The Latest News from OVGI

Ohio Valley Goodwill was honored to be featured on the “Newsmakers” program hosted by Dan Hurley on Local 12 on Sunday, August 22nd. Goodwill Grant Writer, Dick Oestreich, was Hurley’s guest on the broadcast which focused on the organization’s mission as well as its recent CARF accreditation. The show opened with one of Goodwill’s newest mission videos as well as footage from its recent success showcase starring Ms. Stephanie Mitchell, who is employed in the community and supported by Goodwill.

While the organization’s history and mission were covered in some detail, the discussion centered primarily on Ohio Valley Goodwill’s recent CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) audit outcomes report. This is the third consecutive triennial CARF survey which has resulted in a perfect outcome for the organization, placing it in the top 3% of accredited agenices nation-wide.

“We are very proud of our history of service to people with disabilities in the Greater Cincinnati area and look forward to continuing to expand the scope of those programs in response to community need,” commented Oestreich during the interview. To view the “Newsmakers” segment, please click here.

Cooler summer temperatures have finally arrived and what a great signal to start clearing the house of those things that have been in the way all season long.  Summer’s end is a good time to look through the house, the garage, the attic, and basement and fill a box for Goodwill Industries.  Donations to Goodwill help change lives each and every day.  Whether it’s out-of-date clothing, never worn shoes, a hardly used backpack, books, children’s clothing, or even last year’s holiday decorations, Goodwill has a place for them!   And donating is always so convenient at any of Goodwill’s 29 easy to reach Greater Cincinnati locations.  Just visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org for a list of Goodwill’s easy drive-thru locations.  

Donors will be pleased to know that they are not only helping to be a part of the local recycling effort, they are also assisting in putting people to work right here in our community.  Every donation to Goodwill helps change a life for someone served by Goodwill Industries.  Each year Goodwill serves over 2,300 individuals with disabilities, homeless veterans, and others with barriers to employment.  Goodwill is proud of the services that it offers and the quality of the programs that are available as a result of the donations that the organization receives from the local community.  So help do your part by donating to Goodwill and help change a life one donation at a time.   Donate today and put someone to work tomorrow!  It’s easy… just visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org and click on “I’d like to give!”

Make Cincinnati’s Goodwill stores a part of your back to school plan this year for cool looks and shopping finds!  Goodwill’s 16 area retail stores are filled with the looks that will prepare students of all ages for the trip back to school and campus.  Goodwill can help parents prepare students for the coming of the school year with clothing needs for students of all ages.  Goodwill stores are filled with hot tops, cool shorts, shoes, backpacks, and jeans that can fill a shopping cart!  With prices that can help a family stretch their dollars in this struggling economy, Goodwill is the first stop for families with students heading back to the classroom.

Goodwill stores are packed full of school clothing and new items arrive every day.  We have the looks that keep kids cool even in these hot end-of-summer days.  Even those students heading off to college will enjoy looking for those nearly-new items needed for the trip to campus.  Whether it’s the toss pillow for Mom’s old sofa or a great lamp to accent the new living room, Goodwill is the great first stop to prepare for the trip to campus.  Shopping Goodwill and heading to school is a great dollar stretcher!

For more information about Goodwill’s Greater Cincinnati locations, visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org

L to R Mick Fusco, Grants Manager, OVGI, Brooke Hill, Legislative Liaison for Senator Sherrod Brown and Doug Babcock, Senior Legislative Assistant for Senator Brown.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to welcome Doug Babcock, Senior Legislative Assistant and Brooke Hill, Legislative Liaison, for Senator Sherrod Brown to the organization’s corporate headquarters in the village of Woodlawn on Wednesday, August 11th. Mick Fusco, Grants Manager for the Veterans programs through Goodwill, provided the tour for the legislative staffers. The representatives were provided an overview of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services for homeless veterans as well as the organization’s history of success of working with individuals to attain self-sufficiency.

L to R: Neal Hutchinson, HVRP team member, David Hayes, HVRP team member, Mick Fusco, Grants Mgr, Brooke Hill, Legislative Liaison and Doug Babcock, Senior Legislative Asst. for Senator Brown.

The guests finished their guided tour in the organization’s transitional dormitory which can house 24 individuals on a temporary basis as they work towards obtaining permanant housing and employment in the community. Veterans specialists Neal Hutchinson and David Hayes were on hand to help explain the supports and expectations of the Dorm setting.

Annually, Ohio Valley Goodwill serves approximately 400 military veterans who are currently struggling with homelessness. Goodwill works in partnership with the Veterans Administration to help individuals to re-establish their lives in the community. The organization provides services to veterans in a variety of locations including Northern Kentucky.

“Goodwill has been providing services to veterans since 1993,” explained Fusco, “and the program depends largely on grant funding. In these tough economic times, it makes it even more important for legislators to know what Goodwill does for veterans and our track record of success,” added Fusco. Mr. Babcock noted that it is very educational for legislators to understand programs like Goodwill’s so that funding can be maintained for these vital services.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is grateful to Senator Sherrod Brown and his representatives for their on-going support of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services for our military heroes, our nation’s veterans.

L to R: Darlene O’Hair, OVGI Terrence Johnson, OVGI, State Representative Ron Maag and Faye Bengal, Program participant.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to welcome State Representative Ron Maag to its newest Vocational Services Center in the city of Lebanon on Friday, August 6th. Mr. Maag is the representative for district 35 which includes both Warren and Hamilton Counties. Goodwill Marketing Specialist, Sharon Hannon and Technician Supervisor, Darlene O’Hair in partnership with Goodwill’s program participants provided Mr. Maag with a comprehensive tour of both the retail store as well as the donation area of the recently opened training site.

Program participant Faye Bengal carefully explained all of the many work opportunities available at the Lebanon Vocational Services Center and demonstrated some of her responsibilities to Representative Maag. “It’s my favorite job ever,” commented Faye during her conversation with Mr. Maag.

The Representative was provided with information about not only the new Lebanon location but Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services throughout the region and especially through its headquarters in the village of Woodlawn. Mr. Maag was interested to learn about Goodwill’s long history of service in the Greater Cincinnati area as well as the fact that the organization serves not only individuals with disabilities but also our nation’s veterans. The Representative was extended a cordial invitation to visit Goodwill’s main location in the future to get a fuller understanding of the scope of services the organization offers.

“Ohio Valley Goodwill is grateful that the Representative was able to visit our new Lebanon Vocational Services Center,” said Sharon Hannon, Marketing Specialist. “We look forward to a another visit to our corporate headquarters in the near future,” added Hannon.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to welcome excited shoppers back to its newly re-designed and remodeled Loveland store location for a Grand Re-Opening event on Wednesday, August 4th. The newly welcoming and expanded retail location has been under-going a massive renovation all summer and Goodwill was thrilled to have the opportunity to show off its new look at the Grand Opening Celebration. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony took place prior to the doors opening, featuring representatives from the Loveland City Council, Linda Cox and Mark Fitzgerald as well as Goodwill Board Chairman, Charlie Wright, alongside the organization’s retail and management team members.

Video credit: Loveland Magazine (read a full story “This isn’t Grandma’s Goodwill” at http://www.lovelandmagazine.com/2010/08/this-isnt-grandmas-goodwill.html)

Dozens of waiting shoppers were warmly greeted by JP (Jonathan Perkins) and Sue Esterkamp, participants in the organization’s work training program. It was the first time JP and Sue had seen the newly remodeled location and were just as thrilled as the shoppers walking through the door for the Grand Re-Opening. “It really looks great,” commented JP. “I will be very happy to come back here to work,” he added.

The newly re-designed Loveland store is now the largest of the Goodwill network of 16 retail locations in the Greater Cincinnati area and boasts hardwood floors, wider aisles for shopping ease, and all new display features. In addition, the store expanded its sales floor significantly to accommodate a new large childrens speciality area and moved its donation area to improve donor convenience. “We re-designed the store to enhance the shopping and donating experience of our loyal customers,” said Ann Walters, Retail Sales Manager.

Ohio Valley Goodwill looks forward to the positive impact that the newly renovated Loveland store will have in the Loveland business community as well as the opportunity to support its mission of people putting to work. “For almost 95 years, Ohio Valley Goodwill has been serving the Greater Cincinnati community,” said Joe Byrum, President and CEO. “The proceeds from store sales and the generous donations from the community allow Goodwill to serve more than 2300 people with disabilties a year as well as our nation’s veterans. We are grateful to the residents of Loveland as well as the larger community for their on-going support of Ohio Valley Goodwill,” added Byrum.

The Loveland store will be the featured store for the month of September. Please check back for your valuable store coupon beginning September 1st.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was honored to be both a sponsor of and award recipient during the 2010 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) held Monday, July 26th on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. Goodwill Public Information Officer, Michael Flannery, joined other area employers on stage to accept the prestigious recognition which honors the commitment of area businesses to employ workers with disabilities. “On behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill and the individuals we serve, thank you for this recognition as a leading employer and advocate for people with disabilities,” said Flannery following the presentation.

The day-long 20th Anniversary Celebration has been in the planning for more than a year and Goodwill was delighted to be part of the planning committee. Monday’s events also served as an educational opportunity for participants in the organization’s CARE (Center for Advocacy, Education and Recreation) program and Consumer Advisory Committee. A group of more than 12 individuals accompanied by Goodwill staff members had the opportunity to meet State Representative Connie Pillich and pose for photos as well as to talk with many of the other dignitaries present. Goodwill was also an exhibitor at the historic event and spoke with hundreds of interested attendees about its mission of putting people to work in the Greater Cincinnati community.

“We very much appreciate the leadership of the Center for Independent Living Options (CILO) and all of the other partner agencies that planned and coordinated this important 20th Anniversary ADA Celebration,” said Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist. “Goodwill has been helping men and women with disabilities to obtain skill training and employment in the Greater Cincinnati community for almost 95 years and we are honored to be recognized for our efforts on behalf of the people we serve,” added Hannon.

For more information about Ohio Valley Goodwill and its programs and services, please contact Sharon Hannon, Marketing Specialist, at 771-4800, ext. 6364.

Thursday, July 22nd marked the first official Open House event for Goodwill’s newest Vocational Services Center in the city of Lebanon. Housed in the organization’s newest retail store location in Lebanon, the Open House welcomed members of new partner agency, the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities, family members as well as a reporter from the Western Star newspaper. Guests were greeted by tour guide teams led by participants in the new Vocational program paired with staff members. The tour guide team members included Jenny Ackerman, Faye Bengal and Wanda Hollandsworth, all of whom are participants in the Goodwill program.

“We were delighted to have this opportunity to show off our newest training program to the staff of the Warren County Board of DD,” said Leslie McCurley, Asst. Director of DD Services for Goodwill. “We are very excited about the wonderful work opportunities we can offer to individuals served by the Board,” added McCurley.

The new Lebanon Vocational Services Center opened in May of this year and is still accepting new referrals to the program. For more information about the Lebanon Vocational Services Center or to arrange a tour, please contact Erin Hill, Intake Coordinator at 771-4800 ext. 6293.

L to R: Phillip Schram, Exec VP, Val Kirielius, BWR, Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist, and Edvin Rajauskas, BWR.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to be selected as the charitable organization of choice for the newly opened Springdale location of Buffalo Wings & Rings. The new restaurant is the 15th location for the franchise in the Greater Cincinnati area and like a lot of businesses realizes the importance of investing in the communities where they are located. Goodwill Marketing Specialist, Sharon Hannon, represented the organization during a check presentation ceremony held during the Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, July 17th.

L to R: Phillip Schram, Exec VP BWR and Springdale Mayor Doyle H. Webster shaking hands.

In talking with Executive Vice President Phillip Schram following the ribbon cutting event, the corporate development team of Buffalo Wings & Rings will be touring Goodwill’s headquarters in the coming month and is enthusiastic about discussing the possibility of expanding the partnership. “We have locations throughout the Greater Cincinnati area that correspond with Goodwill stores and training centers and we really like their mission of putting people to work,” said Schram.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is grateful to Buffalo Wings & Rings for their commitment to support charitable organizations in the community and specifically, the individuals Goodwill serves.

In a series of festive events held on July 12th, 13th and 14th, Ohio Valley Goodwill took the opportunity to thank its staff and individuals served for their hard work in making its 2010 Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) survey outcomes extraordinary. For a third consecutive triennial audit, the organization demonstrated perfect compliance with CARF accreditation standards. The standards are used to evaluate the quality of services that are provided by an accredited agency. The 2010 CARF outcomes place Ohio Valley Goodwill in the top 3% of all similar organizations in the country.

To celebrate the remarkable achievement, Ohio Valley Goodwill chose to host a series of celebrations for the more than 700 members of its staff team as well as the hundreds of individuals it serves during break times and at the end of the work day. “We wanted to take this opportunity to not only thank our staff team for their hard work and commitment but to let everyone in the organization know that they are appreciated,” said Joe Byrum, President and CEO.

Goodwill’s Food Services Training team led by Chef Alison McElfresh baked cakes, cookies, and created the beach theme menu for the various celebrations that served more than a thousand people over the 3 day period.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is very proud of its record of service to individuals with disabilities and is grateful to its team members for their efforts in attaining an extraordinary CARF accreditation outcome.