Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, has spent $1 billion home and seven years building the home covering 400,000 square feet on 27 floors, all for a family of six.
Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, has spent $1 billion home and seven years building the home covering 400,000 square feet on 27 floors, all for a family of six.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2010

GOODWILL IS HELPING PEOPLE FIND WORK DESPITE SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH
Jobless Americans Struggle with Long-Term Unemployment

Los Angeles, May 4, 2010 — Federal government officials have said that the economy is on the road to recovery, but there are many people still struggling to find employment. This economic recovery won’t feel real until our friends and neighbors who are unemployed can earn paychecks and support their families. As it commemorates Goodwill Industries® Week (May 2 – 8), Goodwill® is seeking donations of gently used clothing and housewares so it can provide the job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who need them most.
“At Goodwill, we are committed to helping people earn a living and improve their lives, families and communities,” said Doug Barr, president and CEO of Goodwill Southern California. “By shopping at and donating to Goodwill, you are giving your community a much needed economic boost by helping people learn the skills they need to find employment.”
There are 166 independent Goodwill agencies in the United States and Canada that tailor their job training programs and career services to meet the specific needs of employers in their communities. Goodwill provides a wide range of training, including computer courses, health care training, financial services, food service preparation and many more. Goodwill also helps people find jobs by contracting with government and businesses to provide commercial services such as packaging and assembly, custodial services, electronic recycling, and paper shredding.

“This Goodwill Industries Week, we thank you for helping us further our mission of helping people find jobs,” said Barr. “Your continued support strengthens our community and enables people to feel the pride and independence that work brings.”

About Goodwill Southern California:
GSC operates 63 retail stores, 41 attended donation centers, three campuses and 24 workforce/training centers in the counties of Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San Bernardino. Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, gave GSC its highest four-star ranking for eight consecutive years, because GSC spends 91 percent of its budget on programs that transform lives through the power of work. For more information about GSC and its programs, visit www.goodwillsocal.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Christianne Ray, community relations manager for Goodwill Southern California, 323.539.2095 or cray@goodwillsocal.org.

GreatNonprofits lists Goodwill Southern California as top-rated
Included on highly rated non-profit list for job training and placement

Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 11, 2010 – Goodwill Southern California has been designated a top-rated job training and placement non-profit by GreatNonprofits.com. The list of top rated non-profits features organizations that best exemplify a commitment to serving their community’s growing need for jobs in this economy.

The ratings were posted during the 2010 Job Training and Placement Awards, hosted by GreatNonprofits, Goodwill Industries International, the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services, and Guidestar. Ratings were submitted by members of the public who have volunteered, donated, or been served by the nonprofits. The final list is available at http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/issues/jobs/_.

“We are proud to be included as a highly rated job training and development organization,” says Goodwill Southern California president Doug Barr. “The value of positive reviews sets Goodwill aside as a leader in building stronger communities through job placement services.”

Goodwill Southern California’s mission of “transforming lives through the power of work” resulted in Goodwill assisting over 59,000 job seekers in 2009, and placing over 4,000 individuals directly in community employment with an average wage of $11.56.

About Goodwill Southern California
Since 1916, Goodwill has been turning donations and retail purchases into good jobs that have led to brighter futures for thousands of people with disabilities and vocational challenges. More than 59,000 people benefited from Goodwill Southern California’s (GSC) education, job training and placement programs last year. GSC operates 62 retail stores, 41 attended donation centers, three campuses and 24 service locations in the counties of Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San Bernardino.

For more information about Goodwill and its programs, please call
1 (888) 4-GOODWILL or visit www.goodwillsocal.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Christianne Ray, community relations manager for Goodwill Southern California, 323.539.2095 or cray@goodwillsocal.org.

Goodwill launches online bookstore

Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 26, 2010 – Goodwill Southern California (GSC) has launched an online site to sell books. Through Amazon.com, GSC will offer donated books that are determined to be of special value or interest.  The site officially launches…

GSC stores will select donated books to be sold on the site. Books are scanned at stores, entered into the online system, and sent over to a main distribution center at GSC’s Los Angeles campus, where once sold, they are then sent off to the buyer. Goodwill clients, individuals working to increase job skills and gain work experience, are employed in the distribution center.

Not all books that are of special interest will be placed online. Goodwill shoppers will still have access to unique finds at Goodwill stores. Only a small portion of books from each store will be made available for online purchase.

“We look forward to being able to reach a wider range of shoppers through our online outlet,” says Doug Barr, president of Goodwill Southern California.  “Funds generated from book sales go toward GSC mission services to transform lives through the power of work.”

For additional information, please contact Rita Maxwell at rmaxwell@goodwillsocal.org .

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christianne Ray, Goodwill Southern California, 323.539.2095

MEDIA ALERT
This Earth Day, reuse and reduce with Goodwill

Los Angeles, April 15, 2010 – Thursday, April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and one of the best ways people can be environmentally responsible is by donating and shopping at Goodwill Southern California, one of the original recyclers since 1916.

By supporting Goodwill, individuals are helping create much needed job opportunities throughout Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans), San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Revenues from the sale of donations help Goodwill provide job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment. More than 59,000 people with disabilities or vocational disadvantages benefit from Goodwill Southern California’s education, job training and placement programs each year.

Goodwill is an eco-conscious organization working to better our planet by recycling and acting responsibly. In 2009, Goodwill Southern California prevented 14.6 million pounds of textiles, 5.5 million pounds of electronics, and 5.9 million pounds of paper from landing in our landfills. A sample list of Earth Day Goodwill Southern California partnership events is as follows:

Los Angeles area E-Waste Collection Events:
    Union Bank – employee event
Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1980 Saturn Street
Monterey Park, CA 91755

    Kaiser Permanente – employee event
Thursday, April 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kaiser Permanente offices (Main Center)
393 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, Calif.

INLAND EMPIRE E-WASTE COLLECTION EVENTS
    San Manuel Casino- employee event
Wednesday, April 21, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
777 San Manuel Blvd.
Highland, Calif. 92649

About Goodwill Southern California:
GSC operates 63 retail stores, 41 attended donation centers, three campuses and 24 workforce/training centers in the counties of Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San Bernardino. Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, gave GSC its highest four-star ranking for eight consecutive years, because GSC spends 91 percent of its budget on programs that transform lives through the power of work. For more information about GSC and its programs, visit www.goodwillsocal.org.
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