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As we approach the season of giving and the close of 2024, the global movement of Giving Tuesday provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the power of generosity to transform lives. At Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, we’ve seen firsthand how acts of giving can open doors, build pathways and change futures.

At Goodwill, we believe that a job is more than just a paycheck—it’s a steppingstone to independence and a brighter tomorrow. But for many in our community, barriers like limited access to education, the challenge of re-entering the workforce in a competitive job market, and personal hardships make employment feel out of reach.

That’s where Goodwill steps in, offering tuition-free training programs, job search support services and unwavering support to help individuals find success and further their lives.

MEET RITU

Take Ritu’s story, for example. A talented IT professional, Ritu took a career break to raise her children. When she was ready to return to work, she felt overwhelmed, uncertain, and left behind in a field that evolves rapidly. Ritu found her way to one of Goodwill’s Advanced IT training programs, where she gained the skills and confidence to re-enter the workforce. Today, she’s thriving as an Operations Analyst at LPL Financial.

Ritu’s gratitude for the role Goodwill played in her life inspired her to give back with a generous donation. Her gift ensures others in our community can access the same life-changing opportunities she did.

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to join Ritu in giving the gift of possibility. Your generosity fuels programs that provide:

EVERY GIFT CHANGES LIVES

Your support on Giving Tuesday will help individuals like Ritu overcome challenges, regain confidence and create new beginnings. Together, we can connect people to good jobs and empower them to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. You can read more Goodwill success stories here.

WAYS TO GIVE

Giving Tuesday is a reminder that small acts of kindness can create lasting ripples of impact. Your support ensures that Goodwill can continue to provide these resources needed for community members to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

This Giving Tuesday, your gift can be the bridge to a brighter future for someone in our community.

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Donate|General|Goodwill's Mission

2024-11-25 20:35:49

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The Messer Construction Co. Foundation has awarded Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont $25,000 to support the construction of a new model home at Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training Center. Once construction is complete, the model home will become a regular tool to provide hands-on training throughout the Construction & Trade Skills Training program. As a sustainable structure, the model home will be vital in meeting the needs of program curriculum as the construction industry evolves over time.

“It’s really gratifying to support an organization that is committed to creating pathways to careers in the construction industry,” said Chris Malinowski, vice president, Charlotte region leader at Messer Construction Co. “High-quality, hands-on training provides a sense of what it’s like to work in the skilled trades: It’s rewarding, collaborative, and offers ample opportunities for advancement. We can’t wait to see the model home be constructed and for Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training Center to continue making an impact in the Charlotte community.”

As October is Careers in Construction Month, this investment is especially timely. With the construction industry facing a significant shortage of skilled workers, hands-on training programs like Goodwill’s are more critical than ever. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 91% of construction firms in North Carolina are struggling to find skilled labor. This model home, once completed, will play a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of skilled craft professionals who can help close that gap in the greater Charlotte region.

“Careers in Construction Month serves as a reminder of the vital role the construction industry plays in our economy and communities,” said Marvin Kelley, Director of Construction & Trade Skills Training at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “This generous support from the Messer Construction Co. Foundation will provide our participants with hands-on training that closely simulates the real-world work they’ll do onsite upon program completion. We’re excited to strengthen our program and continue preparing the next generation of skilled workers for success.”

Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training program, along with the addition of this new model home, will help train local residents for rewarding careers in construction—a sector that offers stability, growth opportunities, and a chance to build a lasting legacy. Through this partnership with Messer Construction Co., Goodwill will continue to support economic mobility and provide essential skills training to individuals in the Charlotte area.

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Announcements|Donate|General|Goodwill's Mission|Job Training

2024-10-15 16:23:46

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Join Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont as we participate in the inaugural DAF Day on October 10, 2024.

A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable savings account that gives you the flexibility to recommend grants to qualified non-profits like Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. DAFs currently hold about $230 billion philanthropic dollars in the United States and provide a simple way for the donor to get needed resources to their favorite causes in an easy and efficient way.

About 37% of DAF accounts go unused each year. We can change that this year, by encouraging supporters of Goodwill’s mission to make a DAF gift on National DAF Day. Your dollars help our community members pursue the life they want to achieve through our life-changing services.

Whether participants are taking the tuition-free BankWork$ or Advanced IT training, or learning a new employable skill at our award-winning Construction Skills Training Center, you can be certain that an investment in Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is an investment in our community’s future.

Making a DAF donation is easy to do. Just send our EIN – 56-0844639 to your account holder today, and reach out to our Director of Philanthropy, Jennifer De La Jara, at Jennifer.delajara@goodwillsp.org if you have any questions.

Imagine the good we could do if we DAF, together!

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Announcements|Donate|General

2024-09-20 01:19:52

daf-day-2024

Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), established in 2011 by Dr. Jacqueline Copeland-Carson of Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network with recognition by the United Nations, is celebrated globally every August to elevate African-descent giving and funding equity. Since its founding, millions of people and organizations across the globe have celebrated every August as a month of celebration and renewal of giving to and by African-descent communities. 

At Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, it’s our mission to build pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. Success isn’t achieved alone, which is why we encourage partnership and collaboration to help our team and the people we serve in achieving their goals. As a nonprofit, we rely on donations and shopping at our retail stores to fund our mission, in addition to corporate and philanthropic donations.  

Nick and Regina Wharton, longtime donors of Goodwill, share why giving is important and why they choose to support Goodwill.

Q: Why is it important to give?

Regina: “Giving helps to put you at the center of what community stands for — no one makes it on their own.  As my mother would often say, no matter how much you think you have somebody has more. And no matter how little you think you have somebody has less. Keep life in perspective and give what you can to our community to make a difference.”  

Nick: “I believe in strategic partnerships based on authentic collaboration with organizations doing extraordinary work in the community.”

Q: Why is it important to give to Goodwill?

Regina: “Simply stated Goodwill does good work! I was honored to serve on the board for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, so I gained a lot of knowledge about Goodwill and the difference the organization makes in our community.  It also meant a lot for us to honor my father who worked in the trades as an elevator repair person and business owner.  It’s a reminder that we come from a family that has benefited from what Goodwill stands for.” 

Nick: “I think it’s so important that those who have give to organizations that are making a difference. A lot of organizations are involved in the movement to change the economic trajectory of the city. Goodwill is among the organizations making an extraordinary impact on jobs in the city.” 

Q: How important is it to be leaders as Black philanthropists?

Regina: “To whom much is given, much is required!  We have been blessed to be a blessing to others.  We give as much as we can, and we have raised responsible adults that also give. Knowing we have been a role model for them matters to us. Give what you can and collectively it makes a difference.”

Q: Where does your sense of community come from?

Nick: “My mother raised three sons in a tough working-class community in Jamaica, Queens, NYC. I benefitted from rich community support systems that nurtured my growth and development. My entire career as a nonprofit executive and in the corporate arena has been providing economic opportunities to those left behind. These experiences have hard wired a desire to see people change their lives in communities that embrace and nurture change.

Q: How can someone’s involvement help others in the community?

Regina: “Involvement is all about building awareness!  A lot of times you don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes unless you get involved. Once you get involved you will find out the many ways you can make a difference with your time and treasure.  I take every opportunity I can to mention the Goodwill Opportunity Campus — where it’s located, the good work that’s happening with programs & services, and what’s behind the retail stores!”  

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If you would like to help fund Goodwill’s programs and services that we offer to the community free of charge, consider dropping off your gently used donations at one of our locations or making a financial contribution.

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Advocacy|Donate|General|Goodwill's Mission

2024-08-12 17:01:43

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