Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Serving Greater Cincinnati

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries Celebrates the Season With Very Special Luncheon

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries celebrated the holiday season in style on Friday, December 18th at a gala holiday luncheon at the Sharonville Convention Center.   Over 165 special guests, board members, employees and other visitors attended the luncheon.   The  annual luncheon is a yearly  event that  marks the season and observes the yearly milestones of the organization.   Helping to open the luncheon this year was an address from Senator Sherrod Brown’s office read by his aide, Ms. Courtney Hansman.   The Senator sent his best wishes to Ohio Valley Goodwill and congratulated the organization on its  continued success.   Board Chairman, Charlie Wright spoke to the guests and highlighted some of the many achievements that Goodwill had accomplished during 2009.   Mr. Wright also  detailed the many awards and commendations that Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries had  achieved during the past year. During the luncheon, Service Guild President Jane Kreps told the audience about the many achievements that the volunteer group had accomplished during 2009 on behalf of Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries.   Mrs. Kreps also awarded Goodwill President Joe Byrum with a check for $20,000 from the Service Guild to be used for programs and services for the organization’s mission.   “We are always so pleased to be able to support Ohio Valley Goodwill through our programs,” said Mrs. Kreps. Another aspect of the annual luncheon has been the celebration of staff tenure recognition.   Again this year, Goodwill recognized the twenty year anniversary of five of its staff members including; Angie Grady of Personnel, Barb Obert and Becky Creech of the Production area, Steve Koons of the Rehabilitation Office, and Zachary Norman of the Janitorial Contracts division.   Other long-time staff were also recognized by Joe Byrum in his address to the guests. A very special part of the luncheon was the recognition of Board of Directors member and organizational spokesperson, Joe Walter.   Joe was recognized for his long service to Goodwill as golf outing celebrity chairperson and auto auction personality.   A special video presentation was prepared for the occasion that showcased Joe’s service to Goodwill through the years.   The audience cheered as Joe took the stage to accept a plaque from President Joe Byrum. Other notable guests in attendance at the event were,  The Honorable Joseph W. Uecker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Katlin Graham, Staff for Senator George Voinovich, Clara Pugh, Councilwoman for the City of Forest Park, OH, Cheryl Phipps, Superintendent of Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, and Dennis Burger, Program Services Administrator of Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities.