About Us | Goodwill Southern California

Los Angeles Business Journal Honors Goodwill

hbaez — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:11:23 +0000

On June 29, Goodwill Southern California was awarded the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2011 Large Non-Profit of the Year. Others recognized during the first annual Non-Profit and Corporate Citizenship awards included: Mattel, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, Jack Wagner, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Toyota Motor Sales, Minds Matter, National Kidney Foundation Los Angeles Chapter, Communities in Schools of Los Angeles & City Year Los Angeles, Nancy Aossey of International Medical Corps., and Downtown Women’s Center. Congratulations to our fellow honorees for their remarkable contributions!

GSC received this honor for our work serving and positively impacting the community. We are grateful to our staff, Boards, community stakeholders, business partners and valued donors and shoppers – thanks to all of you for helping Goodwill earn this fine award and for your part in empowering individuals, advancing businesses, enriching our community and caring for the earth, everyday!

Barr Receives Goodwill Award of Excellence

hbaez — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 20:23:07 +0000

Congratulations to Goodwill Southern California CEO Doug Barr, the 2011 recipient of Goodwill Industries International’s Outstanding Management Award for Executive Excellence. The award recognizes a CEO whose performance consistently demonstrates strong organizational impact related to mission, excellence and sustainability. We are grateful to our GII pals for acknowledging the fine leadership and commitment to excellence that makes Goodwill Southern California Good for Everyone! And we thank Doug Barr for all he does to make a difference in our community.

View GII Press Release

Yolanda

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:55:33 +0000

Goodwill program participant continues to inspire

Yolanda Cuellar, a single mother of two, came to Goodwill as a victim of domestic abuse, seeking a way to provide for her family through a career path in nursing. Our mission at Goodwill Southern California is to “transform lives through the power of work,” and thousands of disadvantaged job seekers and hopefuls, like Yolanda, come to benefit from Goodwill’s job placement and training programs and services. With the assistance of Goodwill, Yolanda worked her way through school and became a licensed vocational nurse. After continuing her education, Yolanda successfully applied for a nursing scholarship and entered the Registered Nursing program at East Los Angeles College in February 2009 and in the summer of 2010, Yolanda became a registered nurse (R.N) and continues to assist other nursing students, by sharing her old books, and encouraging them through the program.

“Without a doubt, Goodwill was my stepping-stone to success. All its contributions have not gone in vain and each and everyone who has helped me reach this point have had a hand in my success. My children (Lorraine, 20, and Nicholas, 14) and I thank Goodwill, and donors, for the help and success we’ve found in life.”

A year ago, Yolanda succeeded in completing our programs, today, Yolanda is an inspiration and a testament to our mission – “transforming lives through the power of work.”

Best Vintage & Secondhand Shopping in L.A.

goodwillne — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:22:31 +0000

(Excerpt: Reported by Shoestringmag.com on February 23, 2011)

Only in Los Angeles could you just as easily see, say, Reese Witherspoon wearing vintage on the red carpet as you could shop directly from the set of, say, Sweet Home Alabama.

Heading back to LA this weekend for the big Green the Red Carpet Sip & Swap with The Swapaholics, I’m unbelievably excited to continue working through this list of vintage, consignment, thrift & secondhand shops most often recommended to me by friends and fashion bloggers. The forecast is for rain, it’s Oscars weekend, I’m sure I won’t come home empty handed.

Be sure to follow my new Tumblr blog, Stealfinder, to see pics of my inevitable scores, and please add your favorite shops to the comments so I can be sure to check them out while we’re in town!

Goodwill of Southern California
I have a special place in my heart and my closet for Goodwill, and naturally I have to hit every Goodwill in every city I pass through, so I’m super excited to not only get to shop there in LA, but also to work with Goodwill of Southern California as our official charity partner for the Sip & Swap, sending all our leftover clothing to be sold in their stores to benefit their job training & youth empowerment programs. And apparently Hollywood’s elite feel the same. Recently, papperazzi spotted Amanda Seyfried donating her castoffs to Goodwill, and rumor has it that Angelie Jolie recently contemplated wearing another dress from Goodwill on the red carpet, like the famous $26 vintage dress she wore to the Mighty Heart premiere back in 2007. Expect a very special Goodwill Hunting/Thank Goodwill It’s Friday this week!

Goodwill CEO has made a career out of helping others

goodwillne — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:57:06 +0000

HOW I MADE IT

Before leading the group’s Southland branch, Doug Barr’s posts included heading the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Canada’s largest child welfare agency, and the Canadian Cancer Society.

January 09, 2011|By Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times

The gig: As chief executive of Goodwill Southern California, Doug Barr runs the fourth-largest branch of the national nonprofit organization, responsible for 65 retail stores, 42 donation centers and 24 service locations in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Sales of donated clothes and household goods provide the bulk of the organization’s revenue, enabling it to provide opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled local residents in employment, job training and education.

“When people give used goods, when they give money or give us a contract, they are making the economy better,” Barr said. “We have a significant economic and fiscal impact.”

The MAD gene: Mentorship and social work have long been part of Barr’s resume. Barr earned a bachelor’s degree at Toronto’s Victoria University with the desire to become a teacher. He went on to pursue a master’s of divinity degree in 1968. While studying theology, Barr worked at a social service agency and in child welfare, which foretold his future career path at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Canada’s largest child welfare agency, which he headed from 1978 to 1984. He changed paths again in 1984, taking a job as head of the Canadian Cancer Society until 1992, during which time he helped the society successfully campaign to ban smoking on airline flights in Canada.

When his wife, a cancer survivor, got a job offer as an interior designer in L.A., Barr — who’d earned a master’s degree in social work at USC in 1970 — permanently relocated to the Southland, eventually taking a job as CEO of Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. He joined Goodwill in 1995.

“People have always been my interest,” Barr said. “I think the thing that motivates me is that I’m one of these guys with what they call the ‘MAD’ gene, ‘make a difference.’ Most of the people in Goodwill fall into that category.”

Measuring progress: In 2010, Goodwill Southern California helped 7,059 people find jobs, most hired by companies in the community with an average wage of $11.42 an hour, exceeding the branch’s annual goal by 27%. The organization also runs profitable paper shredding and computer recycling operations contracted by local businesses and government agencies. Adhering to a strategy updated every three years, executive salary increases are gauged by the branch’s success in meeting its goals.

“You know exactly how many people bought things in your stores, you know how many people you served in terms of workforce development, you know how many people you placed in jobs and what their starting salary was. All these things are very measurable, so it’s very gratifying.”

Helping hands: When it comes to promoting unity within the ranks of his staff, Barr’s strategy is typically to promote efficient workers who above all know how to respect their co-workers. “Even though we hold people accountable for output and meeting goals and quotas, we do not permit an overly aggressive management style,” Barr said. “You can hold people accountable without embarrassing them in front of their peers.”

Building up by spreading out: Under Barr, the local Goodwill decentralized portions of its manufacturing and thrift store operations and the agency’s budget grew to $110 million in 2010 from $22 million in 1995. When Barr was appointed in 1995, there were four service locations where residents could look for jobs. Now there are 29. Full-service agencies operated by Goodwill enable the organization to spread out and build more relationships with local businesses. “We have some people and businesses that use us as their personnel department, which is perfect,” Barr said. “That’s what we want to be.”

Pushing nonprofits: Barr has always been adamant about challenging young people to consider nonprofit work as a way of using their skill and creativity to help communities around them. He says the tenets of running a major for-profit business and a large nonprofit aren’t all that different.

“The difference is that the margins in business go to the shareholders and people that own the company,” Barr said. “In nonprofits, the margins go to the mission and help more people. And that can ultimately be very gratifying work.”

nate.jackson@latimes.com
(Article published in the L.A. Times on January 9, 2011 by Nate Jackson, www.latimes.com)

For Once In My Life

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:32:01 +0000

For Once In My Life (FOIML) is a film that follows the inspiring story of the Spirit of Goodwill band. The unique assembly of singers and musicians, all with a wide range of severe mental and physical challenges, share the common factors of music and friendship.

The film follows them as they reach to attain a higher level of performances with goals of playing to larger audiences. FOIML shatters preconceived notions of what it means to have a disability and reveals the greatness within all of us.

Goodwill Southern California hosted a screening of the film on Nov. 16 at Laemlee’s Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena.

For Once in My Life website: http://www.4onceinmylife.com/home.html

Community Cinema Screeings.
This award-winning, heart-warming film that shatters preconceived notions about what people with disabilities are capable of… revealing the humor, hope and greatness within. Community Cinema produced monthly screenings in collaboration with partner organizations and local public television stations in over 90 markets nationwide.

Aired on PBS.
PBS nationally broadcasted our documentary For Once In My Life, on February 1, 2011.

Now Available on DVD.
Most of you have seen or heard about For Once in My Life (FOIML). Those interested in seeing this amazing film for the first time, or again, and who would like to share the experience with friends and family, can order a copy today. For a limited time, DVDs will be available for purchase directly though Goodwill Southern California for $16.99. To order your copy, please call Erin Cooper, Employee Activities Coordinator, at (323) 223-1211 ext. 2152 for more details.

You can also visit http://www.4onceinmylife.com/home.html to order directly through the website.

Pasadena Store Grand Opening

Lorgia Orozco — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:06:05 +0000

Please join us on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 8:45 a.m. for our Pasadena Store Grand Opening at 342 N. San Fernando Road.

There will be raffles, free giveaways and you’ll have a chance to meet our President.

Your purchases help us with the support of service programs in our communities. Our Job Centers offer employment development skills, job search, training and placement. Thank you for your support!

Goodwill Hosts Free Community Health Fair

goodwillne — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:06:04 +0000

GOODWILL HOSTS FREE COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Lea Fierro, Community Relations Coordinator
(323) 539-2152
(323) 605-6055 cell
lfierro@goodwillsocal.org

Media Alert

- – -

Store provides jobs, benefits people with disabilities or vocational disadvantages

WHAT: Goodwill Southern California hosts a free health fair for the local community.

WHEN: Friday, October 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: 8120 Palm Lane, San Bernardino, CA, 92410

WHO: Health and medical related vendors; Weight Watchers, Delta Dental, Kaiser, and more.

WHY: Goodwill Southern California (GSC) will host a health fair at its San Bernardino campus for the local community. Local residents are invited to come out to the free fair to take part in health and wellness screenings, and win prizes.

“Goodwill Southern California (GSC) seeks to build stronger communities through its mission of “transforming lives through the power of work,’” says GSC president and CEO Doug Barr. “This fair is an opportunity to provide additional valuable resources to the communities that we serve.”

VISUALS: Health screening vehicles set up in parking lot; individuals browsing vendor booths and receiving screenings.

About Goodwill Southern California

For over 94 years, Goodwill has been turning donations and retail purchases into good jobs that have led to brighter futures for thousands of people with disabilities and vocational challenges. More than 59,000 people benefit from Goodwill’s education, job training and employment placement programs each year.

GSC operates 66 retail stores, 42 attended donation centers, three campuses and 24 career centers. Goodwill Southern California serves the counties of Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San Bernardino. For more information about Goodwill and its programs, please call 1 (888) 4-GOODWILL or visit www.goodwillsocal.org.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

leafierro — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:28:57 +0000

For nearly a century, Goodwill Southern California has provided job training and employee placement programs to people with disabilities. October is National Disability Employment Awareness month and Goodwill is proud to be a member of the AbilityOne Network, a Federal initiative that helps people who are blind or have significant disabilities find employment and gain independence. Your purchases and donations to Goodwill help us to serve thousands of people with disabilities each year.

Learn more about Goodwill

Read Goodwill success stories

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

leafierro — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:23:57 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Lea Fierro, community relations coordinator for Goodwill Southern California, 323.539.2152 or lfierro@goodwillsocal.org.

Talent Has No Boundaries: People with Disabilities are an Asset to the Workplace

October Marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Goodwill Southern California (GSC) is urging employers to consider the unique talents, perspectives and contributions that people with disabilities bring to the workplace. Communities throughout the United States and Canada need workers who are ready to help rebuild the economy. People with disabilities are a talented source of labor who are ready and able to work. For decades, Goodwill® has been giving people with disabilities the tools they need to find jobs, build their careers and become independent contributors to their communities.

“Employees should be judged by the quality of work they perform, not by whether or not they have a disability,” said Doug Barr, GSC president and CEO. “Diversity in the workplace includes people with disabilities.”

It makes good business sense to hire people with disabilities. People with disabilities have above average records of job performance and dependability — which improves productivity and lowers the cost of hiring and training. A growing segment of the population — nearly one in six Americans — is made up of people with disabilities. Employers can leverage tax incentives and benefit from the distinct perspectives of people with disabilities to attract a more diverse group of customers.
To learn more about Goodwill’s career training and employment programs, visit www.goodwillsocal.org.

About Goodwill Southern California
Since 1916, Goodwill has been turning donations and retail purchases into good jobs that have led to brighter futures for thousands of people with disabilities and vocational challenges. More than 59,000 people benefited from Goodwill Southern California’s (GSC) education, job training and placement programs last year. GSC operates 62 retail stores, 41 attended donation centers, three campuses and 24 service locations in the counties of Los Angeles (north of Rosecrans Ave.), Riverside and San
Bernardino. For more information about Goodwill and its programs, please call
1 (888) 4-GOODWILL or visit www.goodwillsocal.org.