View a Timeline History for Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania

The History of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania srda oda oorrow

r. Helms goes door-to-door otorized trucks are first put he Vocational Rehabilitation D with burlap bags in Boston’s M into service for Goodwill. T Act becomes law. It aims to wealthiest districts asking for assist veterans with disabilities who donations of clothing and are returning from World War I. household goods. His appeal differs from many charities of the day by emphasizing that donated goods epresentatives from a can be sold and the money used to workshop in Brooklyn, pay workers who helped to R New York, visit Boston to learn refurbish them. Dr. Helms’ techniques. They adopt 1 902 would come to be the Morgan Memorial way and Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is proud known as the year Goodwill was Dr. Helms adopts their name – officially born because the Goodwill Industries. to be part of the international Goodwill organization organization’s work was well that traces its heritage of service back to the early r. Helms and two fellow underway by then, although the incorporation of what would 1900s when the Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist D students at Boston University Theological School seek the become Goodwill was still a few minister in Boston, pioneered a movement to support of the City Missionary years off. give people hope, dignity and independence. Society to open a settlement house in the North End of the city. Dr. Helms’ original visionary concept remains just Instead, they are offered Morgan as relevant today as it was over 100 years ago. Chapel, a struggling inner city His social innovation set in motion a worldwide mission in Boston’s South End. movement that has transformed millions of lives through the power of work. srda oda oorrow

t a meeting of the Methodist here are now 15 Goodwills in oodwill Pittsburgh, now one r. Helms realizes Goodwill A Church Union in Pittsburgh T the U.S., including Morgan G of 53 Goodwill organizations D needs to have a bigger hand on May 8, Dr. Helms presents the Memorial. In subsequent decades, around the country, has four stores: in rehabilitation. In a prophetic objectives and policies of the the relationship with the Methodist 2801 Liberty Avenue, 1202 Wylie letter, he writes, Morgan Memorial Goodwill and church gradually lessens as Avenue, 502 East Ohio Street, and Pittsburgh Goodwill Industries is Goodwill seeks leaders from 213 W. Eighth St. in Homestead. Goodwill will be out established. Official by-laws are outside the ministry and federal adopted on August 6. funding requirements make it ‘ of‘ business if it does not necessary for Goodwill to become take over work with the r. Albert Curry is appointed to a more secular organization. D the Denny Methodist Church handicapped people.” in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh and to the Trinity r. Helms dies on December 23. Temple at 25th and Smallman bout a decade after Dr. Helms Some 1,500 people swarm Streets in the Strip District, which had warned Goodwill to D A Boston’s Morgan Memorial Church soon becomes the first home of prepare for the day of economic of All Nations to pay final tribute. Goodwill in Pittsburgh. Dr. Curry reckoning, Wall Street crashes. serves in that position until 1946. Donations plummet, but Goodwill he slogan “Not Charity, continues to help thousands of arger and better equipped T But a Chance” is first used to L facilities are soon required and people who become destitute during publicize Goodwill’s efforts to give the 1930s. Goodwill Pittsburgh moves to three people hope and independence buildings at 28th Street and Liberty through work. Store receipts top Avenue, which will be its home for $1 million for the first time. 48 years.

ilton Caniff, a famous rtist Norman Rockwell gives avid J. Wynne succeeds 1 946 L. D. Spaughy cartoonist, draws Goodwill the much-loved Mr. Lufburrow as president of becomes the second president of M A D “Good Willy,” which becomes a painting, “The Paycheck,” which Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh. Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh. beloved and well-known symbol of becomes an iconic image for many He serves until 1977. He serves until 1948. Goodwill efforts. years.

1 949 K. Franklin Conoway succeeds Mr. Spaughy and serves until 1960.

oodwill becomes known for 1 961 William Lufburrow helping people with G succeeds Mr. Conoway and serves disabilities through job training. until 1965.

arious celebrities appeal for V donations to Goodwill and the s Goodwill becomes the fter 48 years in the Strip public heeds their pleas, bringing A uncontested leader in A District, Goodwill Pittsburgh tons of goods to collection boxes vocational rehabilitation, Boston buys the Mercantile Building at and donation centers. As donations designer Joseph Selame creates the 2600 East Carson Street for pour in, people are put to work universally recognized Goodwill $300,000 and moves its workshop sorting, cleaning, and displaying logo. and headquarters to the South Side. items in Goodwill thrift stores. Anyone with a willingness to work is welcome. s s

1 949 K. Franklin Conoway succeeds Mr. Spaughy and serves until 1960.

oodwill becomes known for 1 961 William Lufburrow helping people with G succeeds Mr. Conoway and serves disabilities through job training. until 1965.

n January, Goodwill Pittsburgh obert S. Foltz succeeds oodwill Pittsburgh expands its oodwill Pittsburgh launches I establishes a Fayette County R Dr. Wynne as president of G retail operations, opening new G its first literacy program with affiliate unit and retail store at Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh. stores in Homestead, Cheswick, the Pennsylvania Department of 333 Pennsylvania Avenue in He serves until 2002. Beaver Falls and Washington. Store Education. A merger with the Uniontown. After a major fire on sales that year reach $2.4 million, Pittsburgh Literacy Initiative in July 19, 1990, the Employment & and by the end of 1983, there are July 1991 establishes the agency Training Center and store move to 11 Goodwill stores in the region. as a local leader in adult basic 40 Connellsville Street. A new n October 15, Goodwill education services. store opens near Uniontown Mall O Pittsburgh opens Goodwill on October 9, 1998. Plaza in the Sheraden section of the city, its first apartment building for lderberry Junction is seniors and people with physical established as a center for disabilities. Several other Goodwill E technological revolution seniors who have intellectual housing facilities will follow in sweeps the globe. Seeing a disabilities. A coming years, including Goodwill major shift approaching, Goodwill Villa (1995) and Goodwill Manor becomes computer savvy, quitable Gas Hardship Fund (1997) in Bridgeville, Jefferson emphasizing technology in its E is established, a forerunner of Courtyard (1998) apartments for career services. today’s Energy Utility Assistance cross the country, Goodwill Program which helps seniors people with mental health disabili- A creates thousands of jobs and and low-income utility customers ties in Uniontown, Summerdale earns thousands of dollars by access available assistance Court (2003) apartments for low- contracting with federal and state programs. income adults with developmental governments, as well as private disabilities in Clairton, and Warren industry. From janitorial services Plaza (2003) apartments for low- to manufacturing, Goodwill finds income adults with physical workers to take care of industry’s disabilities in Pittsburgh’s Hill needs, and puts people to work. District neighborhood. s s

he Americans with Disabilities oodwill Pittsburgh launches oodwill Pittsburgh creates the ith help T Act is signed into law on July G its auto donation and auction G annual Power of Work Awards W from 26. Goodwill continues to evolve to program, which will grow to be the program to honor employers who Goodwill address other workplace barriers largest nonprofit auto auction in provide job opportunities and Pittsburgh’s such as welfare dependency, lack of the U.S. and the only nonprofit support for people with special long-time oodwill Pittsburgh becomes a work experience, illiteracy and past registered used car dealership in needs. President/CEO founding partner of PA criminal histories. Goodwill offers Pennsylvania. G Robert J. Foltz, CareerLink®, a one-stop resource training and support services that and his that connects employers and job lead not just to jobs, but careers. successor seekers in the most efficient Michael J. manner possible at sites throughout oodwill Commercial Services, Smith – the oodwill Pittsburgh becomes the area. G Inc. wins its first Ability One G the first Goodwill in the U.S. first Goodwill organization in contract for janitorial services at the to establish a computer recycling Western Europe is established Social Security Administration program when Carnegie Mellon in Rome. building in East Liberty under the University donates its inventory of National Institute for the Severely used computers and provides Handicapped (NISH). technicians to help launch the ichael J. Smith succeeds Goodwill Computer Recycling M Dr. Foltz as president of oodwill Pittsburgh establishes Center. Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh. G the HEART House program to help homeless single mothers achieve permanent housing, employment and self-sufficiency. Originally an acronym for Housing, Education, and Rehabilitation Training, the program now focuses on employment and vocational training.

ith Mr. Smith’s help, oodwill SWPA announces n December, more than 200 emonstrating the agency’s oodwill merges with the W Goodwill Italia becomes the G plans to move its headquarters I Goodwill employees move into D commitment environmental G nonprofit organization first entity to be given affiliate status and client service operations from the new Workforce Development stewardship, Goodwill opens a new YouthWorks, Inc., expanding its under Goodwill Industries the South Side building it occupied Center in Lawrenceville – the new retail store in Robinson Township services of career exploration and International’s new interna- oodwill Industries of for more than 40 years to a new home of Goodwill in southwestern with solar panels on the roof to help job readiness training for at-risk tional membership struc- G Pittsburgh officially changes its Workforce Development Center in Pennsylvania. power the store. youth. ture. It is the only name to Goodwill of Southwestern the Lawrenceville section of secular organization Pennsylvania on April 1 and adopts Pittsburgh in 2010. oodwill opens a new store in in Italy that provides a new “graphic signature” that G Saberton, West Virginia. The combines the new name with the employment-related services, while oodwill SWPA launches a store includes the agency’s first- well-known “Smiling G” symbol. other Italian disability organizations orthside Common Ministries – G two-year capital campaign to ever workforce development generally focus on social assistance. which operates a shelter for mission facility in West Virginia. N n October, Goodwill SWPA opens help finance its new Workforce Dr. Helms’ dream of launching homeless men, a community food The facility is later renamed the its 25th store in the region on Development Center, expand Goodwills around the world is being pantry, and a permanent housing I Michael A. Oliverio Workforce Route 19 North in Cranberry programs and services, and realized – there are now 36 associate program for men with disabilities – Development Center. Township, one of the fastest upgrade stores and technology. members operating in 25 countries. becomes an affiliate unit of growing areas in the state. Goodwill Pittsburgh in July. n recognition of Dr. Foltz’s long- I time service, Goodwill’s headquarters building at 2600 East Carson Street is designated as the Robert S. Foltz Building. In 2010, the plaque is transferred to the new Goodwill Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville.

oodwill launches a new oodwill holds the grand oodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania celebrates the organization’s hile Goodwill has an amazing history G strategic plan focused on G opening of its Donation G 100th Anniversary of changing lives through the Power of Work! transforming and unifying their Processing Center, an integrated W and record of accomplishment, we service territory, while strengthen- community-based business and cannot be satisfied while so many still need our ing the integration of Goodwill’s employment concept as a transition TEAM, MISSION and FINANCE. from the traditional sheltered services. Times have changed, but Helms’ vision workshop model. remains constant. ission Logistics, Goodwill’s M “fair profit” social enterprise We have courage and are he Union Station Clubhouse, is launched, offering trucking unafraid. With the prayerful T which provides psychiatric delivery services throughout cooperation of millions of our rehabilitation for individuals with southwestern PA. severe and persistent mental illness bag contributors and of our to prepare for re-entry into the workers, we will press on till the workforce, moves to its new home at Corporate Crossing Road curse of poverty and exploitation in Uniontown. is banished from mankind.”

s part of a strategic initiative A to be more responsive to the varying needs of its clients, a new “Welcome Center” is opened to provide a single point of contact for any service offered by the organization. oorrow