National Goodwill Week Celebration Especially Fitting for 100th Anniversary of Ohio Valley Goodwill!

Annually the first week in May marks the official celebration of “National Goodwill Week.” This year the occasion is even more celebratory than usual for Ohio Valley Goodwill because it serves to highlight the organization’s 100th anniversary of service! The 2016 celebration is filled with community festivities from start to finish.

The beginning of National Goodwill Week kicked-off with the return of Ohio Valley Goodwill to the world-renown Flying Pig Marathon Expo which took place from Friday, April 29th thru Saturday, April 30th at the Duke Energy Center. The busy weekend was filled with runners, shoppers and donors who stopped by Goodwill’s “Pig Pop- Up Shop” to check out this year’s amazing running gear for the whole family for fantastic bargain prices. Excited Expo participants stocked up on running tops, shorts, jackets and all of the other Pop-Up Shop accessories they could find. In addition, runners were able to donate their old shoes at this year’s Goodwill “Pig Pop-Up Shop;” a new feature requested by the Flying Pig coordination team.

“We are always so pleased to mark the official celebration of National Goodwill Week by being part of the world renown Flying Pig Marathon,” said Sharon Hannon, Marketing Manager. “Goodwill’s Pig Pop-Up Shop is always very popular with the thousands of runners that participate in this event,” added Hannon.

The other major event that Team Goodwill took part in this weekend was PigAbilities, which is the race that reflects the culmination of a five week training program for athletes with disabilities. Ohio Valley Goodwill has been a part of this race since its beginnings and is always an active part of the event as well as the coordination of the start. This year’s race welcomed 150 participants, who despite the rain showers, were all smiles as they crossed the finish “swine” to accept their well-earned medals. Team Goodwill this year was represented by Melinda Gabelman and Sharon Hannon. CARA (Community Ambassadors Resource Alliance) sponsors the annual event in their efforts to support people with disabilities to become more physically fit and fully involved in the larger Cincinnati community. Ohio Valley Goodwill is a founding member of the CARA Group.

At the same time, Ohio Valley Goodwill teamed up with The Container Store to “Kiss Clutter Goodbye!” The first-time community donation drive kicked off April 23rd and 24th and Goodwill’s participation continued through the start of the National Goodwill Week celebration on April 30th and May 1st. The Spring campaign, “Kiss Clutter Goodbye” will continue with The Container Store through May 15th. To find out more visit www.containerstore.com.

The exciting Goodwill Week Celebration will close in appropriate fashion with the Spring Mini-Fest which takes place on Friday, May 6th and Saturday, May 7th from 9am-4pm each day at the organization’s Tri-County store location. Featuring a noon time grill out, homemade baked goods and a special sale on collectibles, books and other treasures, the annual Spring Guild Mini-Fest is always a great way to welcome Spring and celebrate National Goodwill Week.

The Guild is a volunteer organization that operates the Treasure Island Gift Shop and helps to promote the organization’s mission in the community. These amazing volunteers are especially elated that they are helping to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ohio Valley Goodwill this year and one of their own members will be featured in a special story during the week-long National Goodwill Week celebration. Stay tuned to find out more Ohio Valley Goodwill’s volunteer Service Guild and the organization’s interesting history.