"Goodwill's CARE Participants Show Their Team Spirit as Thanksgiving Day Race Approaches!"

Participants in Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education program, CARE, showed their creativity and team spirit as they worked together to create the banners for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day Race, which is now less than 2 weeks away. Using huge sheets of newsprint, the CARE program participants worked hard to create banners that Goodwill volunteers will be able to use Race day morning as thousands of runners pass by the “I Really Can” Donation Stations at the start of the race and at Mile 2. The award-winning CARE program offers enriching opportunities for its participants that range from community involvement to artistic expression and the Thanksgiving Day Race project is just the most  recent example of one of their many activities.For the second year in a row, Ohio Valley Goodwill is sponsoring two donation stations; one at the Start of the Race and one at Mile 2. The stations will be filled with Goodwill volunteers and “I Really Can Cans” which will be positioned to gratefully accept the coats, hats, scarves and gloves that runners no longer need as they warm up during the Race event. “Donations are used to support the organization’s mission of helping men and women with disabilities and our nation’s veterans to receive skill training and find jobs in the Greater Cincinnati community,” said Sharon Hannon, Goodwill Marketing Specialist.

	The 2011 Thanksgiving Day Race is especially meaningful to the organization because this year 10 of its team members will be participating in “Team Goodwill” in support of Matt Graves, who is a participant in the organization’s working training programs. “The I Really Can theme for this year’s Race just seemed like
the perfect opportunity for Team Goodwill to run together in support of star runner, Matt Graves,” said Hannon. “Matt is an avid runner and is really looking forward to the big race! We’re thrilled that the CARE participants chose to join in the fun by creating these wonderful banners,” added Hannon.

To join Matt and Team Goodwill in sharing your warmth with others this Thanksgiving morning, register on-line at www.thanksgivingdayrace.com. Thanks to our CARE team for sharing their team spirit!