Jane Oates Receives Goodwill Industries International Outstanding Leadership Award For Federal Executives

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries International is pleased to honor Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor, with the Goodwill 2011 Outstanding Leadership Award for Federal Executives. The award is given by Goodwill Industries International and its board of directors' public policy committee.

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The Outstanding Leadership Award honors federal executives' support of Goodwill's mission and public policy agenda. Oates is being personally recognized for her leadership to design and deliver high-quality training and employment programs for our nation's workers. She has made a life-long commitment to public service, including collaborating with employers and federal agencies to help workers gain the skills and credentials they need to enter careers that pay family-supporting wages and offer opportunities for advancement.

Oates toured Goodwill® training facilities on numerous occasions, visiting welding labs and attending classes, including one on electronic medical records. She has also taken a keen interest in learning more about Goodwill's initiative with community colleges.

"Jane Oates has been a true friend of Goodwill in our ongoing effort to generate opportunities for people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "We appreciate the leadership and initiative that Jane has shown while leading the Employment and Training Administration."

Goodwill presented Oates with the Outstanding Leadership Award at an awards ceremony and reception on Monday, April 11, in Washington, D.C. as part of Goodwill Industries International's fifth Advocacy Day.

"At Goodwill, I see tremendous training facilities and some of the most eager, talented and dedicated  program participants, but most importantly, I see a business model that helps people who want to work fulfill their goals of obtaining good jobs," Oates said.

"Goodwill needs help in offering job-training and employment placement services to people who have disabilities, who lack education or job experience, or who face challenges to finding employment," Gibbons said. "Fortunately, there are people such as Jane Oates who are in a position to provide that assistance."

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based, independent agencies in the United States, Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of the nation'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 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 more than 2,500 stores and online at www.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 2010, nearly 2.4 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find your local Goodwill, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org or call (800) 741-0186.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International