FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2016
Goodwill® to Open New Store in Charlotte’s University City
Public invited to University Pointe retail store grand opening this Saturday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 29, 2016) – Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont invites the public to the grand opening of its newest retail store in north Charlotte’s University City this Saturday, March 5, 2016. A ceremonial ribbon cutting by Goodwill and University City Partners executives will begin at 8:45 a.m. Doors will open for shopping at 9 a.m.
Free breakfast and coffee will be available for attendees, in addition to prize giveaways from Goodwill’s electronics store in University City, The GRID: Powered by Goodwill – including a 32” flat screen television, laptop computer and $50 Visa gift card. The first 100 visitors will receive a complimentary umbrella. Guests are encouraged to start their spring cleaning early and bring material donations to help launch the new store and double their chances in the register-to-win prizes. Local radio station Channel 96.1 and The Ace & TJ Show personality Lindsay Gladden will be on-site throughout the morning to provide entertainment and excitement surrounding the new store.
The grand opening of the newest retail store is an opportunity for the community to be among the first to experience the Goodwill location and shop great deals at affordable prices. The University Pointe retail store and donation center, located at 5808 University Pointe Boulevard, marks the nonprofit’s twenty-third retail store in the region, which includes thirteen counties in North Carolina and five counties in South Carolina. Regular hours for the new store are Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Goodwill’s mission is to provide job training and employment services to individuals with barriers to employment such as lack of education, experience or skills and criminal backgrounds. These services are provided free of charge to individuals thanks to material and financial donations from the community, and purchases made at Goodwill retail stores in the region. The University Pointe retail store has created more than 30 new jobs in the community and will generate approximately $500,000 in wages and sales taxes paid per year.
“We’re thrilled to open an additional retail store location in the University City to make shopping and donating even more convenient for our supporters,” said Barbara Maida-Stolle, executive vice president of business enterprises at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “Our customers and donors play a firsthand role in Goodwill’s mission, and we’re grateful for their patronage throughout the region.”
Proceeds from the sale of donations in Goodwill retail stores fund job training and employment services free of charge for unemployed and underemployed individuals as they upgrade their skills to enter the competitive workforce. Each week, 230 people access Goodwill’s employment and basic needs resources. In 2015, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided employment services to 12,000 individuals and placed 1,600 job seekers in local jobs. For more information about Goodwill and its programs, visit www.goodwillsp.org.
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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 more than 50 years. Goodwill operates 23 retail stores and has more than 45 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 and criminal backgrounds. In 2015, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided employment services to 12,000 individuals and placed 1,600 job seekers in local jobs thanks to donations and purchases from the community. 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 | Director, Marketing & Communications | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Phone: (704) 916-1616 | Email: melinda.wilshire@goodwillsp.org
Facebook.com/GoodwillSP | Twitter: @GoodwillSP | Instagram: @GoodwillSP
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