FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2015
Goodwill® Announce s New Campus Partners and Tops Off Facility
Goodwill Opportunity Campus to serve as a catalyst for change in the workforce development industry in the Charlotte – metro region
CHARLOTTE, N . C . (September 10, 2015) – Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont announce d today the four nonprofit community partners that will have a full – time presence on the new Goodwill Opportunity Campus . The 18 – acre site in west Charlotte, which house s the 160,0 0 0 square – foot Leon Levine Opportunity Center, will provide the most comprehensive collection of resources and opportunities for job training, job placement and job creation in the community. The announcement was made during an event at the new facility, currently under construction and scheduled to open in late spring 2016. Attendees included Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter and Charlotte City Council member LaWana Mayfield.
Goodwill’s mission is more than finding people a job, it’s about helping to secure family sustaining employment so that individuals can build a foundation for the future. With more than 15 percent of the Mecklenburg County population struggling in poverty , and nearly one – third of those individuals without a high school diploma (Census Bureau, 2013), Goodwill seeks to eliminate barriers to employment such as lack of education, experience or skills, criminal backgrounds and more.
In order to change the trajectory of poverty in the region, Goodwill has brought together several local agency partners to help address client barriers in healthcare, banking, financial literacy, and transitional support services to help individuals in the community achieve stability and eventually gain a level of self – sufficiency. Working collaboratively with strategic partners located under one roof will enable Goodwill to provide the convenience of access to crucial services that will positively influence economic mobility.
Full – Time On – Site Partners Will Include:
- Charlotte Community Health Clinic to offer comprehensive medical care for low income and uninsured individuals.
- Common Wealth Charlotte to provide financial capability services to low – wage workers through financial education and tailored re – banking and loan products.
- Charlotte Metro Credit Union to provide financial services accessible to all, with specialty products for the unbanked and those needing a fresh start.
- The Center for Community Transitions to provide individuals with criminal backgrounds intense employment and transitions services to prepare them for employment.
“When someone comes to Goodwill looking for employment, we look at the whole person. These specific partners representing healthcare, financial and transitional services were handpicked to serve the needs of the people who seek Goodwill’s services,” said Michael Elder , President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “ Of the people Goodwill serves, 60 percent report having no primary care physician, 85 percent have a household income of less than $20,000 and 26 percent have a criminal record. The goal of having these partners with us at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus is to help the individuals we serve gain stability and overall well-being to be able to obtain, retain and ultimately achieve their specific goals of family sustaining employment.”
Making the Goodwill Opportunity Campus a reality required an investment of $22 million. Goodwill committed $14 million of its own funds and embarked on a capital campaign to raise $8 million from the community. The nonprofit has raised $6.1 million to date, including a $1.2 million challenge grant from The Leon Levine Foundation and a $500,000 investment from Bank of America, with only $1.9 million remaining of the goal. Individuals may visit www.goodwillopportunitycampus.org to learn more or donate.
Proceeds from the sale of donations in Goodwill retail stores support job training and employment services for unemployed and underemployed individuals as they upgrade their skills to enter the competitive workforce. Each week, 250 people access Goodwill’s employment and basic needs resources. In 2014, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided employment services free of charge to more than 13,000 individuals thanks to donations from the community. For more information about Goodwill and its programs and services, visit www.goodwillsp.org.
About Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
Goodwill has been serving individuals and families in the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina for 50 years. Goodwill operates 22 retail stores and has more than 50 donation sites in the region. Proceeds from the sale of donated goods fund job training and employment services for individuals facing barriers to employment such as lack of skills, experience or education. In 2014, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont placed nearly 1,100 individuals in jobs. For more information, visit www.goodwillsp.org.
Media Contacts
Molly Thompson | PR & Social Media Manager | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Phone: (704) 332 – 0262 | Email: molly.thompson@goodwillsp.org
Melinda Wilshire | Direct or, Marketing & Communications | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Phone: (704) 916 – 1616 | Email: melinda.wilshire@goodwillsp.org
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