Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to participate in two Earth Day events held in Greater Cincinnati this week in honor of the annual celebration. On Monday, April 22nd and in recognition of Earth Day, George Palmer, Goodwill’s Director of Public Relations and Marketing participated in an event held at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center where a dozen other exhibitors helped visitors learn more about effective ways to recycle and help the environment. Other participants in this event included Greenworks, Metro, VRide, Matthew 25 Ministries, as well as divisions of the VA and other local organizations. The event reached out to more than 400 individuals and helped to recognize the significance of how every day can be Earth Day when we choose to recycle!

Again on Wednesday, April 24th, Palmer was a exhibitor at the Earth Day Fair held at Procter & Gamble’s Fabric and Home Care Innovation Center in St. Bernard, where more than 500 staff and visitors participated in the day-long event to learn more about ways individuals and families can effectively recycle in their homes and offices. Joining Goodwill were representatives from Rumpke, The Ohio State University-Hamilton Co. Extension, Hamilton County Soil & Water, the Energy Alliance, Gorman Heritage Farm, Hamilton County Parks, Green Umbrella and other organizations. “Goodwill is always pleased to participate in Earth Day activities like this because it helps individuals and groups to better understand how our organization is really an important part of the recycling process and that we’ve been doing so for a very long time,” said Palmer. Goodwill also recycles computers and electronic waste through its Dell Reconnect program, which it has been a participant in for well over a year. In the past year, Ohio Valley Goodwill has recycled more than a million pounds of computers and electronic product.

Goodwill is always happy to participate in Earth Day activities because it helps to make the connection between recycling and Goodwill’s mission of using donations of clothing and household items to meet its important mission of putting people to work! Donations to Ohio Valley Goodwill are sold in its network of 15 retail stores and the income that is realized is used to provide programs and services for men and women with disabilities and our nation’s veterans. Goodwill thanks the Greater Cincinnati area for its support!

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to present the “Great Spring Clean Out” event at Northgate Mall on April 19, 20 and 21 with partners Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and radio stations 55 KRC, 700 WLW and KISS 107. During the three day donation drive, Ohio Valley Goodwill was happy to collect more than 15,000 pounds of clothing and household goods at the special Northgate Mall donation trailer. “We were so pleased with the response that we received from the local community especially during this time when donations are down and we need contributions to help fill our stores,” said George Palmer, Goodwill’s PR and Marketing Director. “The special Earth Day event helped to bring about an awareness of how donating to Goodwill is actually a great way to recycle responsibly and help your community at the same time,” explained Palmer.

On Saturday, April 20th the radio stations took turns helping to promote the special donation drive and handed out coupons for Domino’s pizza, passed out chips from Husman’s, gave out Pepsi products, and even passed out free coupons for Gold Star Chili coneys to excited donors as they stopped by to make donations for Goodwill.

Ohio Valley Goodwill appreciates the efforts of its sponsors of this special springtime event and to the many contributors who came by during the three days to offer contributions for Goodwill. Every donation to Goodwill helps to support programs and services that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, homeless veterans and others with barriers to employment. Last year (2012), Ohio Valley Goodwill served more that 2,900 men and women and placed 824 individuals into competitive community employment. Goodwill thanks the Greater Cincinnati community for its on-going support!

As the 43rd annual Earth Day approaches on April 22, 2013, the environmental movement has become an increasingly complex world of climate change, carbon offsets, and emissions guidelines. While these big-picture issues can often seem far removed from everyday life, Ohio Valley Goodwill encourages consumers to remember the widespread impact from the simple act of donating goods.

For over 96 years, Ohio Valley Goodwill has been an entrepreneurial leader, environmental pioneer and social innovator of the “reduce, reuse, repurpose” practice. Goodwill diverts more than 42 million pounds of clothing and household goods every year from landfills by recovering the value in people’s unwanted material goods; and in the process, creating job-training opportunities for people in need of work. In addition, Goodwill and Dell’s free computer recycling program, Dell Reconnect, allow people to make a donation knowing it’s good for people and the planet. With more than 2,500 Goodwill locations participating across the U.S. and Canada, the Dell Reconnect program allows people to simply drop off used electronics (any brand, and in any condition) at their local Goodwill. In Cincinnati, thanks to generous community support, more than 1 million pounds of electronic equipment has been recycled responsibly in partnership with Dell in the past year.

In 2010, Ohio Valley Goodwill, participated in launching the Donate Movement, a corporate social responsibility platform and public awareness movement that encourages consumers to think of donating used goods as just as essential to environmental responsibility as recycling paper and plastics. Via the Donate Movement microsite (donate.goodwill.org), users can calculate the social impact of their own clothing and household item donations, while a new feature on the site tracks how many pounds of usable goods Goodwill has diverted from landfills since January 2012 – currently totaling more than three billion.

“For more than a century, Goodwill has linked protecting the environment to helping people earn paychecks, support their families and strengthen their communities,” said Joseph Byrum, President and CEO of Ohio Valley Goodwill. “Each individual shopper and donor is an important partner in what we do.”

Donations to Ohio Valley Goodwill are sold in local stores and the income generated helps to support services for men and women with disabilities and our nation’s veterans. Each year, the organization serves nearly 3,000 individuals. Goodwill appreciates the support that it receives from the local community and celebrates Earth Day!

For a list of convenient donation locations, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate. Also, plan to join us at Northgate Mall this weekend on Friday, April 19th thru Sunday, April 21st, for the “Great Spring Clean-Out Day” in partnership with Clear Channel Media. Stop by from 7am-7pm on 4-18 and 4-19 and 9am-6pm on Sunday, 4-21. Thanks Greater Cincinnati for your support!

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is happy to announce that it is teaming up with Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and Northgate Mall to present the “Great Spring Clean Out” donation drive at the mall from Friday, April 19th thru Sunday, April 21st. Donors are encouraged to bring their gently used contributions to the Goodwill trailer located near the Colerain Avenue parking lot where Goodwill staff will assist them on Friday and Saturday from 7 am to 7 pm and on Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm. On Saturday, April 20th, radio personalities from stations 55KRC, WLW and KISS 107 will be on hand to help promote the donation drive, offer free food – including coupons for free cheese coneys from Gold Star Chili, and offer fun and games for the entire family!

“We are so excited to join with Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and their stations, as well as Northgate Mall to offer this springtime donation drive to help Goodwill with our mission to help put people to work, said George Palmer, Goodwill’s Public Relations and Marketing Director. “Donations are so very important to the work that we do and to the people that we serve,” mentioned Palmer.

So look around your home and clear some closets to bring those unwanted items to the “Great Spring Clean Out” at Northgate Mall on April 19th thru 21st. You’ll feel good about helping Goodwill with its mission to help people with disabilities and homeless veterans, plus, you’ll get a jump start on your spring cleaning as well!

As a long-time media personality and past anchor of WCPO’s “9 on Your Kid’s Side” television show, Flannery has brought his media talents to Ohio Valley Goodwill and also, to the cause of enhancing community awareness about people with disabilities. So, please join Michael and Grace in celebrating “National Down Syndrome Day” and the many gifts and talents of people with disabilities.

If you would like Michael to speak to your group or organization, he is happy to do so and can be reached at 771-4800.

It’s the time of year for Spring Cleaning and according to a study from UCLA, getting rid of your stuff may actually help with your stress. Researchers say that American’s propensity to accumulate stuff has led to a “clutter culture” and has become a leading cause of stress. Fortunately, Goodwill is able to help!

“It’s no wonder that so many people view annual spring cleaning as cathartic and a stress reliever,” says Lorie Marrero, Certified Professional Organizer, author of the The Clutter Diet and spokesperson for Goodwill’s Donate Movement. “From toys and trinkets to clothing and shoes, we tend to accumulate more than we need,” she says. “Clearing the clutter and chaos can lift your mood and keep you on track in other areas of your life.”

Spring cleaning has benefits beyond tidier households, cleaner closets and lower stress levels. Donating unwanted and rarely used items to Goodwill generates revenue to fund skill training and job placement programs which help people go to work in our community. Every year, Ohio Valley Goodwill helps thousands of people with disabilities and our nation’s veterans to learn work skills and obtain jobs in the Greater Cincinnati area. The best part is that Goodwill’s ability to put people to work is a direct result of donations that come from de-cluttering and reducing your own stress…Now, that’s a win-win for everyone this Spring! Please DONATE TODAY! For a list of donation locations, visit   www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate. Thanks Greater Cincinnati for your support!

The weather is getting warmer and that means it’s time to start cleaning out your closets and getting rid of those unwanted items. Goodwill is happy to help with your Spring Cleaning this year. Goodwill has twenty-nine locations conveniently located throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries accepts clothing, household goods, small appliances, seasonal items, sporting goods, books, toys, children’s items and other useable goods. When you donate to Goodwill you’ll know that you are helping to support a good cause and also recycling responsibly. All donations to Ohio Valley Goodwill stay right here in our community and help the organization with its very important mission of putting people to work.

For over 96 years Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries has been serving the needs of men and women with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans. Donations to Goodwill are sold in its fifteen area retail stores and helps to provide the income for vocational training and job placement services for the people that the organization supports. Goodwill even has a program for homeless veterans and during the last year has helped over 650 veterans with housing and employment needs. During 2012, Goodwill served over 3,100 individuals and placed 818 into community employment.

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries also has an auto auction program that accepts donations of cars, trucks and other vehicles. For information about donating responsibly, simply go on-line at www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate .

So get your spring cleaning done now and donate to Goodwill. It’s fast and easy and you may even get a tax deduction. The need is urgent and your donations help change lives! For additional information call 513-771-4800 or visit our website at www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate and 513-612-5980 for auto auction information during business hours. Please DONATE TODAY!!!

Ohio Valley Goodwill is celebrating its one year anniversary with the Dell Reconnect program, which has allowed the organization to divert almost 1,000,000 lbs of unwanted computers and electronic waste from area landfills already, due to the support of the Greater Cincinnati community. As the New Year begins, we wanted to celebrate this exciting program which makes getting rid of old technology easy and free. Simply pack your old computer equipment into the car with other household donations and drop it off at a convenient Goodwill donation center where it will be responsibly recycled. Goodwill accepts any brand of unwanted computer or other computer equipment. Donors may request receipts at the time of their donations to receive tax deductions. With the help of programs like Dell Reconnect and Goodwill, Dell recycled more than 150 million pounds of unwanted equipment in 2011 and plans to significantly exceed that amount over the next three years. The Dell Reconnect program is a win-win-win for all involved. It benefits the environment, the community and Goodwill’s mission of putting people to work. Proceeds from the Dell Reconnect program go directly into Goodwill’s skill training and employment programs for men and women with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans. “Goodwill couldn’t be more pleased about the partnership with the Dell Reconnect program,” said Bill Martin, Industrial Services Manager. “It has allowed Goodwill to become a major player in its on-going efforts to preserve the planet through its reuse and repurposing initiatves,” added Martin.

For a list of conveniently located donation sites, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate and donate your unwanted computer today. Get your New Year started off right with Goodwill and Dell Reconnect. Thank you Greater Cincinnati for your on-going support of this important recycling effort!

L to R: Goodwill Public Information Officer, Michael Flannery with
WCPO Photojournalist, Mekialaya White.

While most people are thinking about holiday parties or their New Year resolutions, Goodwill is geared up for what is always the busiest donation day of the year- New Year’s Eve! Goodwill’s generous donors make the last day of the year one of the organization’s best days of the year by cleaning out their closets and bringing their gently worn contributions to any of Goodwill’s 30 convenient donation sites. The holiday season is always a time to de-clutter and make room for all those new gifts but New Year’s Eve also marks the last day that people can make a donation and get a deduction on their 2012 tax returns.

The record-setting donation day is also a media event with reporters from Channel 9 and 19 covering the seemingly endless parade of cars streaming through the donation center at the organization’s headquarters in the village of Woodlawn. When asked why they chose New Year’s Eve as the day to make a donation, most people talk about wanting to support the organization’s mission of helping people go to work in our community or wanting to get their house in order for their New Year…whatever the reason, Goodwill is grateful for the generosity of its friends. Donations to the organization help to provide the funding needed to support skill training and employment services for thousands of individuals with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans each year. In 2011, Goodwill served more than 3100 individuals and helped 818 to obtain jobs in the community.

“New Year’s Eve is always an exciting day at Goodwill,” said Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer. “It really shows you how generous our community can be on this very special day of the year,” added Flannery.

Ohio Valley Goodwill thanks its generous donors and supporters for their wonderful contributions in 2012 and wishes all a very Happy New Year! To find out more about Goodwill’s mission in the Greater Cincinnati community, request a presentation from Public Information Officer, Michael Flannery at (513) 771-4800 or email: mflannery@cincigoodwill.org. He’s always happy to share the story of Goodwill! For a list of convenient donation locations, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/donate.

Our thanks to WCPO photojournalist, Mekialaya White and WXIX photojournalist, Matthew Lawerence for their coverage of the busiest donation day of the year story at Ohio Valley Goodwill. Watch for newscasts on WCPO at 6:00 and 11:00 pm and on WCPO at 6:00 and 10:00 pm.