Helms Outstanding Achiever Award.
Casi Barbera won the Graduate of the Year Award.
Goodwill employee Patty Lohr was named the winner of the Ken Weber Servant Leadership Award.
Dioguardi's Italian Market & Deli in Canton was named Employer of the Year.
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Goodwill annual breakfast touts its services and achievements
