Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

“Goodwill is excited about this year’s Wheels for Wishes event because of the new features that have been added,” said Sharon Hannon, Marketing Specialist. In addition to wonderful entertainment provided by the CRS Barbershop Quartet, Jake Ryan (a Michael Jackson-inspired performance artist), and Master of Ceremonies Mark Macomber, the CARA group is sponsoring a Pet Adoption event in partnership with the Peppermint Pig and has a host of raffle items generously donated by its partners as well an iPAD and brand new bicycle.” The morning-long event offers the opportunity for attendees to listen to great music; ride, walk or wheel around the track; custom design their own t-shirt with support provided by DIY Printing; and win great prizes.

To find out more about this year’s family-oriented, fun “Wheels for Wishes” event, please visit their website at www.caragroup.org. Please join Goodwill and CARA on Saturday, June 1st at Beech Acres and help enrich the lives of people with disabilities. This is a pet-friendly event.

L to R: Ohio Representative Margaret Conditt with Goodwill President and CEO, Joe Byrum.

Ohio Valley Goodwill’s President and CEO, Joe Byrum, was pleased to welcome State Representative Margaret Conditt to the organization’s corporate headquarters on Friday, May 24th for a comprehensive tour of its programs and services. Conditt represents House District 52 which is Liberty Township in Butler County. Through its partnership with the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Goodwill serves several hundred individuals at both its Fairfield satellite location as well as its main campus.

The Representative learned about Goodwill’s skill training, job placement and coaching services as well as its Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education (CARE) where individuals are able to engage in enrichment opportunities of their choice. On Fridays, cooking classes take place in the CARE program and individuals were busily involved in making a banana cream pie during her visit. In addition, the Representative toured Work Adjustment, the Production building and visited the Veterans dormitory and learned about the extensive programs for both veterans and their families as well as individuals served in partnership with the County Boards of Developmental Disabilities as well as the Rehabilitation Services Commission.

“I am really amazed and pleasantly surprised to learn about the outstanding nature of Goodwill’s programs and services,” said Representative Conditt following the conclusion of the tour. “As a advocate for our nation’s veterans, I am especially pleased to see the work Goodwill is doing to help veterans get back in the workforce,” added Conditt. The Representative has recently co-sponsored a bill in the House to help veterans with military training in specific skill areas to have that training acknowledged in the civilian world as opposed to having to start over once discharged.

Ohio Valley Goodwill thanks Representative Conditt for her important visit to the organization’s corporate headquarters and her work on behalf of Ohio’s citizens.

On May 16th, advocates from Goodwill organizations nationally participated in Goodwill’s Annual Advocacy Day in support of better job opportunities for U.S. workers. Goodwill advocates met with hundreds of lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to protect investments that leverage Goodwill’s infrastructure, resources and expertise in job training and employment. The event is the centerpiece of Goodwill Industries International’s seventh annual Advocacy Day.

“The nation’s unemployment picture is slowly improving after the most difficult labor period in a generation,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO, Goodwill Industries International “Nonetheless, we are continuing to see increased demand for our job training and employment services, which are being threatened by government spending restrictions. Now is the time for Goodwill advocates to inform members of Congress about the ongoing need for job services, especially for those Americans who face challenges to gaining or maintaining employment.”

Among the high-priority items for Ohio Valley Goodwill and the other independent Goodwill agencies from around the country are:
• The Charitable Deduction – The work of organizations such as Goodwill is made possible by the generosity of Americans whose donations support charitable causes.

Proposals to limit the charitable giving incentive in order to increase government revenues are likely to reduce resources for charities at a time when resources are shrinking and service requests are increasing.
• Non-defense Discretionary Funds – While retail operations generate the bulk of the funding that Ohio Valley Goodwill and other Goodwill agencies need to provide employment services, government resources are essential in making up the difference.

These resources have declined over the past decade, and Goodwill believes Congress should protect investments in employment and training programs rather than restrict them.

• The AbilityOne Program – The largest provider of employment opportunities for people who are blind or who have significant disabilities, the AbilityOne Program allows Ohio Valley Goodwill and more than 75 other community-based Goodwill agencies to collectively employ some 7,000 individuals.

These services are being negatively and disproportionately impacted by the government’s automatic spending cuts.
Become an advocate for individuals looking for meaningful employment. Write your local Member of Congress to take immediate action today:
http://www.goodwill.org/get-involved/advocate/action-center/

On behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill locally, we appreciate your support which has allowed us to serve men and women with disabilities and our nation’s veterans in the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 97 years. It is your generous donations to Goodwill that help us put people to work!

The legislator was also interested to see the many programs offered to individuals served through our partnerships with County Boards of Developmental Disabilities as well as the Rehabilitation Services Commission.

Mr. Retherford was very cordial in meeting all of the Goodwill staff team members as well as program participants and noted that he was very impressed with the operations. “I am very pleased to find out more about Goodwill and the economic impact that the organization has in helping people go to work in our community,” said the Representative.

Mr. Retherford’s visit was especially timely as today is National Advocacy Day on the part of Goodwill organizations at the nation’s capitol. “We’re all about helping people go to work- whether its veterans or others trying to find employment,” said Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer.

For more information about Goodwill’s programs and services, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/services.

L to R: Kaitie Stretch and Katie Towns, Goodwill Placement Team Members.

Katie and Kaitie, one of Ohio Valley Goodwill Employment Services teams…Together they help put people to work!

Ohio Valley Goodwill has a pretty unique approach to helping people find jobs and we thought it would be interesting to introduce one of our Employment teams, Katie and Kaitie and explain a little about how they work. Katie Towns is a Placement Case Manager and Kaitie Stretch is a Placement Specialist and together they put all of their combined resources into helping people find jobs in the community.

As a Placement Specialist, Kaitie Stretch is the Marketing end of the team. She works directly with the employer to develop the prospective position based on what the individual wants and literally, “markets” the individual and the benefits of hiring them to the employer. She will then provide on-going coordination of the case management aspects of the needed supports to ensure that the individual maintains employment successfully.

As a Placement Case Manager, Katie Towns works directly with the job applicant in helping them to develop their job resume, practice for the interview, provide transportation and support as needed, and also, provide tips that might help the individual to be successful their obtaining the job. “This unique approach to job placement has really enabled us to help our job-seekers to find the positions that they really want and also to meet the employer’s expectations,” said Katie Towns.

“One of our recent stories about how well this team approach works involves a gentleman that really wanted a position with US Bank but had pretty firm ideas about the hours he wanted to work and the supports that he would need in such a position. He was convinced that he would never be able to get the job he wanted, but in working together, we were able to make that happen,” said Katie Towns.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is proud of the work of Katie and Kaitie and the entire Goodwill Placement team as they work hard to help people achieve personal success. To find out more about the benefits of working with Goodwill, please visit www.goodwillemploymentservices.com or call Marty Caffrey, Employment Services Manager at 771-4800, ext. 6239.

L to R: Doug Ostholthoff, Coordinator and Joe Walter, Celebrity Chairman.

Ohio Valley Goodwill’s 13th annual Celebrity Golf Outing is just one month away and Honorary Celebrity Chairman Joe Walter and Coordinator, Doug Ostholthoff are getting excited about this year’s Spectacular Helicopter Ball Drop. “With a Grand Prize of $2500 and a host of celebrities in attendance, we think this year’s outing will be the best one ever,” said Joe Walter, Celebrity Chairman.

Being held at the scenic Glenview Golf Club  on Thursday, June 13th, the 2013 Outing promises a challenging course with lots of amenities that will make the day very enjoyable. Village Pantry Catering will be sponsoring Grill Stations on each 9-hole course with delicious fresh-grilled picnic options and Lother’s Catering will be providing the fabulous evening meal guaranteed to please.

Following the completion of play, 2013 participants will enjoy watching this year’s Spectacular Helicopter Ball Drop which will take place over the driving range. “It’s always something to see hundreds of golf balls falling in seemingly slow-motion from the sky,” said Doug Ostholthoff, Outing Coordinator. “And the best part is, some lucky person, is going to win $2500 just for purchasing a golf ball!”

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this year’s Goodwill Golf Outing by registering today at www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/media/golfouting. You can also purchase your chance to win this year’s Grand Prize on-line or at any Goodwill store location for only $5.00. All proceeds support Goodwill’s mission of putting people with disabilities and our nation’s veterans to work. For more information, call (513) 771-4800, ext. 6364.

L to R: Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer with Representative John Becker.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to welcome State Representative John Becker to its corporate headquarters on Friday, May 10th. The newly-elected legislator resides in Clermont County and is the Representative for the 65th House District which includes northwest Clermont County. The Goodwill team had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Becker in April during Goodwill Statehouse Day and extended a cordial invitation to tour the organization’s headquarters.

Goodwill team members, Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer, and Sharon Hannon, Marketing Specialist provided the comprehensive tour which focused on the organization’s programs and services for people with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans. “I am pleased to find out more about the extent of Goodwill’s services and especially as they relate to our military heroes,” said Representative John Becker.

The Goodwill team was also happy to have the opportunity to provide more information about its new Clermont County Eastside program which is celebrating its second anniversary in August. The precedent-setting program is a collaborative agreement between both the Clermont and Hamilton County Boards of Developmental Disabilities to work with Goodwill in providing services to individuals that reside in both Clermont and the east side of Hamilton County. “We are honored that the Representative was able to make time in his busy schedule to visit our corporate headquarters,” said Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer.

The legislative visit was timely as it marked the official conclusion of the National Goodwill Week celebration, which is held during the first full week in May each year.

State Representative Louis Terhar and his wife, State Board of Education President, Debe Terhar.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to welcome State Representative Louis Terhar and his wife Debe to the organization’s corporate headquarters on Monday, May 6th for the official start of National Goodwill Week. Historically, the first full week in May is dedicated to celebrating Goodwill and its mission of service to the community. The Representative and his wife were provided a comprehensive tour of the organization’s headquarters and were fascinated to learn more about its diverse programs and services.

A member of the Military and Veteran Affairs committee for the Ohio House of Representatives, Mr. Terhar was very impressed with the Goodwill program for Veterans which offers transitional housing, skill training, job placement as well as follow-along case management services. Debe Terhar is the current President of the Ohio State Board of Education and was intrigued to know more about Goodwill’s work with local school districts in transition planning as well as about the organization’s award-winning Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education (CARE) program. The Representative and his wife were also pleased to have the opportunity to learn about Goodwill’s skill training, work evaluation, job coaching and placement services and to talk with Supervisors, Nancy VanderWoude and Laura Kumler.

“It was certainly a pleasure and very informative for both of us to find out more about Goodwill’s many programs for veterans and individuals with disabilities,” said the Representative before leaving. Goodwill was delighted to welcome its very special guests this week and looks forward to their support of the organization in the future.

Saturday, May 4th marked the premiere of the new PigAbilities event as part of this year’s Flying Pig Marathon and more than 150 athletes took part in the big race. It was a beautiful day made even more special by the celebration of the hard work of the athletes representing many of the organizations who are part of the Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA) group; a non-profit dedicated to enriching the lives of people with disabilities. Ohio Valley Goodwill is a founding member of the CARA group and was thrilled to take part in the new PigAbilities event which was the culmination of a 12-week training program for the athletes involved.

PigAbilities team members set individual goals for their training efforts, learned about nutrition and making healthy choices, and celebrated milestones along the way. The day of the Marathon served as the occasion for all of the athletes to finish the 26th mile of the famous race and receive a medal for their efforts. Ohio Valley Goodwill team members this year included Kristine Agoston, Craig Franta,Melinda Gabelman, Darlene O’Hair, Sharon Hannon and the Agoston family. Along with athletes from Catholic Residential Services, Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, Stepping Stones Center, RHC, United Cerebral Palsy and Visionaries and Voices, the Goodwill team members loved having their dedication to good health recognized. Dozens of on-lookers cheered on the racers throughout the event and applauded the athletes when medals were awarded.

Coordinated by CARA Executive Director Debbie Moorehous and trainer, Karen Bruce, the new PigAbilities event was designed to provide the support, instruction and encouragement each person needed to be successful in reaching their goal. One of the highlights of the day was when Visionaries and Voices artist Emily Funk presented trainer Karen Bruce with a specially designed medal she had created prior to the start of the Race. “It was truly a great day for Team Goodwill members as well as all members of the PigAbilities training group,” said Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist. “We are grateful to CARA for all of their efforts to make this event possible and so memorable for the athletes involved.”

Friday, May 3rd signaled the start of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Service Guild’s Spring Mini Fest held at the corporate headquarters in Woodlawn. The annual two-day festival is presented by volunteer members of the Service Guild and offers homemade baked goods and candy, wonderful gifts from the Treasure Island Gift Shop, Elegant Junque and collectibles, books, tapes and CD’s, and a grill-out during lunchtime. The annual event is one of the Service Guild’s largest fundraising activities and helps the organization to support services that assist Goodwill with its mission to help put people to work! This year the Mini Fest is even more noteworthy because it helps to mark the beginning of activities that celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Service Guild.

For many years, various church groups have been involved in supporting Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries through monetary gifts and through direct services. Established in 1933, the Service Guild of Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries was organized from key women from these early churches and formed the nucleus of the group which now has over 100 members. Its first leader was Mrs. Edna Woodward who provided who provided leadership for the organization for many years.

The Service Guild and its volunteers support the Treasure Island Gift Shop which operates in the Tri-County retail store and provides much of the income that the organization generates. The Service Guild also helps to promote the mission of Ohio Valley Goodwill, conducts fundraising activities to benefit special activities of the organization, and assists in outreach to the community on behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill. Each year, Service Guild members help with the annual golf outing, sponsor the yearly Thanksgiving, holiday luncheons, and Veterans Day luncheons, and offer a cash gift to consumers during the holiday. As a special fundraising event, the Service Guild holds a semi-annual Mini Fest each spring and fall at the Goodwill corporate facility. The organization also offers a large cash donation to Ohio Valley Goodwill each year.

Over the years, the Service Guild has helped to sponsor many special activities including the sponsorship of runners in the annual “Flying Pig” Marathon and other activities that consumers and staff have been involved in on the part of the organization. The Service Guild is truly an ambassador for Ohio Valley Goodwill.

In this their 80th year, we salute the Service Guild for their dedication and support of Ohio Valley Goodwill and thank each member for the time they have given to our organization. Ohio Valley Goodwill appreciates the work and commitment that the Service Guild has given over the past 80 years and we congratulate them on this special anniversary!