Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

Mr. Jim Raussen, new member of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Board of Directors.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jim Raussen, Director of Insurance and Financial Services for the Ohio Department of Development, as a new member of the organization’s Board of Directors. Goodwill’s Board of Directors helps to set policy and formulate governance issues and procedures for the organization.

Prior to joining the Ohio Department of Development, Mr. Raussen served in the Ohio Legislature for three terms and received many distinguished awards including “Freshman Legislator of the Year”from Columbus Monthly magazine, ”Outstanding Legislator of the Year”award from the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities and most recently, one of the area’s top “Forty Under 40″ by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is delighted to welcome Mr. Raussen to its Board of Directors and looks forward to his support of the organization’s mission of serving men and women with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans.

Michael Flannery, OVGI Public Information Officer

On Sunday, March 21st, Goodwill’s Public Information Officer, Michael Flannery, was a guest on WCPO’s “Good Morning Tri-State,” hosted by Jenell Walton. Among the many topics discussed was Ohio Valley Goodwill’s recent recognition by GreatNonprofits as one of the top-rated employment and training centers in the country serving individuals with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans. Flannery also stressed the urgent need for donations to support Goodwill’s on-going mission.

This was a home-coming of sorts for Flannery as he was a reporter at WCPO for more than 13 years before coming to Ohio Valley Goodwill.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with Jenell and brag about the work that Goodwill does for our community” said Flannery. “I was happy to inform WCPO viewers of how Goodwill works to help people with disabilities and why their donations are so critical,” added Flannery.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is grateful to “Good Morning Tri-State” and WCPO for their assistance in sharing Goodwill’s important mission of service to the Greater Cincinnati community.

Goodwill’s Consumer Advisory Committee officers James Harley and Samantha Woolery presenting check for Haitian Relief to the Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA).

Thursday, March 25th marked the occasion of the official check presentation by Goodwill’s Consumer Advisory Committee officers, James Harley and Samantha Woolery, to the Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA), in support of Haitain Relief efforts. The Consumer Advisory Council organized a series of flower and hand-designed card sales over the past several months in order to raise money for the important cause. The group is an advocacy organization supported by Ohio Valley Goodwill established to help individuals learn how to speak up for themselves and others.

In recent years, CAC has expanded its community outreach efforts to support a variety of important causes including accessible and affordable transportation options, food drives, the 2009 Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services levy campaign and now Haitian Relief. CAC decided to donate their fund-raising efforts to the Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA) because of their sponsorship of the “DD Cares for Haiti” campaign, which was initiated after the recent earthquake. CARA’s mission is to raise awareness and funds to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities and the “DD Cares” campaign was specifically designed to raise monies for individuals with disabilities affected by the disaster. Ohio Valley Goodwill is an active partner of the Hamilton County DD Services-supported CARA group and is actually a founding member of the collaborative organization.

CARA Executive Director Kate Hawkins gratefully accepted the check for $275.00 from CAC officers James Harley and Samantha Woolery during the official presentation ceremony. “On behalf of the CARA group and the “DD Cares for Haiti” campaign, I am delighted to accept the contribution of the Consumer Advisory Committee for this important cause,” said Hawkins. Ohio Valley Goodwill applauds its Consumer Advisory Committee for its outstanding humanitarian efforts in support of persons with disabilities affected by the recent Haitian events as well as their on-going advocacy support of all people with disabilities.