Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

The afternoon of Friday, May 27th not only marked the official start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend but also, the celebration of the 2011 CARE (Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education) Prom event. More than 60 party-goers; participants in Goodwill’s CARE program, parents, friends and staff members; danced the afternoon away to the strains of the hottest tunes for the summer season. The annual prom is planned and organized by participants in Ohio Valley Goodwill’s award-winning CARE program and is enjoyed by all. Weeks in the preparation process, participants created all of the festive floral decorations for the party and assembled carefully chosen outfits for the big event. Goodwill’s Tri-County store team is always excited about helping to coordinate the outfits and assist in providing accessories to create the perfect prom look each year.

“We all look forward to the Spring prom in particular,” said Lois Kramer, CARE Supervisor, “because it really kicks off the summer season and is a real celebration of fun, friendship, and all of the other personal development skills we emphasize in our program,” added Kramer. The CARE prom has become a much looked forward to tradition at Ohio Valley Goodwill which attracts not only family members but staff members throughout the agency. “It’s so great just to see everyone so relaxed and enjoying themselves,” said Ashley Baker, CARE Case Manager.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to present the 2011 Advocacy and Leadership Summit on Wednesday, May 25th and Thursday, May 26th at its corporate headquarters as well as its Westwood training center location. Planned and facilitated by members of its Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC), the two-day event was designed to provide more than 100 self-advocates with information and resources to assist in their own leadership development experiences. The Summit was structured around presentations provided by CAC committee members about their advocacy efforts on behalf of themselves and others as well as video stories about self-advocates in action. In addition, attendees had the opportunity to participate in an “Advocacy Fair” which offered information about other advocacy organizations in the community including Hamilton County DD Services-supported Leaders In Action and Butler County Board of DD-affiliated EPRO (Empowered People Reaching Out).

Consumer Advisory Committee planning members including James Harley, Matt Graves, DJ Turner, Samantha Woolery and Advisor, Katie Wietmarschen. “It was really a wonderful chance to provide this important information to people who want to learn how to speak up for themselves and help others as well,” said Samantha Woolery, CAC member. The 2011 Advocacy and Leadership Summit is the second time that Ohio Valley Goodwill has presented this advocacy-oriented learning opportunity for its program participants, staff team members and other special guests, in recent years. “The Summit is something that the CAC team members feel very strongly about and they wanted to make sure that their peers would be able to benefit from the many advocacy experiences they themselves have had in their communities,” said Katie Wietmarschen, Advisor.

SWORA Presenter Scott Osterfield with Training attendees.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to host a training event for the Southwest Ohio Rehabilitation Association (SWORA) organization on Wednesday, May 25th which featured guest speaker Scott Osterfeld of Osterfeld Consulting. The SWORA group is a regional association of rehabilitation professionals affiliated with the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA). Several Goodwill staff team members serve in officer positions and as board members of the SWORA organization.

The training event entitled “Walk a Mile in My Moccasins: An Empathy Experience” is designed to provide insights into the impact of labeling and other ”professional” practices on individuals served by rehabilitation professionals. The SWORA-sponsored training event welcomed more than 30 attendees who will benefit from the lessons provided during the session.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was thrilled to be featured on Local 12′s Green Guardian series hosted by Jen Dalton on Thursday, May 19th. The video segment explained in detail Goodwill’s contribution to the environment over the past 100 years. While Goodwill has earned a wonderful reputation as a shopping and donating headquarters, the Local 12 piece explained Goodwill’s donation cycle. Donated items are sold in Goodwill’s network of 16 retail stores and the proceeds are used to support the organization’s important employment and training services for individuals with disabilities. Of even more special significance however, is that Goodwill’s efforts help to divert more than 44,000,000 lbs of unwanted items from area landfills.

Local 12 reporter Jen Dalton was excited to learn about Goodwill’s commitment to environmental stewardship as well as about its on-going mission of service to individuals in the Greater Cincinnati area.

View this important feature story at http://www.local12.com/content/green_guardian/default.aspx?videoid=2475802

Ohio Valley Goodwill is very grateful to Local 12 reporter Jen Dalton for the inclusion of Goodwill in her on-going Green Guardian series.

A community fundraising event to raise awareness and funds for people served by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services

Master of Ceremonies

Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer, Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

To attend:
$5 for individuals
$15 per families

3 raffle tickets for each individual. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased

Raffle drawing begins at 11:45, grand prize at noon.
For more information, contact Kate Hawkins at 513-559-6672, or kate.hawkins@hamiltondds.org

Sponsored by Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA), a non-profit organization supported by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services

click here to open flyer (pdf)

Gap and Ohio Valley Goodwill have announced a partnership encouraging consumers to clean out their closets for a cause. The “Let it Go” event will take place from May 19-May 29, 2011. Gap stores in the United States and Canada will accept donations in support of the Donate Movement, an effort powered by Goodwill to educate the public on the positive impact donations can have on both people and the planet.

When consumers donate clothing to Gap stores during this time period, their donations will be given to Ohio Valley Goodwill and then sold in Goodwill’s network of 16 retail stores. To thank customers for their generous donations, donors will receive 30% off their entire Gap purchase, including regularly priced and sales items, just in time for Memorial Day shopping.

Donations to Ohio Valley Goodwill support the organization’s mission of providing job training programs and employment placement services to the people who need them most. Goodwill sells donated goods in it stores and uses 60% of the revenues generated to fund skill training and job placement services.

“As a company, we invest in career exploration and job readiness for youth, and thousands of our employees volunteer to help young people prepare for the workforce. Giving our customers and employees opportunities to donate clothing in support of Goodwill’s job training programs is a great fit with our community efforts,” said Bobbi Silten, head of global responsibility and president of Gap Foundation.

Donating to Goodwill also has a positive impact on the planet. Goodwill helps communities extend the life of usable items in environmentally sound ways, and diverts clothing items from local landfills.

“Through the Donate Movement, Goodwill aims to increase conscious donations by raising consumer awareness of the power their donated goods can have in strengthening our communities,” said Joe Byrum, Ohio Valley Goodwill President and CEO. “When you donate to Goodwill, you enable a person to receive vital skills training, succeed at work and climb the career ladder. These are people who want to work but need Goodwill’s help to find and keep good jobs.”

To learn more about the Donate Movement and calculate the positive impact donations will have on the people in the community, visit www.donate.goodwill.org

Join Goodwill and Gap for the “Let it Go” event May 19-29th and get a 30% off coupon good at local Gap store locations. Donations can be made at Gap locations in Kenwood Towne Center, Rookwood Commons, and Florence Mall or at any of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s conveniently located stores and donation sites. For a complete list of donation locations, visit http://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/shop/directory.php .

Thank you for your support!

L to R: Joe Byrum, Pres/CEO, OVGI with Chris Monzel, Hamilton County Commissioner.

Ohio Valley Goodwill President and CEO, Joe Byrum, was delighted to welcome newly elected Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel to the organization’s corporate headquarters on Tuesday, May 10th for a comprehensive tour of its programs and services. The Commissioner was surprised to learn about the vast array of skill training, personal development, job placement, and other support services offered to men and women with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans.

During the tour, the Commissioner was able to obtain a much better understanding of the diverse constituency that Goodwill serves including its partnerships with local county boards of Developmental Disabilities, the Rehabilitation Services Commission, the Veterans Administration, as well as federal and local dollars used to serve individuals struggling with homelessness. Mr. Monzel indicated that he was impressed by what he had learned on the tour and offered support from his office on the organization’s future efforts.

“We were very pleased to welcome Mr. Monzel to our corporate headquarters and to provide the Commissioner with an overview of our important programs and services that not only help individuals to obtain employment but also to bolster the local economy,” said Joe Byrum, President and CEO.

Besides Goodwill, from left to right: Aimee Rittner, OVGI, Bill Martin, OVGI, Doug Ostholthoff, OVGI, Marty Caffrey, OVGI, Debi Edgecomb – RACO Ind., Jay Reynolds – Frisch’s, Maxine Richardson – Kwik Kopy, Matt Thiergartner – Signal Office Supply and Tina Gatto – United Envelope. Rear: Jeff Tesch, OVGI and Todd Schreiber, OVGI.

Recently, Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to welcome a committee of various business leaders from local companies to the organization’s corporate headquarters in the village of Woodlawn.  The purpose of the meeting was part of an on-going effort to raise awareness of Goodwill’s wide range of services it offers to business.  Goodwill is already well-known for its donation centers and well- run retail store locations.  However, many are unaware of the services Goodwill offers through its Job Placement program and the Industrial Services division.

Goodwill representatives along with Business Advisory Committee members are reaching out to local business leaders  to provide information about the under-utilized, but efficient services offered through Ohio Valley Goodwill.  Placement Services can provide companies with dedicated individuals in search of employment opportunities.  The  Industrial Services Division offers expanded packaging and assembly services coupled with their Janitorial and Document Management Services.

Goodwill’s Placement Services has well-trained individuals ready to work in fields such as Food Service, Clerical, Janitorial, Manufacturing, Laundry and other fields.  Goodwill’s Placement team provides support to assist  individuals in their job search and throughout the employment process.

The Industrial Services Division offers an extensive array of services which includes Bagging, Kitting, Sorting and Fulfillment.  Goodwill has been providing much needed cost-effective and reliable labor to renown local companies like the Ford Motor Company, Kutol Products and Kroger for more than a decade. Ohio Valley Goodwill is proud of its on-going partnerships with community employers and business leaders and looks forward to expanding those relationships. Goodwill has over 300 people available to provide the labor support for a company’s business needs.

Please visit www.goodwillB2B.com for more information about Goodwill’s Industrial Services division or www.cincinnatigoodwill.org for information about Goodwill’s Placement Services. Both Industrial Services and Job Placement can be reached by calling the main number at (513) 771-4800.

Goodwill Golf Outing Celebrity Host Joe Walter and Coordinator, Doug Ostholthoff are teaming up this year to spread the word about the 2011 Ohio Valley Goodwill Golf Outing in a series of video promotional spots that will be featured on the organization’s blog and YouTube channel. The 2011 event is all new this year in every way in recognition of the organization’s 95th anniversary of service. Being held at the Glenview Golf Club on Thursday, June 9th, the outing will tee off at 10:00 am and will mark the occasion of the organization’s first-ever Spectacular Helicopter Ball Drop following the conclusion of play.

“We really wanted to do something different this year to celebrate the occasion of Goodwill’s 95th anniversary of service,” said Outing Coordinator, Doug Ostholthoff. “And really, what could be more memorable than a Helicopter Ball Drop?!” added Ostholthoff. The Helicopter Ball Drop is also an opportunity for all of the organization’s friends to support Goodwill (whether they golf or not) by sponsoring a golf ball for only $5.00 each. Not only does this help to raise funds for the organization’s mission of service to the community but provides the ball sponsor the chance to share in a large cash prize. Golf balls will be dropped onto the driving range and the one closest to the target will win the prize. “The Helicopter Ball Drop will be an exciting and unforgettable part of this year’s Goodwill Celebrity Golf Outing,” said Joe Walter, Celebrity Host.

Join Ohio Valley Goodwill on Thursday, June 9th for the Goodwill Celebrity Golf Outing and help us celebrate 95 years of service to the Greater Cincinnati community. To purchase a golf ball for the Spectacular Helicopter Ball Drop or to register for this year’s event, please go to

http://www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/media/golfouting/index.php

 See you on June 9th at the 2011 Goodwill Celebrity Golf Outing at Glenview Golf Club!

Under bright sunny skies, Ohio Valley Goodwill in partnership with WLWT News 5 and Clear Channel Communications, held it’s first-ever Spring Clean-Out Day on Saturday, May 7th at the organization’s Tri-County headquarters.  Joining in the special event were radio stations 700 WLW, 55KRC, KISS 107 and WEBN all helping to draw attention to Goodwill’s mission to serve men and women with disabilities, homeless veterans and others facing barriers to employment.  “The real purpose of the event was to call out Goodwill’s need for donations and to offer an easy way for donors to bring in their contributions,” said George Palmer, Goodwill’s Director of PR and Marketing.  “We were so pleased when News 5 and Clear Channel came to us and proposed the Clean-Out Day as a way to increase donations and a means to draw attention to Goodwill’s mission,” mentioned Palmer.

Along with the radio stations which all took turns broadcasting live during the 9:00 am to 1:00 pm special event at Goodwill’s headquarters, Gold Star Chili served up cheese coneys, Husman’s offered potato chips and Pepsi gave out free drinks to event participants.  Ohio Valley Goodwill’s partner, “College Hunks Hauling” service even showed up to the event to promote their supported service for donors who might like to use the paid service for donations that might be too large to be dropped off and may need to be hauled by the service.  The event proved to be fun and helped Goodwill at a time when donations are needed.

Ohio Valley Goodwill thanks WLWT News 5 and Clear Channel Communications for helping to support its mission to put people to work and the Greater Cincinnati community for its continued support.