Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona Honored with Goodwill® Advocacy Leader Award

Flagstaff Goodwill's Public Policy Efforts Lauded at Annual Advocacy Event

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona (Flagstaff) has been honored with a 2012 Advocacy Leader Award from Goodwill Industries International.

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The award recognizes a Goodwill agency that has demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing Goodwill's advocacy and policy efforts to further its mission of helping people secure employment and build stronger communities. The agency is also recognized for enhancing relationships with federal and state policymakers. 

Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona is recognized for reaching out to lawmakers on issues important to Goodwill's mission of helping people find jobs and become self-sufficient. The agency has endeavored to increase efforts in all areas of advocacy to impact public policy and change. It has advocated on a variety of issues, including funding for employment programs such as the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, as well as job creation.

The Flagstaff Goodwill has had several local representatives tour its operations, including Rep. Paul Gosar (R-1) and Rep. Trent Franks (R-2). Gosar was the keynote speaker for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Safeway training center, a mini Safeway located within the walls of the Goodwill headquarters. Franks toured a job connection, one-stop training center, which is an inclusive center for people seeking education, career and job training help, including resume and interview preparation assistance.

The Goodwill is an active member of the Flagstaff Chamber Board of Directors, the Education and Workforce Development Committee and the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona.

"Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona plays a key role in the economic development of the community via job creation as well as in workforce development by putting thousands of people to work each year," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "The Goodwill also serves as a source of pre-screened, job-ready candidates who can meet the needs of local businesses throughout northern Arizona."

At a reception in Washington, D.C., David Hirsch, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona, accepted the award on behalf of the agency.

"Our Goodwill organization is honored to receive the Advocacy Leader Award and will continue to be a passionate advocate for the entrepreneurial nature of Goodwill and our influence on people facing challenges to finding employment," said Hirsch. "We hope that our efforts in engaging lawmakers will increase our visibility as a social enterprise and our role in economic, fiscal and workforce development impact in northern Arizona."

The award was presented during a reception that was part of Goodwill Industries International's sixth annual Advocacy Day — "Local to Global: Strengthening Our Community" ­—­ in Washington, D.C.

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 agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in nearly 2,600 stores and online at 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 2011, more than four million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 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) GOODWILL. Find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl or follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillCapHill, @GoodwillIntl.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International