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SUMMER 2018 – Volume 37 Number 2 GoodWORKS – for her with and lots of signs naming her their American choice. After the visit, Goodwill’s Barrett continued greeting fans with a parade There was excitement in the air this spring in downtown Pittsburgh, a free concert at the as the country watched and voted for the best Rivers Casino, and the chance to throw the singers on American Idol. One favorite, who first pitch at a Pirates ended up placing third in the competition, game. Gabby Barrett and her father, was Pittsburgh’s own Gabby Barrett. Barrett also Blase, enjoyed the crowds Barrett was also a Goodwill favorite – donated one of her cheering her on at the West Idol outfits worn on Mifflin store during her not just because of her phenomenal country stage to Goodwill American Idol hometown tour. singing voice, but because her father, Blase, works for Goodwill to auction off as a Housing. Barrett fundraiser. l is a big believer in Goodwill’s mission Additional photo on and showed her enthu- page 9. siasm by including the West Mifflin store Barrett took a quick in her visit that tour of the back room of was taped and shown the West Mifflin store to see how donations on the finale of the are sorted and hung for show. She was met sale before by a large crowd that continuing with her showed their support Pittsburgh visit.

Job Fair Held for Veterans shop entitled “How to Get the Most Out of a Working with veterans during Career Expo” was also offered so those attend- the fair were, left to right, front Goodwill SWPA partnered with Veterans ing could learn how to successfully network row, Jen Morgan, Outreach and Place of Washington Boulevard to host its Recruitment Specialist; Brenda with employers and talk about skills. first Job and Resource Fair for Veterans at the Jaros, Director of Marketing; “This was a great opportunity for cur- Melissa Ernst, Employment Workforce Development Center. A pre-work- rent and former members of the military who Program and Public Relations are looking for work,” said Andrew Williams, Coordinator, Veterans Place; Goodwill’s Veterans Services Administrator. Jack Lyden, Community Attendees had the opportunity to meet with Employment Coordinator, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System; more than 15 employers, attend career devel- and Joanne DeLuca, Marketing opment workshops, participate in mock inter- Specialist. Back row, Andrew views, and connect with community service Williams, Veterans Services providers. Administrator; Marlon Ferguson, The event was held during National Executive Director, Veterans Goodwill Industries Week, when Goodwill Place; Robert , Director of Operations, Veterans Place; agencies across the United States and Canada and Roy Shirey, Maintenance celebrate the power of work at local events and Technician. promotions. l Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO. 2972 Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania Robert S. Foltz Building 118 52nd Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Golf www.goodwillswpa.org FOR GOODWILL

MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2018

Honoring Our Veterans Give to Goodwill at www.goodwillswpa.org/donate-money

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania Good Scout Offers Robert S. Foltz Building 118 52nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 412-481-9005 www.goodwillswpa.org Vintage Lifestyle Boutique Affiliates Antique shops and curated second-hand stores Goodwill of North Central West Virginia 1-888-4GW-NCWV (1-888-449-6298) may be more obvious places to browse for Goodwill Commercial Services, Inc. 412-913-1982 vintage finds, but shoppers will be able to get Goodwill Housing much more bang for their buck when buying 412-257-4844 Northside Ministries these items at Good Scout. Owned and oper- These vintage items appeared recently in the Good 412-323-1163 ated by Goodwill since January 2018, Good Scout inventory. Our Mission Scout is a vintage lifestyle boutique dedicated We help people improve their quality of life through work and related services. to finding and sourcing the best vintage cloth- are then listed on the Good Scout website for Goodwill’s Code of Conduct purchase. Goodwill SWPA is committed to conducting its ing, accessories and home goods. business in accordance with the highest standards Good Scout was created when Keith “Good Scout takes the treasure hunt out of ethical behavior and regulatory compliance and to treating everyone with dignity and respect. The Magill, E-Commerce Assistant Manager, real- of the equation,” explain Magill. “If someone is agency’s full Code of Conduct document – “Ethics at Work” – may be viewed at www.goodwillswpa.org. ized that vintage clothing is often overlooked looking for something specific, they can search Non-discrimination Statement online and buy an item without having to go to a Goodwill SWPA and its affiliates prohibit discrimi- or isn’t identified properly when it is donated at nation on the basis of race, color, religious creed, the Goodwill retail stores. retail store. Lately, popular items have included disability, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, or sexual orientation. Goodwill not only wants to give custom- handbags and 1990s grunge apparel.” Equal Opportunity Employer The Good Scout inventory is available to Goodwill SWPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer/ ers the best deal, but also get the most value Program. Auxiliary aides and services are available shop online at any time. For those who prefer upon request to individuals with disabilities. out of every item donated, particularly when it For more information, call 412-632-1809 or email shopping in a store, however, select apparel and [email protected] comes to vintage finds. Goodwill SWPA is CARF accredited. If Goodwill retail store personnel think accessories will be available to browse and buy Alternative formats are available upon request. at Good Scout pop up shops around the city, Your comments and suggestions are welcome. an item could be vintage, they now send it to the E-commerce Department for evaluation. including at the Neighborhood Flea held on one facebook.com/goodwillswpa Sunday each month in the Strip District. @gwswpa Additionally, Brand Ambassador Sarah Ponsoll youtube.com/goodwillswpa visits the retail stores to pull vintage items To browse the Good Scout inventory, visit instagram.com/goodwillswpa from time to time. Items identified as vintage goodscoutvintage.com/. l Gabby is Always a to raise awareness of Goodwill’s mission and donated one of her outfits she wore on Winner at Goodwill the show to be auctioned. The money raised By Michael J. Smith from the auction will benefit our clients President/CEO who are working to improve their quality of life through work and related services at It was a fun ride for those of you who, like us, Goodwill. watched Pittsburgher Gabby Barrett climb the She also chose to show off her love ladder to take third place on The American of Goodwill when The American Idol crew Idol tv show. Many of her loyal followers rolled into town in May to highlight some were disappointed she did not take first place, of the things near and dear to Gabby – like but here at Goodwill we consider Gabby to be the Pirates, singing and, equally important, a winner no matter the final vote tally. Goodwill. Employees and customers Gabby has a place in our hearts as appeared in large numbers to show their love she showed her pride repeatedly during the and support for the hometown singer as she competition, not only for Pittsburgh but for made a special appearance at the West Mifflin Goodwill. Her enthusiasm was overflowing store. whenever she talked about her father, Blase, We are proud of all our employees and who works at Goodwill Housing. Blase was the accomplishments of their families. Thank by her side every step of the way, attending you to the Barretts for letting us join in cel- the shows and cheering for her on behalf of ebrating Gabby’s quest for the top spot. I am everyone back home. sure she will go far in her musical career – and Through it all, Gabby did not forget her everyone at Goodwill will be cheering her on roots. When given the chance, she helped as she hits it big in Nashville. l

als now working toward meeting the program’s McKeesport EARN six-month retention benchmark. Helps Taylor with The McKeesport EARN program provides comprehensive activities and services to par- Temporary Assistance ticipants like Taylor through the development The Employment and Retention Network of individualized plans that integrate education, (EARN) Program is designed to serve eco- training and work-related activities. The program nomically disadvantaged individuals receiv- works in conjunction with various Goodwill ing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families departments and other partnering organizations (TANF) benefits. to provide the best available employment and Its location in McKeesport is ideal and training opportunities to participants. convenient for individuals like Taylor who are For more information about McKeesport seeking to obtain services. EARN, visit goodwillswpa.org/earn. l According to Taylor, she received nothing but support and resources from Goodwill staff to help her achieve her goals. Upon complet- Taylor ing the Breaking the Chains of Poverty career training program, Taylor became certified in several areas of construction. She also obtained her Pennsylvania driver’s license so she could secure employment as a laborer with Allegheny County Public Works. She has been at her job for several months and loves going to work every day. Taylor is one of 336 participants who have enrolled in the program since July 2017. More than 150 of these participants have been placed in competitive employment, with 127 individu- 2 www.goodwillswpa.org Students Love Life on the Job Some people just love to come to work – and it shows in their attitude and work ethic. Megan Hawk-Strasser, Internal Auditor, 3 Lakes Golf Course, sees this enthusiasm in three students from Goodwill’s Work-Based Learning Experience programs who worked for the maintenance department at the facility this past spring. So much so, that Megan wishes she could hire the students to work all the time at the Penn Hills course. “They are dream employees,” says Megan when she talks about Dionte, Craig and Michael. “They have a great, positive shirts to wear. That meant they were truly Dionte, Craig and Michael attitude; they are always willing and ready part of the team and they wore their shirts check out the greens at to work; and they are punctual and atten- with pride. 3 Lakes Golf Course. tive.” Having the students on site was an The students worked at the golf course extension of Hawk-Strasser’s commitment for several hours a day during the school to helping others. day for two months throughout for a total of “I am always willing to give a chance eight sessions. Their tasks were varied at the to anyone who needs it,” she says. “If any 18-hole course as they did everything from of the other students are like these guys, I helping in the golf shop, to tending to the would hire them in a second. I hope I get to grounds, to cleaning, vacuuming, mopping have more students here in the future.” and, yes, even washing windows. They also Goodwill’s Work-Based Learning worked in the event center preparing for Experience program partners with local various activities. school districts to help students with dis- For Hawk-Strasser, the students were abilities explore their strengths and potential an important part of her filling the gaps career paths. With help from local busi- when help was needed. nesses, like 3 Lakes Golf Course, students “These guys were excited and made it learn about employment in a real-world fun to come to work,” she explains. One of environment while providing businesses the the biggest days for the students was when added benefit of previewing potential talent they received their 3 Lakes Golf Course in a low-risk setting. l

Walking for Good Health and Good Cause The annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community was a great success again this year. Walkers from Goodwill met at Stage AE to help raise approximately $3,500 in support of Northside Common Ministries, an affiliate program of Goodwill that addresses the needs of the community by The team from Goodwill’s Northside Common Ministries brought their mascot, Ann the dog, providing food, shelter, education, and to welcome Goodwill supporters before the annual other essentials to get people back on their Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community. feet and give them hope. l 3 Talking to Legislators l Support for Goodwill’s Service Delivery Model. About Key Issues l Expand public transportation to meet the Goodwill SWPA joined with other needs of the workforce. Goodwill organizations across the country to Additional federal level priorities focus develop relationships with local and national on addressing dramatic cuts to key programs legislators to impress on decision makers the of interest, elimination of the universal importance of several key initiatives charitable giving deduction, and decreased that affect the daily lives of the people funding to SNAP that affect Goodwill’s Goodwill serves. workforce development and job training programs. In April, Goodwill supporters from across the United States traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington DC, for Goodwill on the Hill Advocacy Day to discuss these issues. Delegations met with congressmen and representatives about what priorities matter most to the people local Goodwill’s serve. The delegation from Goodwill SWPA visited the offices of Sen. Bob Casey Jr., Sen. Pat Toomey, Rep. Michael Doyle and Rep. Keith Rothfus. Goodwill also launched a Virtual Advocacy Day by posting on social media under the hashtag #GoodwillOnHill about the facts, figures and details of the main legislative priorities. Numerous people retweeted and posted to show their support for Goodwill’s stance on issues in the com- munity. Goodwill supporters are encouraged to personally advocate for these priorities by connecting with their legislators and asking congress to protect funding for job training programs, expand charitable giving incen- tives, and reauthorize SNAP E&T programs that work. l

Visiting legislators during Specifically, Goodwill is focusing on Goodwill on the Hill Advocacy its stance on the following public policy Day from Goodwill SWPA priorities at the state level. were, left to right, Bob Stape, COO; Mike Smith, l No interruption of funding for nonprofits President/CEO; and David and educational institutions in the event of Tobiczyk, VP of Marketing and a Pennsylvania budget impasse. Development. l Additional funding for services for popu- 802 people placed in jobs with lations in need, including people with Goodwill’s help disabilities, people with criminal back- grounds, youth and veterans. l Enhance funding for adult education for family and literacy programs. 4 www.goodwillswpa.org Goodwill Partners with with students on job placement so they can find employment that utilizes their newfound Google for IT Training skills. Jobs in the IT sector are expected to grow In addition to the certificate, Goodwill 10 percent over the next decade. Goodwill SWPA also recently introduced its Digital SWPA, in conjunction with Google, is lead- Career Accelerator designed to provide digi- ing the way in helping individuals launch tal skills training to its employees and others their tech careers through its new Google IT in the workforce. Support Professional Certificate. In this program, participants complete “The certificate is an introduction for a digital skills assessment to determine their beginning and entry level IT roles at vari- knowledge related to their job. Based on ous companies,” explains Jamaal Davis, the assessments, a series of Digital Skills Goodwill Digital Skills Coordinator. “It is Workshops will be presented for staff to designed for aspiring IT professionals and increase their knowledge and use of tech- includes training on networking, system nology in everything from learning to use a administration, IT infrastructure, and more.” basic online calendar or keyboard strokes to This first-of-its-kind certificate prepares how to use Excel and other Microsoft appli- people for entry-level jobs with six online cations. More advanced workshops may be courses over an eight to 12-month period in offered based on the participants’ individual which students work at their own pace for training needs. eight to 10 hours per week. In the courses, “Our goal is to increase digital literacy students learn about IT troubleshooting and and the skills needed to communicate in customer service, networking, operating today’s web place and workplace,” says systems, system administration, automation Davis. “If we can bring all of the staff up to and security. The courses also give aspiring date on their digital capabilities, they will professionals hands-on experiences through be able to work better with clients on their interactive content and widgets as well as digital literacy.” workshops conducted at Goodwill. To learn more about the Google IT Support After completion of the program, Professional Certificate, visit goodwillswpa. Goodwill’s Career Services Center will work org/itcertificate or call 1-877-499-3526. l

Celebrating Mr. Rogers

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, WQED Pittsburgh asked local musicians to cover the show’s theme song. Local band Chase and the Barons chose to film their version of the song at the South Side Goodwill store and turn thrift store sweater-shopping into a beautiful homage to everyone’s favorite neighbor. To check out the video, visit wqed.org/sweater-sessions.

5 HAPPY GRADUATION DAYS Spring is graduation season at Goodwill as individuals from several programs successfully completed their respective programs. Best of luck to all the graduates in their future careers or schooling.

ABOVE AND LEFT: Congratulations to the two most recent JumpStart Success classes, which include graduates who earned their CPR and ServSafe certificates for food handling and safety during the six-week course.

Brother and sister, Anthony and Brittany Baxter, provided a double reason to celebrate at the From left to right: Mike Smith, CEO/President, Tamica Mickle, Director of YouthWorks, ceremony as they gradu- Daria Patterson, GED Graduate and Graduation Speaker, Robert Stape, COO/Senior Vice ated together in May. President/Corporate Compliance Officer 6 www.goodwillswpa.org HAPPY GRADUATION DAYS

A Project Search UPMC grad from Mercy gets a celebratory hug at graduation.

UPMC Project SEARCH partici- pants from UPMC Mercy, left, and UPMC Passavant, right, were celebrated after completing the one-year training and education program. These graduates will now move on to a job at their host site or in a related business.

Outstanding Achievers Clients who have gone above and beyond to overcome their barriers to employment and reach their personal goals with support from Goodwill’s programs and services are recognized as Outstanding Achievers. To celebrate their extraordinary efforts, Goodwill presented this year’s class with an award plaque and a check at a special recognition ceremony. Outstanding Achievers in the Pittsburgh area were honored at a special ceremony at the Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville.

Outstanding Achiever Jason enjoyed meeting the Pirate Parrot at the client appreciation lunch in Fayette County.

Michael Smith, Goodwill President/CEO, far left, and Ella Holsinger, Vice President for Human Services, far right, traveled to Fayette County to recognize Outstanding Achievers. 7 People of Goodwill

The Three Rivers Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) recently presented Frank Hammond, Immediate Past Chairman of the Goodwill SWPA Board of Directors, with a 2018 Directors Award for Leadership in Non-Profit Governance. Both Michael Smith of Goodwill and David Matta of Residential Resources nominated Hammond for the award based on his exemplary board leadership. Hammond is shown here with his wife, Chong. Lawrence Wysocki, Goodwill Job Coach, was recently recognized with the Embracing Diversity and Team Spirit Award at the Alliance of Community Service Providers Annual Conference for Direct Support Professionals (DSP). The Disability Services management team collectively nominated him for the award. Wysocki has been involved with 16 community partnerships over his career and currently works with Goodwill’s housekeeping department at the Marriott Pittsburgh Downtown to train individuals with barriers.

Jennifer Behun Named Volunteer of the Year Every year, Cigna recognizes an exemplary employee who is working to improve his or her community. The company recently named Jennifer Behun, member of the Northside Common Ministries (NCM) Before the Ches-a-Rena was recently torn down, Advisory Board, as the 2018 Volunteer of property developer Brian Clark, right, wanted to give the Year and donated $5,000 to the shel- Cheswick residents a chance to own a piece of the ter in her honor. For several years, Behun iconic roller skating rink. He donated over 200 pairs of roller skates to the Goodwill Cheswick retail store, has been a regular volunteer and hosted a shown here with Barb Frank, Store Manager. weekly stress reduction workshop for the All of the skates rolled out the door in less than three men at NCM. hours. l 8 www.goodwillswpa.org Welcome Center “Wrap around services help each customer toward obtaining self-reliance in Celebrates Successful the areas of careers, education and finance,” notes Rebekah Fombelle, Director of Service

First Year Coordination. “They are intended to be bun- Goodwill SWPA has always prided itself dled services, so they are accessible to every on offering an open, welcoming atmosphere individual in need for access to services they for employees, area providers and community didn’t have before.” l partners. When the Welcome Center opened in May 2017, this partnering spirit prevailed Welcome Center Successes as the center provided a central location to connect individuals with the 50-plus pro- Since October 2017 at the Goodwill grams and services available throughout Welcome Center: Goodwill. l 294 individuals received 651 services Since the Center opened, the staff at l 63 staff received 143 trainings the Welcome Center focused on ascertaining l 167 individuals completed mock inter- the needs of the people served and offering views new services with a focus on career advance- ment, financial education and digital skills l Services were delivered to clients and training. For the first time, anyone in the staff in Lawrenceville, South Side, community can access the following: McKeesport and Uniontown l Workshops and services were provided Career Services Center: A job seeker to participants of EARN, Reintegration, boot camp is now available where individuals Disability Services trainees, Transition can take workshops to better their job search students, Veterans and Youthworks skills or complete a full job search plan. The workshops cover areas for preparing for job l 9 volunteers donated 275 hours of interviews, such as skills assessment, online time; 1 volunteer became employed at job searches, and writing cover letters and Goodwill SWPA resumes. Financial Education Services: The Financial Opportunity Center in Gabby Barrett — Goodwill’s Lawrenceville provides assistance to anyone American Idol who needs to access income support (continued from page 1) systems for financial stability, including food stamps, CHIP, Social Security disability, Barrett arrived at the West Mifflin store in style and utility assistance and tax preparation. was greeted by a big crowd cheering her on during American Idol’s hometown reunion tour. On-site financial education and counseling is also available through Neighborhood Allies to help individuals develop budgets, access credit counseling, and understand bank accounts and home or automobile ownership. Digital Skills Training: This training program focuses on improving individuals’ digital skills in the workplace with the intro- duction of the Google IT Support Professional Certificate and Goodwill’s Digital Career Accelerator. (See story on page 5). These programs work together to pro- vide access to job services in one centralized location at the Welcome Center. 9 Celebrating the 2018 Selected from approximately 60 nomi- nees, this year’s winners were: Power of Work Winners l HIRE Category: Busy Beaver, the David Winners of the 2018 Power of Work Awards L. Lawrence Convention Center and Eat’n were honored at the 21st ceremony and lun- Park Hospitality Group cheon on March 20 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh l HELP Category: Petco District 68 Hotel at Station Square to honor Goodwill l Legacy Award: UPMC clients. Honorary Chairperson for the event Goodwill created the Power of Work was Stu Wise, Regional President, ComDoc; Awards program in 1997 to recognize the the Emcee was Bill Flanagan, Chief Corporate extraordinary efforts of local employers and Relations Officer, Allegheny Conference on organizations that provide employment oppor- Community Development. tunities and support programs for people with Accepting the award on barriers. More than 60 different companies behalf of Busy Beaver were have won the award. l Nicholas DeMao and William Nicks, Goodwill Employer Engagement Liaison. The 14-store chain partners with Goodwill to provide ongoing exposure to and experience with different types of work to students ages 16 to 21.

Accepting the award on behalf of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group were employees Jane Ondrusek and Karen Bolden. During 2017, the family-owned restaurant chain opened its doors to 14 graduating high school students with disabilities, so they could gain work experience in a real-world setting.

Accepting the award for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) were Tim Muldoon and Jenee Young. The DLCC is committed to building and retaining a workforce that mirrors the diverse com- munities they serve through reasonable accommodations in work schedules, portable job skills, and clothing and transportation allowances. Accepting the award for Petco District 68 was Stephen Accepting the inaugural Goodwill Power of Work Legacy Zech. The pet specialty retailer partnered with Goodwill Award on behalf of UPMC were Dr. and in 2017 to begin work-based learning experiences for Corey Ward, a Project SEARCH graduate and current UPMC graduating high school students with disabilities. They employee. UPMC earned this distinction because of its seven hosted 11 young adults at three locations during the Power of Work awards and ongoing commitment to offering year. employment and workforce development opportunities. 10 www.goodwillswpa.org by name. Other regulars stop by daily to About the check out the new goods that are constantly Belle Vernon changing. Kinnick is convinced that A Store Store these regulars also come in just because they “want to be around people; to be Near You l Location: comfortable.” 140 Finley Road This focus on comfort has been at the Belle Vernon, PA 15012 Belle Vernon is core of what Kinnick has nurtured over the past five years as a team lead at the store l Staff: All About Family and more recently as the store manager.  28 employees: 22 part-time; 6 full-time “We’re a family.” She learned this management style on other l Store Hours: That’s what Jillian Kinnick, Store jobs but fully understands how special it is Monday-Saturday Manager, will tell you when she talks to work at Goodwill. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. about the employees and the customers “At Goodwill, there is a more hands- Sunday they serve who work at the Belle Vernon on approach,” explains Kinnick. “I get to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Goodwill. For Jillian, one of her greatest interact with everybody on a very personal joys is coming to work and seeing how level. It definitely feels like a family.”l l Telephone: much everyone cares for each other in the 724-929-4202 small community that makes up the store. Jillian Kinnick and Alex Sklan sort donations with a “There is a closeness as we have smile at the Belle Vernon store. always had a tight-knit bond,” Kinnick says. “No matter what is going on in life, we talk about it. We celebrate, or we pro- vide a shoulder to cry on…we just have M that kind of relationship.” One example of how this commu- nity works is Alex Scklan who works the donation door. Alex is an older gentleman who had a choice to make when his wife died. His doctor advised him to get a part time job, so he turned to Goodwill. When he first started on the job, he was very reserved, but as he got more comfortable and the other employees took him under their wing, he began to enjoy his job and opened up more. The results have been amazing. “It has only been a couple of months, but Alex will tell you that everyone he works with on the job saved him,” accord- ing to Kinnick. “This gave him a whole new meaning in life. It’s a strong effect that we are lucky to get to be a part of.” The friendliness and family atmo- sphere extends to the customers, as well. Kinnick explains about one 80-year-old gentleman who comes to the store every day in his walker just to socialize and talk with the employees. He wanders through the store and everyone knows him 11