(Jacksonville, Fla.) – Goodwill Industries of North Florida (Goodwill) celebrates its 80^th anniversary and the decades of service, community partnership, and hard work that have fueled the organization’s growth and expanded the impact of its mission. Since its founding in 1940, Goodwill’s growth across North Florida has provided invaluable economic, environmental, and educational benefits to thousands of families.

“For 80 years, Goodwill Industries of North Florida has faithfully served our communities teaching the importance of hard work and connecting those with a drive and dream with the employment and educational resources they need to succeed,” said Jeanne Miller, Chairwoman of the Goodwill Industries of North Florida Board. “It is a tremendous honor to serve as the Chair of the Goodwill Board and I am inspired each day by the work our team does to support the families in our 14 county region from Gainesville to Jacksonville and all parts in between. The impact of this incredible organization will only continue to grow, and while we rightfully take this moment to reflect on the good works and progress of our past, today we look even more eagerly to the future.”

“Today, as Goodwill Industries of North Florida celebrates 80 years of service, hard work, and growth, we are tremendously grateful to the communities throughout North Florida that we’ve come to call home. Since 1940, our family has grown to more than 650 staff serving neighbors and friends across 14 counties at retail stores, donation centers, corporate offices, ecommerce, military food service, laundry and landscape operations and more. It is thanks to the hard work of these team members and the incredible support of families and businesses across North Florida that Goodwill continues to serve as a beacon of opportunity for thousands of Floridians,” said David Rey, CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida. “Whether seeking to advance their education, find a great job or career, or get the mentorship and guidance they need to take that next step forward, Goodwill is there. We look forward to the next 80 years and are proud to stand with North Florida as we all move forward together.”

Goodwill’s positive impact on communities throughout the 14-county area it serves in North Florida continue to produce incredible results for local families. In 2019 alone, Goodwill:

• Helped fill more than 8,000 jobs in North Florida through its employment and jobs programs;
• Assisted over 100 adults with post-secondary education through its A-STEP program and provided mentorship to over 350 Duval County students thanks to its partnership with Take Stock in Children (TSIC);
• Provided employment for 34 individuals with documented disabilities at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Mayport Naval Station through its work with AbilityOne; and
• Diverted more than 11 million pounds of clothing and goods from landfills and helped support cardboard recycling efforts for nearly 500,000 pounds of cardboard material.

“Serving on the Board of Goodwill Industries of North Florida and working for one of the higher education partners has given me great insight into the transformative power of the organization’s programs, services and support for individuals, our community and our region,” said Dr. Marie Gnage, Member of the Goodwill Industries of North Florida Board. “I am proud to stand with the Goodwill team as we celebrate the 80^th anniversary and look forward to continuing our important work of changing lives for the better.”

“I love Goodwill because our mission and our focus are very clear – help people with barriers to employment find jobs. Period,” said Lisa Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer of Goodwill Industries of North Florida. “All of our efforts are guided by this principle.  This guiding principle also helps to transform our communities’ one person, one conversation, and one job at a time.”

About Goodwill Industries of North Florida

Goodwill Industries of North Florida is a not-for-profit organization, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year and dedicated to assisting all individuals who face barriers to employment. We do this by providing innovative employment, training, education, and placement services. Our ultimate goal is to enable such individuals to acquire employment and to develop careers, with 92 cents of every dollar spent at Goodwill going right back to providing opportunities for families in our community. For additional information, go to www.GoodwillJax.org and like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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