Power of Work Awards honor local employersSince 1997, Goodwill SWPA’s “signature event” has been the annual Power of Work Awards program, which honors employers’ efforts to hire and accommodate employees with special needs. More than 400 people attended the 18th annual ceremony, which was held at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh in November. This year’s event raised funds to benefit Goodwill SWPA’s programs and services.

Four local organizations were recog-nized from more than 50 nominees:

Construction Junction – Founded in 1999, Construction Junction is a nonprofit social enterprise committed to promoting conservation, job training and community engagement through the reuse of building materials. Known for its collaborative spirit and drive to innovate, Construction Junction is always reaching for new and creative ways to create mission impact in the Pittsburgh

Online sales support Goodwill’s missionDid you know that online shopping has become a multi-billion dollar industry? According to Statista, an online statistics company, 191.1 million U.S. shoppers spent $304.1 billion on purchases online during 2014. These numbers are expected to grow as today’s consumers con-tinue to seek a variety of flexible buying options from retailers.

community. It launched the innovative Environmental Finance Collaborative and worked with partners such as Goodwill SWPA to develop highly successful job training programs.

Highmark – A national, diversified health care partner based in Pittsburgh, Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries make high-quality medical care readily available, easily under-

GoodWORKSWiNtEr 2015 – Volume 34 Number 1

(continued on page 3)

(continued on page 8)

Construction Junction is one of four employers to receive the 2014 Power of Work Award.

Your small change makes a big differenceBy Michael J. SmithPresident/CEO

A little bit of spare change can go a long way. That’s what we learn every day as we see shoppers at our retail stores round-up their change at the register. A few pennies here, a quarter there…the spare change that you donate at the end of your purchases helps Goodwill raise funds for its important programs and services.

In 2014, the Round-Up Program – and all of the shopping that everyone did – was meaningful to so many people in so many ways. Think of the people and organizations in our 2014 Faces of Work video whose personal stories are at the heart of our mission to help people overcome barriers to employment so they can improve their lives and enjoy the benefits of work. Not familiar with these inspiring stories? Check them out at http://www.goodwillswpa.org/Round-Up.

Donations of items and money in the form of purchases and Round-Up make it possible for us to help hundreds of individuals, like those in the video, to train and find jobs. Since we started the Round-Up Program one year ago, everyone who gave a dime here and there was a part of the success of Goodwill. Thank you so much for your generosity at the register.

Happy New Year to all of our shoppers and those who support Goodwill. We hope you keep shopping – and rounding up – in 2015 so we can continue to meet our mission in the community and for those we so humbly serve. l

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Eat’n Park brings smiles to GoodwillSmiley faces. They are synonymous with Eat’n Park. Whether it be the famous Smiley Cookies or the smiling faces of the employ-ees who work at the Eat’n Park restaurants, there are few people in the area who don’t think of this iconic Pittsburgh institution with anything less than a smile. Goodwill of SWPA is no different.

Goodwill and Eat’n Park have shared a great partnership for years as both institutions

work toward supporting workforce development and community involvement. Eat’n Park has collaborated with Goodwill for job shadow days, mock interviews and various in-restaurant employment assessment opportunities. In return, Goodwill provides job coaching, monthly check-ins and produc-tion training, as those who are placed in the restaurants strive to achieve their employment and life goals.

Jana Sharlow, Director of Human Resources at Eat’n Park, also serves on Goodwill’s Business Advisory Council.

For Eat’n Park, giving back is woven into the fabric of their culture – it’s not just something they do, it’s who they are. This is most evident in the work they do with Goodwill and the employees hired at their restaurants.

“We’ve enjoyed a long-term, collab-orative relationship with Goodwill for many years,” said Becky McArdle, Eat’n Park Spokesperson. “It’s been a win-win for both of our organizations and for the communities in which we serve.” l

www.goodwillswpa.org

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Power of Work Awards honors four local employers(continued from page 1)

Special thanks are extended to Morgan O’Brien (right), President and CEO of People’s Natural Gas, who served as the honorary chair-person for the 2014 Power of Work Awards program. Mr. O’Brien is seen here with Mike Smith, President/ CEO of Goodwill SWPA.

Power of Work Honorees

Left: Highmark

Right: Vinny’s Hair Design

Below Left: UPMC

standable and affordable in the communi-ties it serves. Now one of the largest health insurers in the United States, Highmark is also a national leader in hiring individuals with disabilities and an innovator in sourcing new talent. Highmark supports non-tradi-tional populations and creates an environ-ment where diversity and inclusion are an essential part of its business and culture.

UPMC – One of the nation’s leading non-profit health systems, UPMC is an integrated global health enterprise and Pennsylvania’s largest employer with more than 62,000 employees. The region continues to ben-efit from its many charitable contributions and its commitment to workforce develop-

ment. UPMC sponsors many programs to help people with barriers to employment, including Pittsburgh 365, the Partnership on Workforce Readiness and Retention Program, and Project SEARCH.

Vinny’s Hair Design – Established in Uniontown in 1983, Vinny’s Hair Design is a full service hair salon and spa. Owner and operator Vincent Weaver III personally experienced barriers to employment at one time. After receiving assistance to secure employment, he chooses to “pay it forward” by partnering with Goodwill SWPA on workforce development initiatives. Mr. Weaver provides opportunities to non-traditional populations, particularly workers with criminal backgrounds and people in recovery, by supporting and guiding them as they explore career options. l

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Healthy Start House gives Clair a new startAs a teenager, Clair spent her days in foster care and other placement facilities. After giving birth to her son, she moved in with a family member but was ultimately asked to leave. Clair was in desperate need of a stable place to live that would allow her to get back on her feet. That’s exactly what she found at Goodwill SWPA’s Healthy Start House.

At the Healthy Start House, Clair found the home she always wanted and the new start she needed. The staff and services helped Clair get a job, where she has been successfully working for more than a year. She is currently living in her own apartment with her young son and newborn twin girls.

“Healthy Start House helped me with accomplishing very important goals, includ-ing gaining permanent housing and finding employment,” said Clair. “I also attended budgeting classes to learn how to budget my income, which helped to prepare me for when I moved into my own place.”

Clair is just one of many women who benefit from the housing and many Goodwill services offered at Healthy Start House. During their stay, women participate in life skills education and develop short and long

term goals with a focus on securing employ-ment and obtaining permanent housing. They also participate in an aftercare program once they have transitioned to permanent housing. Located near the Duquesne business dis-trict, Healthy Start House can accommodate women with young children who are home-less or at risk of homelessness. l

Clair is working a steady job and living in her own apartment, thanks to the help she received at Healthy Start House.

A grant from the Heinz Endowments helped fund the building of the new Life Enrichment Center at the Healthy Start House that includes this beautiful new playground for the kids.

www.goodwillswpa.org

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Lawrenceville WORKS! matches local residents with employersFor employers, finding the right individuals who fit their company culture and can con-tribute to their organizational success is both an opportunity and a challenge. That is why Goodwill SWPA works hard to connect local employers with qualified candidates through workforce solutions like Lawrenceville WORKS!

Lawrenceville United, Lawrenceville Corporation and Goodwill SWPA partnered to create the Lawrenceville WORKS! initia-tive in 2013 to reduce unemployment in the Lawrenceville area by referring qualified, vetted candidates to employers. Benefits of the program to local businesses include:

l Time and money saved on recruitment, advertising, and training of new employees.

l Potential tax advantages for hiring individ-uals who are economically disadvantaged, displaced, or who have special needs.

l Follow-up and support services for a smooth transition into the work environment.

l Replacement services if a referral does not meet the company’s needs.

When employers hire Lawrenceville WORKS! candidates, they acquire skilled, reliable workers who can gain financial independence and develop a sense of pride and a purpose in life because of their work situation.

Funded by Duquesne Light, UPMC Health Plan and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lawrenceville WORKS! continues to support Goodwill’s mission to help people improve their quality of life through work and related services. l

Fabulous fashions help raise funds for Goodwill FayetteWho needs New York Fashion Week when you’ve got the Holiday Bazaar, Fashion Show and Luncheon right here in south-western Pennsylvania? The Fayette Friends of Goodwill held its annual fashion event in November at Anthony’s Lakeside Party Center in McClellandtown. Attended by 160 people, the event raised more than $5,000 to support client needs and services in the Fayette area. Thanks to the Friends of Goodwill and Goodwill staff members who strutted their stuff on the catwalk. l

Fashions were provided by Christopher & Banks and local Goodwill retail stores.

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GoodNews from GoodwillMore news at www.goodwillswpa.org/news

RISE program teaches skills and raises moneyStudents in the Reintegration through Industry Specific Education (RISE) Program found a unique way to raise money for Goodwill SWPA. They handcrafted a coffee table out of recycled pallets and raffled it off, raising $157 for RISE. Congratulations to Michael Mathis, Generation Master Mentor at YouthWorks, who won the beautiful table.

Computer clinics offered at Goodwill storesAre you having computer issues? Has a nasty virus infected your laptop? No need to worry. The Goodwill SWPA ComputerWorks team can help.

In an effort to bring ComputerWorks services from its Lawrenceville site into the retail stores, Goodwill SWPA introduced free monthly computer clinics on-site at various stores beginning in September 2014. At the two-hour clinics, customers brought their computers and laptops to the ComputerWorks team, who evaluated and diagnosed the problem. If work needed to be completed, customers were encour-aged to have the staff at the Lawrenceville

ComputerWorks store fix the broken machines at a 20 percent discounted rate.

After three successful clinics at the Heidelberg, Cheswick and Robinson stores, ComputerWorks plans to continue this program in 2015 on a monthly basis at other area stores.

Affiliated with the Goodwill Computer Recycling Center, the ComputerWorks store offers a wide variety of quality, refurbished electronics at an affordable price. The store also provides quality, low-cost computer repair services for any brand of laptops and desktops.

To learn more about the in store clinics or ComputerWorks, visit www.goodwillswpa.org/computer-store.

Donation drives lead to generous donationsMany thanks to area high schools and non-profits who recently organized donation drives to support Goodwill SWPA, including:

l Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair high schools, which hosted a friendly compe-tition of fundraisers in October 2014 to collect nearly 5,000 pounds of donated material.

l The National Honor Society at Northgate High School, which collected 2,000 pounds of material.

l The Animal Rescue League, which col-lected 18,768 pounds of donations and filled five trucks thanks to more than 300 donors. In order to help both organi-zations further their missions, Goodwill donated 10 cents to the Animal Rescue League for every pound of acceptable donations. A second donation drive at the Animal Rescue League is set for April 18.

John Kwalick, ComputerWorks Store Manager, and Jim Kieffer, ComputerWorks Store Technician, helped diagnose “sick” computers at the Heidelburg computer clinic last fall.

WWW.ANIMALRESCUE.ORG • 412.345.7300

www.goodwillswpa.org

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Goodwill: One of America’s most inspiring companiesFor the third year in a row, Goodwill has been named to Forbes’ list of America’s Most Inspiring Companies. Listed at #11, Goodwill moved up from its ranking of #19 last year and #23 the year before.

“Give a Thread” trying to break world recordThe University of Pittsburgh is hoping to make history by breaking the Guinness World Record for most clothing collected for the intent of donation or recycle. The “Give a Thread” initiative is trying to col-lect more than 150,000 articles of cloth-ing that will be donated to local charities, including Goodwill SWPA.

Since the official kick-off event in December 2014, nearly 31,000 articles of clothing have been collected. The University invites the community to help them reach their goal by making tax-deduct-ible donations before the official world record count in March 2015. To learn more, visit: www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/pittserves/give-thread.

Faces of Work luncheon and tour scheduledDonors and community partners are invited to attend a lunch and tour of Goodwill’s Workforce Development Center in Lawrenceville at noon on Thursday, May 7 and Tuesday, May 12. Goodwill President/CEO, Mike Smith, hosts the event for donors and community partners. If you are interested in attending, email goodwill.donations@goodwillswpa.org. l

Community NOW! celebrates its successGoodwill SWPA celebrated the success of its Community NOW! service in November at Asbury Heights, one of several commu-nity host sites. The event helped to dem-onstrate how Goodwill SWPA and its host sites work together to enhance the lives of program participants.

Goodwill’s Community Now! service provides adults with ID/DD an alternative to work by spending their day in the com-munity with a program specialist. The ser-vice provides participants with a fulfi ling quality of life by giving them opportunities to succeed and to become active members of their community. l

Community NOW! participants and staff at the kick-off event.

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In order to appeal to the modern shopper and generate additional revenue, Goodwill SWPA launched its e-commerce effort a few years ago. Goodwill sells items at www.shopgoodwill.com, as well as books and media on eBay and Amazon.

Jessica McConnell, E-Commerce Manager, oversees the e-commerce opera-tions at the Retail Outlet Center in North Versailles.

“Our staff take the time to research and assess the value, so I encourage stores to send whatever they can,” said Ms. McConnell. “They are trained to do research and weed out the best items to put on sale on the site.”

Each piece is evaluated and specialty items, such as antiques, art, collectibles and designer clothing valued at $20 or more, are placed for sale on www.shopgoodwill.com. The site has a large variety of products for sale locally as well as nationally.

A large amount of jewelry is also available; some pieces have sold for more than $1,000.

“We get anything and everything – from modern designers, to diamonds, to gemstones and platinum,” said Ms. McConnell. “Nothing is uncommon for me to see at this point.”

The staff at each store use a scanner with software personalized for Goodwill SWPA to read the bar codes of all books and media to determine if they should be forwarded to the e-commerce department. At the Retail Outlet Center, a team of three specialists look for any damage, determine the market value, and list the item for sale.

Since the program’s inception, the e-commerce team has sold more than 39,000 books and media to generate nearly $300,000 to support Goodwill SWPA. The current inventory is 17,500 items with 200 orders filled each day.

The future looks bright for this excit-ing division at Goodwill as e-commerce sales continue to climb. Previously ranked 66th nationally with less than $20,000 per year in sales, Goodwill SWPA is now listed 39th after doubling online sales to $40,000 last year. l

Online sales support Goodwill’s mission(continued from page 1)

EITC tax credits taken at GoodwillPennsylvania businesses that are approved for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program can contribute to Goodwill’s YouthWorks program. State fund-ing for the EITC program becomes available July 1, and businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible before funding is exhausted. Details are available at: www.newpa.com.

For more information on how to name Goodwill’s YouthWorks as a recipient, contact goodwill.donations@goodwillswpa.org or 412-632-1941. l

A Program of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania

www.goodwillswpa.org

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Local foundations help fund programs A special thank you is extended to the following foundations for their recent support:

l Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, to purchase vans for the Community NOW! program.

l Allegheny Foundation and an anonymous foundation, to implement a new service delivery model to enhance Goodwill’s method of providing services.

l First Niagara Foundation, for the Goodwill Employment Training Center. l

SAVE THE DATE:

Highmark Walk for a Healthy CommunityLace up your shoes and join other Goodwill supporters at the annual Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community set for May 16 at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. While there is no registration fee for the family-friendly event, walkers are encouraged to raise funds to support Goodwill SWPA. All registered walk-ers who raise or donate $25 will receive a t-shirt while supplies last. Individual walkers and teams can register or make online donations at: www.walkforahealthycommunity.org. l

A Store Near YouCranberry store leads sales in busy retail corridorThe Cranberry area north of Pittsburgh is growing in leaps and bounds with numerous retail stores opening daily. In the midst of the competition for quality goods at a good price, with great customer service, is the Cranberry Goodwill store.

Located on the busy Route 19 corridor, the Cranberry location is number one in total sales of all of the 31 area stores, despite being one of the smallest stores in the region. Store Manager Debbie Tronicke says the longevity of the staff of 35 employees is at the heart of the success of the store.

This longevity and commitment made the manager’s job easier when she relocated to Pittsburgh from Las Vegas in July 2014. With a merchandising and management background, Ms. Tronicke has been in the business for more than 30 years with jobs at Home Depot, Lowes, and most recently Savers, a 33,000 square foot thrift store in Las Vegas.

“I am used to a bigger operation, so I had to wrap my arms around how to man-age a smaller store and increase our profits,” notes Ms. Tronicke.

She said the Cranberry store features many of the same types of items seen at other Goodwill stores in the region, but also has some of those special “oddball” items that can’t be found in the big box stores that are so popular, like Walmart or Target. It is this unique blend of offerings and the people that reinforces Ms. Tronicke’s decision to move to Pittsburgh.

“I love the scenery and the people are friendly,” says Ms. Tronicke, with one caveat. “It takes some getting used to the lack of sunshine. I just wish the sun would come out more.” l

About the Cranberry Storel Location:

20668 Perry Highway Cranberry Township, PA 16066

l Staff: 35 employees

l Store Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

l Telephone: (724) 776-0958

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People of Goodwill

New Goodwill board members welcomedGoodwill SWPA welcomes three new members to the Board of Directors:ray Amelio, retired Managing Director, Fragasso Financial AdvisorsKaren Priore, Divisional Team Member Relations Leader, Giant Eagle, Inc.Jason Sigal, Preconstruction Manager, RYCON Construction, Inc.

Power of Work Award winner receives citationVincent Weaver, a member of the Goodwill Fayette Advisory Board and two-time Power of Work Award win-ner, was recently honored with a citation from State Rep. Timothy S. Mahoney. Mr. Weaver was recognized for his dedica-tion to serving others and providing career opportunities for workers with criminal backgrounds and people recovering from substance abuse.

Northside Common Ministries recognized for good workNorthside Common Ministries, an affiliate of Goodwill of Southwestern PA,

has been named the recipient of the 2014 Allegheny County Medical Society Benjamin Rush Community Award. This award, which recognizes an organization that is successfully addressing a community health issue, will be accepted by NCM Director Jay Poliziani at a March 7 ceremony. l

Assessment services help Peter find the right jobPeter was looking for a job, but sadly experienced some barriers to employment during his search. He was referred to Goodwill for a vocational evaluation to deter-mine his professional abilities and interests.

After completing a community-based assessment to further observe his skills in a work-specific environment, Peter was referred for employment and is now working in the retail field.

“I am very grateful that the staff at Goodwill saw my potential for commu-nity employment,” said Peter. “My time at Goodwill helped me to learn my own strengths and find an appropriate job.”

The Assessment program helps people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities to experi-ence and enjoy the benefits of work. Serving individuals ages 16 and older, the Assessment program determines an individual’s ability and readiness to enter the job market through aca-demic and skill-based assessments, including:

l Community-based assessments that provide an individual with onsite work experience while being evaluated on their skills, perfor-mance and work readiness.

l School-based vocational evaluation that helps to identify a student’s vocational interests, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. The evalu-ation can be conducted at Goodwill or at the school.

The Assessment program not only provides a detailed evaluation of individuals’ abilities, but often recommends people to other Goodwill programs for training, career coach-ing and/or job placement. l

“ I’m very grateful that the staff at

Goodwill saw my potential for

community employment. My time

at Goodwill helped me to learn my

own strengths and find an

appropriate job.”

Peter

www.goodwillswpa.org

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#GivingTuesday sees record number of # donorsThanksgiving is a day dedicated to giv-ing thanks. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are days dedicated to getting deals. #GivingTuesday has become a global day dedicated to giving back. On December 2, 2014, Goodwill SWPA raised nearly $12,500 through online donations and employee contributions and commit-ments. That’s more than four times the amount raised on #GivingTuesday last year. Thank you to everyone who participated in #GivingTuesday! l

Congratulations to our Halloween costume winnersGhosts, and witches, and monsters, oh my! These are just some of the creepy charac-ters who entered the third annual Goodwill Halloween Costume Photo Contest. Individuals were asked to create an imaginative DIY costume from purchases made at any of the 31 area Goodwill stores. This year, there were 50 entries and 1,279 votes. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to our three lucky winners!

First Place Kristin Bergman of Charleroi, who won a $250 Visa gift card for her son’s unique “Big Bad Wolf Captures the Human” costume.

Second Place Kathleen DeMartino of Pittsburgh, who won a $50 Goodwill SWPA gift card for her daughter’s spirited Maleficent costume.

third Place Amy Deeter of Franklin, who won a $50 Goodwill SWPA gift card for her daughter’s adorable ladybug costume. l

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Goodwill of Southwestern PennsylvaniaRobert S. Foltz Building118 52nd StreetPittsburgh, PA 15201

www.goodwillswpa.org

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

P A I DPITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO. 2972

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

SHOP 50% Color of the Week sales. Check goodwillswpa.org for each week’s color and save!

Goodwill of Southwestern PennsylvaniaRobert S. Foltz Building118 52nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201412-481-9005 www.goodwillswpa.org

AffiliatesGoodwill of Fayette County724-437-9878Goodwill of North Central West Virginia304-225-0105Goodwill Commercial Services, Inc.412-913-1982Goodwill Housing412-257-4844Northside Common Ministries412-323-1163

Our MissionWe help people improve their quality of life through work and related services.

Goodwill’s Code of Conduct Goodwill SWPA is committed to conducting its business in accordance with the highest standards of ethical behavior and regulatory compliance and to treating everyone with dignity and respect. The agency’s full Code of Conduct document – “Ethics at Work” – may be viewed at www.goodwillswpa.org.

Non-discrimination StatementGoodwill SWPA and its affiliates prohibit discrimi-nation on the basis of race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, or sexual orientation.

Equal Opportunity EmployerGoodwill SWPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aides and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For more information, call 412-632-1809 or email accommodations.request@goodwillswpa.org

Goodwill SWPA is CARF accredited.

Alternative formats are available upon request.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

facebook.com/goodwillswpa@gwswpayoutube.com/goodwillswpa

Ring in the New Year: Sign up for GED® classes or testing Was your New Year’s resolution to upgrade your education so you can find a new job, make more money, take that next step towards college, improve your English, or become a citizen? It’s not too late to register for classes and testing through Goodwill SWPA.

Goodwill offers free adult education classes at locations in downtown Pittsburgh, Arlington, East Liberty, Lawrenceville, McKees Rocks, McKeesport, Northside and Southside. Classes incorporate reading comprehension, mathematical reason-ing, critical thinking, and analysis – the core skills needed to pass the GED® test and move into the

workplace. For more details on dates and times of GED® classes, contact the Registration Line at Goodwill at 412-632-1841 or email GED@goodwillswpa.org.

Goodwill also provides computer-based GED® testing at its Workforce Development Center (WDC) in Lawrenceville. Goodwill offers the complete battery of tests in their computer testing lab with varying times Tuesday through Saturday to accommodate busy schedules. All candidates for the GED® credential are welcome to take the test at the Goodwill testing center regardless of whether they have taken the preparation classes through Goodwill. Testing can be scheduled at www.GED.com.

For more information about test dates, contact Dan Seidling, test administrator, at

412-632-1847 or daniel.seidling@ goodwillswpa.org l