Ohio Valley Goodwill Welcomes State Representative Jennifer Gross for Tour!
Ohio Valley Goodwill was pleased to welcome State Representative Jennifer Gross to the organization’s Employment and Training Center on Tuesday, September 5th for a tour and overview of its 107 year old mission of service. Representative Gross is a military veteran herself so she had particular interest in the organization’s programs and services for military veterans. The Representative serves the citizens of the 45th House district which includes West Chester Township and adjacent communities.
As noted in the Representative’s biography, she is a 21-year Air Force veteran and retired Lt. Colonel, who served our great nation in Saudi Arabia during Operation Provide Comfort and in Sarajevo during Operation Provide Promise. Gross retired from the military in 2008. She is currently a member of American Legion Post 681 and VFW Post 7696, where she became the first active female inductee in February 2019. The Representative’s military background and nursing career helped to inform her interest in the services that Goodwill is proud to provide to military veterans in particular.
Tour of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Employment and Training Center
The Representative was provided with an extensive tour of Goodwill’s programs and services for individuals with disabilities, our nation’s veterans and others experiencing challenges to employment.
The legislator was also interested in the opportunities for community inclusion offered through the Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education (CARE) program which is designed to provide enrichment options for individuals with Developmental Disabilities served in partnership with County Boards of DD. Representative Gross was impressed by the many services that the organization offers to assist individuals to attain community employment and enjoyed learning more about these services from Chelsea Ashcraft, Mission Services Director.
Working Together to Support Ohio’s Veterans
The Goodwill team led by President and CEO, Mark Hiemstra, discussed the history of its organizational mission and dedication towards serving military veterans in particular and noted the recent grant award from the Veterans Administration which will enable the organization to serve hundreds of individuals over the next three year period. Hiemstra also mentioned the organization’s interest in expanding service options in the Greater Cincinnati community in the future.
Ohio Valley Goodwill is grateful to State Representative Jennifer Gross for making the time to visit Ohio Valley Goodwill and learn more about the organization’s critical services for people with disabilities and our nation’s veterans. Goodwill looks forward to working collaboratively with the Representative in the future on service options to benefit all of the citizens of Greater Cincinnati facing barriers to employment and particularly, our nation’s honored veterans.
To see all of the photos from the Representative’s visit please click here https://cincigoodwill.smugmug.com/EVENTS/2023/n-G8WDbL/State-Representative-Jennifer-Gross-Visit-090523/
