Grand Rapids, Mich. – The fifth annual Goodwill Awards recognize the “best in class” partners for their hiring and training of Goodwill program participants, environmental sustainability, philanthropy, and commitment to the Goodwill mission.
The Goodwill Awards will take place on October 10 at Frederik Meijer Gardens with special guest speaker, Jim Gibbons, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.
Award recipients include Meijer, City of Portland, Clark Retirement Community, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, Grand Valley State University, The McCahill Group, Steelcase, and USF Holland Inc.
Meijer will receive the Legacy award for their long standing relationship with Goodwill that dates back to the beginning. Frederik Meijer was a key player in bringing Goodwill to Grand Rapids and this year, Goodwill of Greater Grand Rapids celebrates its 50th anniversary. Additionally, the retailer’s continuous donations, volunteers and service on Goodwill’s board of directors is why they will receive this prestigious award.
The City of Portland will receive a Collaborative Partner award for their commitment to assisting Goodwill in the planning, and reconstruction of the Portland store location after a tornado took down the building in the summer of 2015. City Manager Gorman and city staff were deliberate and proactive in their assistance.
“Even though making Portland a better place to live, work, and play is at the heart of virtually everything we do as a city, it is easy to lose sight of that objective as we go about our day-to-day tasks,” said Mayor of Portland James E. Barnes, “Being acknowledged as a Collaborative Partner in the efforts of Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids serves as a reminder of why we do, what we do; and inspires us to redouble our efforts in helping the members of our community who can benefit the most from those efforts.”
Steelcase will be awarded a second Collaborative Partner award for their assistance in the creation of Goodwill’s new Workforce Development office. Steelcase guided the design, layout and installation of the space, all in a quick 3-month turnaround.
“We were glad to support Goodwill’s move to a new space in its 50th year,” said Deb Bailey, director of community relations at Steelcase. “We know to do the important work Goodwill does, organizations need great physical spaces. It’s our privilege to support Goodwill as they grow and help the Greater Grand Rapids area thrive.”
Grand Valley State University will receive a Community Partner award for its collaboration and partnership with the LITE (Learning Independence Through Experience) program that assists young adults on the autism spectrum gain meaningful work experience.
Another Community Partner award goes to the McCahill Group as they have been a tremendous asset and support for Goodwill’s wellness initiatives by helping to educate Goodwill employees and promote healthy choices and lifestyles. The McCahill Group business partnership model is reflected by numerous long term relationships, some spanning over 30 years, and they have a proven track record of designing, developing and operating profitable health and fitness programs and spas in a wide variety of both corporate and private environments.
“The McCahill Group is proud to be an integral part in inspiring Goodwill team members to live healthy and meaningful lives,” says company president, Peaches McCahill, “we look forward to continuing to support Goodwill for years to come as they continue to improve the culture of health within the organization.”
The Donated Goods Award will go to Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore for the “Every Dress has a Story” Donation campaign.
“Girl Scouting builds girls of Courage, Confidence and Character who make the world a better place,” said Mary Charles, Interim CEO, Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore. “We could not be more proud to partner with Goodwill in the Every Dress Has a Story project. This campaign is about much more than the dresses girls collect. It is about providing Girl Scouts with the opportunity to develop the confidence to ask for a donation, learn about the importance of recycling, and making sure they are giving back to the community.”
Clark Retirement Community will be receiving the Talent award for their commitment to Goodwill program participants. In the past year, they have hired 13 of Goodwill’s Certified Nurse Aid Training Program graduates.
USF Holland Inc. will receive the second Talent award for their partnership with Goodwill’s veteran program. USF Holland, Inc. hosted a Veteran Networking Event creating a favorable environment for both employers and veterans. Employers were able to better understand the military culture veterans come from and veterans could better understand employers’ needs and how their skills can translate to meet those needs.
About Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives and communities through the power of work. Since 1966, the organization has offered a wide range of employment and training programs to assist those with disabilities and other barriers to employment in developing their marketable skills in order to find meaningful employment. Its efforts are supported by revenue from its 22 and growing retail stores in a five-county area, as well as from monetary donations. For more information, visit www.goodwillgr.org.