Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries

For the first time, Ohio Valley Goodwill supported a community outreach and donation effort in a very unique way. Approximately 30 of the organization’s team members dressed as zombies for the 2011 Zombie Walk held in downtown Cincinnati. In addition, Goodwill sponsored two donation sites, one at the Freedom Center and one on Fountain Square.  All members of the Goodwill team got into the spirit of the night including Ann Harmon (RN) and daughter Katrina who came dressed as a Goodwill cheerleader. While donations for the first-time event were not abundant this year, the Goodwill team was thrilled to once again be part of a prominent downtown Cincinnati Halloween tradition. “It was really a great event and a lot of fun for our group,” said Krysta Ryan, Goodwill team organizer. “I think it will be a partnership that we can grow and develop in the future,” added Ryan.

For the 5th year in a row, Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Retail Management team members served as judges for the annual Halloween costume contest held on Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. Tri-County store manager, Krysta Ryan and assistant Kristy Hacker, were excited about the opportunity to be part of the judging team once again this year.Ohio Valley Goodwill congratultes the winners in each of the 7 overall categories: Most Creative- Palkia (Pokemon character), Funniest- Shower, Scariest- Manicorn, Best Couple- Thing One and Thing Two, Best Team- Miss Muffet and the Spider, Best Kids Costume- Flamingo and Best Overall- Man in a Box.

This year the winners received a Goodwill goodie bag filled with a $25.oo gift certificate as well as a discount coupon for 50% off any one item at any of the 16 Greater Cincinnati Goodwill store locations. “We love being part of the judging team for this annual Halloween costume event,” said Krysta Ryan, Tri-County Store Manager. “It’s fun to see how creative people can be and it makes us feel good that a lot of people tell us that their costumes are hand-made with a lot of help from Goodwill,” added Ryan.

Goodwill Beechmont Store Manager, Donna Clouse, became a guardian angel for one local family this weekend. In the process of sorting through donations, the store manager came across a photo album. Filled with family photos and even a lock of hair, Clouse knew the donation had to be mistake and invaluable to the person who lost it. Clouse took the initiative to go on Facebook and search for the person she had seen in the photo album. Amazingly, she was able to find him and in the process locate his wife who lives in the Beechmont area.

Please take a moment to view this fascinating, heart-warming story on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cincigoodwill

Ohio Valley Goodwill congratulates Donna Clouse on her good deed which helped a local family and thanks WCPO for their coverage of this wonderful story.

The morning of Friday, October 28th marked the occasion of the 3rd annual Veterans Summit hosted by Ohio Valley Goodwill in partnership with the Veterans Administration. Held at the organization’s Woodlawn headquarters, this year’s Veterans Summit welcomed more than 60
representatives from local community service organizations that work collaboratively to help veterans struggling with homelessness and other reintegration issues.

Ohio Valley Goodwill has a proud history of serving our nation’s Veterans and since the early 1990′s, the organization’s Special Projects department, has provided assistance in housing, employment and other related services to thousands of military personnel. “Goodwill’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) as well as the VA Dorm Grant per Diem program have earned a reputation for providing outstanding services to our nation’s heroes as well as for being a leader in working collaboratively with community agencies,” said Charlie Blythe, Grants Director.

The 2011 Veterans Summit provided participants with the most up-to-date information available regarding resources and programs for the veteran population in the Greater Cincinnati area. “Goodwill is delighted to work in partnership with the Veterans Administration in hosting the 2011 Veterans Summit,” said
Blythe. Goodwill’s HVRP staff team has been recognized as “Unsung Heroes” in the fight for veterans services by the National Coalition for the Homeless, a national advocacy organization.

L to R: Steve Koons, Director of Rehabilitation, OVGI,
Connie Laug, SW District Director, Michael Flannery, Public Information
Officer, OVGI

Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to welcome Senator Rob Portman’s SW District Director, Connie Laug, to its corporate headquarters on Thursday, October 27th. Director of Rehabilitation Steve Koons and Public Information Officer Michael Flannery along with Marketing Specialist Sharon Hannon provided the District Director with an extensive tour of the facility as well as an overview of the organization’s important programs and services.During the tour, Ms. Laug had the opportunity to visit the organization’s award-winning Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education (CARE), its skill training programs, job placement area, main work training area as well as its on-site dormitory that offers transitional housing for homeless Veterans. The District Director was fascinated to learn about the scope of services that Ohio Valley Goodwill provides throughout the Greater Cincinnati community as well as about its involvement in the AbilityOne program.

Following the formal tour, Ms. Laug had the opportunity to talk with the Goodwill team about specifics regarding the economic impact of its job placement efforts as well as the specific interests of Senator Portman. The Senator is particularly interested in services for Veterans as well as organizations that are helping people to find jobs and become tax-paying, contributing citizens. “We were honored to welcome Ms. Laug to our facility and to talk with her about the many important services that Ohio Valley Goodwill provides,” said Steve Koons, Rehabilitation Director. ”Our hope is to provide the critical information that the Senator needs about the invaluable role that Ohio Valley Goodwill plays in helping to strengthen the local economy and putting people to work,” added Koons.

Ohio Valley Goodwill Public Information Officer Michael Flannery along with Marketing Specialist, Sharon Hannon, spent the evening of Tuesday, October 25th participating in a networking event sponsored by the Cincinnati Business Courier. Dozens of media

L to R: Jamie Smith, Publisher, Lisa Benson, Managing Editor and Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer.

and business representatives affiliated with the Business Courier were in attendance at the “Cocktails with the Courier” soiree held in downtown Cincinnati. The evening offered the opportunity for Goodwill staff team members to meet the new Courier Publisher, Jamie Smith, as well as the editorial staff members. Cordial invitations were extended to the Courier team to visit Goodwill’s corporate headquarters in the future.

Goodwill Public Information Officer, Michael Flannery, was a popular attraction for many of the guests in attendance because of his long-standing reputation as a media personality. Flannery posed for photos with the Courier staff and related in a humorous and entertaining way his present role with Ohio Valley Goodwill and the importance of the organization’s mission in the Greater Cincinnati community.

Goodwill has been featured in the Courier over the years and the organization’s CFO, Doug Ostholthoff, was named “CFO of the Year” in 2009. Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to have the opportunity to participate in the Courier’s networking event and looks forward to working closely with its staff team in the future.

The evening of October 10th marked the occasion of the 2nd annual Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance (CARA) Fall Gathering event in partnership with Christopher Marcus Salon. In similar fashion to last year’s celebration, Ohio Valley Goodwill was a major sponsor and participant of this year’s Fall Gathering party which served as a fund-raising opportunity for the CARA group. CARA is a non-profit organization affiliated with long-time Goodwill partner Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services (HCDDS), and is dedicated to raising funds and awareness to enrich the lives of people with disabilities.Held at the Christopher Marcus Salon in Hyde Park Square, this year’s CARA celebration welcomed more than 40 guests who enjoyed delicious appetizers provided by Eat Well Catering, Oriental Wok Restaurant and Amy Linz, Catholic Residential Services; music by local musician Mark Macomber as well as the many shopping options provided by guest vendors Madeira Jewelers, the Nest, Vintage Marketplace and Head Over Heels. One of the highlights of the evening’s festivities was the Fall make-over of one of CARA’s honored guests by stylist Gary Wayne.

“Ohio Valley Goodwill is proud of be a major sponsor of the annual CARA Fall Gathering,” said Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist and current CARA President. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to partner with local businesses in supporting the CARA mission,” added Hannon.

Beautiful fall weather greeted dozens of veterans who came to the 9th annual Stand Down event for homeless veterans at the Friday, October 7th event held again at the Bellevue Veterans Club.  The annual program is held each year at the club in Northern Kentucky as a way to help serve the needs of homeless veterans.  “We work with the Bellevue Veterans Club each year to plan this event as a way to draw attention to the needs of homeless veterans and to come together with a wide array of service providers in one location,” said Bill Darnell, Goodwill’s Grants Manager.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is one of the major sponsors of the annual Stand Down event.  In addition to Goodwill Industries and the Bellevue Veterans Club other sponsors include, the Northern Kentucky One Stop and the Cincinnati Veterans Administration.Throughout the day, services were available to veterans at the Stand Down including medical, dental, eye care, social services, employment, and career opportunities.  Members of the Veterans Administration were also available to provide benefits counseling.

The annual Stand Down is organized each year as a way to draw attention to the needs of homeless veterans and to provide services for them.  “We are always so grateful to our sponsoring organizations for assisting us with this event because it helps to reach so many veterans in one location and it provides much needed services,” commented Darnell.  Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries has been offering services for homeless veterans since the early 1990′s and has been active in the Northern Kentucky region for over ten years.

Goodwill recognizes all of our nations veterans and thanks them for their support and service to our country.

Ranaye Hampton, Ohio Valley Goodwill Coordinator	Ohio Valley Goodwill was delighted to be an exhibitor for the 2011 Provider Fair for long-time partner, the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, (BCBDD) on Thursday, October 6th. Held at the Wilks Center on the campus of Miami University in Hamilton, this year’s event welcomed dozens of interested students, families and
professionals seeking information about programs and services. Goodwill team members Ranaye Hampton, Coodinator and Aimee Rittner, Supervisor, provided information to the visitors regarding the organization’s programs and services and specifically, regarding the Community Access Supports program, which is an individualized Recreation/Leisure option.

Ohio Valley Goodwill was particularly pleased to be able to share information about the organization’s status as the 2011 “Agency Provider of the Year;” an honor that was received in March at the annual Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilites’ community dinner and awards event.”Goodwill is excited to be able to offer an array of services for individuals with disabilities in Butler County,” said Aimee Rittner, Supervisor. “We are able to provide individualized transition planning services, work evalution, job placement, job coaching support as well as work adjustment training in addition to our recreation-lesiure program,” added Rittner. For more information about Goodwill’s programs and services, please visit our website at www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/services.

Ohio Valley Goodwill is an exhibitor for the Butler County Board’s Provider Fair annually and looks forward to the opportunity to talk with all of the many attendees that participate in the event each year. The evening portion of the 2011 event provided interested families the chance to hear presentations from all of the exhibitors present and then talk more directly with organizational staff.

Goodwill is grateful to the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities for their on-going coordination of this important annual community outreach event.