Goodwill Industries of East TexasAnnual Report 2014

CHANGING To Better ServeOur Community

It is the mission of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.to provide skills training and vocational opportunities

for people with barriers to employment.

Achieving potential through the power of work.

Our Mission

From the Directors:The Goodwill Industries of East Texas family experi-enced an incredibly rewarding year that YOU our supporters, stakehold-ers, partners and friends can all take pride in. With your help, Goodwill provided over 2,400 services to 1,219 individu-als. This is a huge increase of 142% over last year and that’s just the beginning!

Together, we did the work to provide, not just good, but GREAT services to East Texans. Partner-ships with the Department of Rehabilitative Services, the Division of Blind Services, the East Texas Food Bank, the Literacy Council of Tyler, PATH, Tyler Junior College, the University of Texas at Tyler, UT Health North-east, United Way of Smith County, the Texas

Department of Transporta-tion, Walmart, and so many others enabled Goodwill to expand services throughout East Texas.

In this Annual Report, you will read about the tenacity of John Geter, who has been an inspira-tion to us all. John’s positive attitude and warm smile is contagious. Blind since the age of 5, John has had his share of challenges, but he continues to strive for excellence. When John was laid off and his world was turned on its side, your commitment to helping others gave him a safe place to land. He landed at Goodwill. Through training and placement efforts at Goodwill, John found a new career at Walmart as a dairy frozen sales associate and has hopes of moving up in the company.

In 2014, the needs of the community facilitated the launch of an ex-offender Reentry Training Program, Veteran’s Services starting with the Suit Up program at the University of Texas in Tyler, an Adult Basic Education and GED Program in collaboration with the Literacy Council of Tyler, the transition of a Pre-Vocational Program for significantly disabled persons at our Commer-cial Services Division, a free tax preparation

partnership with PATH and approval as a U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship site for the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program. In addition, 2014 ushered in the remodeling of the retail store in Kilgore and Jacksonville, and a new store opening in Center.

The future promises to be even more exciting. We are setting out in a direction to build a new retail store, administrative office and career center that will benefit the entire East Texas community. This is a visionary goal that will require support from the entire East Texas community. From concept to grand opening, this facility will be an opportu-nity for Goodwill to engage with the East Texas community to both educate everyone about our mission and allow everyone to join in the attainment of this lofty and worthy goal.

Through the power of work, you, our partners and supporters made it possible for Goodwill to lay the foundation for growth and expansion.

We can’t wait to see what 2015 brings.

Executive Director

Board President

Thank you!Thank you!

MISSION SERVICESJob Training

Job Placement & Supported Employment

Job Coaching

Pre-Vocational Program

Adult Education/GED Prep

GoodAssist - Resource Program

Ex-Offender Program

Veterans Services

Professional Counseling Services

Good Temps - Staffing

Achieving potential through the power of work.

THANK YOU toour Partnering Businesses

THANK YOU toour Partnering Businesses

United Wayfor East Texas

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF EAST TEXAS, INC.MISSION SERVICES - 2014

Job Training Services

PROGRAM ReferralsYTD

Number of Services2014

Social Services

Counseling

Employment Services

Job Readiness Training Classes

GoodAssist/Community Outreach*Tyler, Longview & Palestine (State Benefits)

Re-Entry Program*Re-Entry Ex-Offender Program

Veteran Services*Job Readiness

Participants Served (unduplicated): 1,219

Participants Placed in Competitive Employment: 121

Average Wage: $8.92

Tax Preparation Assistance

TOTALS

Literacy & GED Classes (starts 9/8/14)*Partnering with Literacy Council of Tyler

Pre-Vocational Program/Commercial ServicesFor the significantly disabled

135

54

33

91

17

81

14

21

446

258

33

20

371

627(partially duplicated)

63

653

63

14

21

278

2,401

Retail GrowthBrings Changes To Our

Community:

Grand Opening

ThankYou!

ThankYou!

Re-OpeningCENTER

Agency Overview

Volunteer ProgramVolunteers - 38

Volunteer Hours - 1440 Community Service and Interns

Commercial ServicesGross Revenue - $2 Million

63 ParticipantsManpower Fulfillment

Secure Document DestructionLawnWorksRecycling

1 ComputerWorks Store - Repair/Refurbish

Mission ServicesGross Revenue - $506,000

Job Readiness TrainingJob Placement

Employment ServicesPre-Vocational Program

Adult Education/GED PrepVeteran Services

Donated GoodsGross Revenue - $10.7 Million

16 Retail Stores2 off-site Donation Boxes

Retail Customers - 686,111Donors - 147,180

Diverted from Landfill - Pounds 3,764,897 - Income $673,200.10

Commercial ServicesDivision

Secure Document Destruction.

Lawn Care.

Manpower.

Recycling (Paper, Electronics, Metal & Plastic).

Computer Repair and Refurbish.

Other Commercial Services Division Services

The first new partnerships in 2014 saw Goodwill Industries of East Texas collaborate with sister Goodwill’s in Texas and Oklahoma. The Two Trees Woodchip project was shared with the Goodwill Industries of North Texas and Goodwill Industries of Oklahoma City. This packing and assembly project created 10 positions at Goodwill Industries of East Texas.

A second and vital contract was with Tazza Pronto of Tyler. This involved the packaging and repurposing of slightly irregular K-Cups to sell, creating an additional 10 jobs for people with severe disabilities.June 2014 Goodwill Industries of East Texas Leader-ship opted to not renew our 14C Certification. All eligible employees converted from piece rate to minimum wage status. This enabled Goodwill to transition our existing light industrial workforce to a Pre-Vocational training for persons with significant disabilities. This includes providing regular class instruction at appropriate levels to train each partici-pant in the areas of Job Skills, Social Skills and Job Readiness in preparation for competitive employment.

E-Cycling183 + Tons

Metal217 + Tons

Cardboard183 + Tons

Paper58 + Tons

2014 Recycling TonsSaved from Landfills

Gross Revenue 2014 - $2 Million

John Geter - CHANGEMost of us do not welcome change. If we had to choose, many of us would not change anything. But what happens when you have no choice? Life changes drastically anyway? Herein lies the story of John Geter, a graduate of Goodwill Industries of East Texas’ Career and Counseling Services.

John was only 5-years-old when the removal of a brain tumor left him with permanent blindness. He changed from a wide eyed child to a child with eyes that could discern only “shapes, shadows, light and darkness”. John said “all my life I have had constant change…going from the playground and bike riding to not being able to see.”

John, now an adult, continues to face change. He had been working in Fort Worth for four years when he was laid off in 2011. Moving back to East Texas and searching for direction, his sister told him about Goodwill’s Job Readiness Training.

Program Coordinator, Kammy Locasio said, “When John came to Goodwill he was a bit disappointed by the lack of opportunities available for the visually impaired and blind.” Locasio adds, “Despite John’s disappointment, he remained optimistic and confident largely due to his strong faith.” Many employers hesitated to speak to John once they saw his white cane. They were unwilling to consider someone with this disability even though John is proficient in reading and writing Braille. “We knocked on many doors” Locasio explains.

However, largely due to Goodwill’s positive long-term partnership with Walmart, John was granted an opportunity to interview with the Human Resources Department. With training and support John became a stellar employee in the produce department. He then was transferred to the dairy department broadening his list of duties.

Kathryn Barton of Walmart’s HR department, said “John has such a mindset of moving up in the company that he actually memorized every aisle so he would be able to help answer any customer question. He is dependable and looked up to by everyone in the store.” John, Locasio and Executive Director Kimberly Lewis traveled to Washington, DC to participate in Goodwill Industries International Advocacy Day. On Capital Hill, John spoke to our Texas Legislators about reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act, protecting employment opportunities for people with disabilities and maintaining invest-ments for programs that leverage Goodwill. John shared his story as proof these programs can help people with barriers to employment. He advocated for himself and represented a part of the population that tends to be overlooked. John is an excellent advocate for others. United Way of Smith County selected John for the I AM ONE OF 60,000 campaign. He is featured on their commercial and his face is displayed on two local billboards. Barton says, “It makes the Walmart staff very excited to see John featured on these outlets because he is one of theirs.”

Just recently, John was honored to receive the Consumer of the Year Award from the State Independent Living Council. His advocacy is why Goodwill Industries of East Texas has named him as the first “Helms Advocate of the Year.”Says Locasio, “Working with John has reignited a fire in me to help bring awareness to the community about the lack of opportunities for the blind and visually impaired.”

Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.Board Member Roster - 04/01/14 - 03/31/15

Ace, Michael Roberts & Roberts

Adams, Andrew (Vice President) Southside Bank

Caraway, Rev. Ralph St. Louis Baptist Church

Carpenter, Carmen Texas Bank & Trust

Champagne, Rae Brookshire’s

Dixon, Terrence Brookshire’s

Dyer, Jack Brookshire’s

Ellis, Chris Brookshire’s

Hutson, Carolyn Brookshire’s

Josephson, Paul Retired (Trane)

Nunn, Darrell TMS Delivery

Powell, Mike Meals on Wheels

Reis, Mark (President) Lifeline Software

Shaw, Mark Meals on Wheels

Smith, Kyle Real Edge Real Estate

Stuth, Hank Retired

Tatman, Rick (Treasurer) Tyler Union

Vordenbaumen, Tim (Secretary) Trane

Goodwill of East Texas Locations:

Athens Store 706 North Palestine, Athens, TX 75751

Canton Store 24648 Hwy 64, Canton, TX 75103

Carthage Store 620 West Panola, Carthage, TX 75633

Center Store 1233 Tenaha Street, Center, TX 75935

Gladewater Store 1640 E. Broadway, Gladewater, TX 75654

Henderson Store 517 US Highway 79 South, Henderson, TX 75654

Jacksonville Store 1802 South Jackson, Jacksonville, TX 75766

Kilgore Store 1409 US Hwy 259 North, Kilgore, TX 75662

Judson Road Store 2400 Judson Road, Longview, TX 75605

Longview Store 2451A West Loop 281, Longview, TX 75604

Mabank Store 1018 South Third, Mabank, TX 75147

Marshall Store 1601 Sedberry, Marshall, TX 75670

Mineola Store 201 North Newsom, Mineola, TX 75773

Palestine Store 3824 West Oak, Palestine, TX 75801

Tyler Main Store 407 West Locust St., Tyler, TX 75702

Tyler Super Store 817 Loop 323 WSW, Tyler, TX 75701

Commercial Services Division& ComputerWorks 1530 John Carney Drive, Tyler, TX 75701

TransportationDivision 500 ENE Loop 323, Tyler TX 75706

AdministrativeOffices 409 West Locust Street, Tyler, TX 75702

Goodwill improves lives in the East Texas communitieswe serve by ensuring that people have the opportunity for

economic independence through work.

Goodwill of East Texas Vision Statement: