Goodwill, FLW Outdoors Partnership Extended

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries® International announced it will continue to build upon its successful partnership with FLW Outdoors by collecting donations at each Walmart FLW Tour event in 2011. Sales in those local Goodwill stores will help fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who need them most.

"The relationship formed between FLW Outdoors and Goodwill has demonstrated how a unique partnership can benefit both organizations and our communities," said Trisha Blake, president of FLW Outdoors Marketing Division. "Goodwill provides skills training and support services to hundreds of people every day through its multiple programs, and we are honored to be a part of that."

Goodwill, which has more than 2,300 retail stores throughout the United States and Canada, will have the opportunity to use the resources of FLW Outdoors to drive traffic and awareness to its locations. Goodwill will receive exposure and have a presence across multiple platforms of FLW Outdoors, including all bass and walleye events, FLW Outdoors' multiple websites, FLW Outdoors Magazine, "FLW Outdoors" television show on VERSUS and additional functions operated by FLW Outdoors.

"The partnership between Goodwill and FLW Outdoors will increase awareness of Goodwill's job training and career advancement programs," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "Thanks to the generosity and cooperative spirit of FLW Outdoors, Goodwill has the opportunity to reach future donors and shoppers. As a result, we will be able to serve more people in communities across the country."

Professional angler Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., will continue to represent Goodwill on the FLW Tour. Grigsby has participated on the FLW Tour for nine years with career earnings nearing $500,000 and nine top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish on Fort Loudoun-Tellico Lakes in 2010 on the FLW Tour.

Goodwill will also have the opportunity to set up displays to promote its job training programs and support services that aid people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or otherwise face employment challenges. These programs will be promoted at the FLW Outdoors Expo at FLW Tour and championship events as well as additional tournaments held in Walmart parking lots across the country as part of retailtainment, an experience mastered by the world's largest retailer.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of North America's top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009). Goodwill operates more than 2,500 retail stores and the first and only nonprofit Internet auction site, shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2009, nearly 2 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 83 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) 741-0186. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl. Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

ABOUT FLW OUTDOORS

FLW Outdoors is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world's richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing presented by Straight Talk, where competitors can play for free as well as sign up for Player's Advantage to gain an edge. For more information about FLW Outdoors and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com.

FLWOutdoors.com

Visit the FLW Outdoors Media Center at FLWOutdoors.com/mc for additional information.

SOURCE FLW Outdoors