Goodwill Industries International: History and Mission Statement

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION History Founding and Development BOARD OF DIRECTORS MISSION STATEMENT Means to Accomplish Mission Statement Accomplishment CONCLUSION Experts’ Opinions My Opinion WORKS CITED

Introduction

History

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or were given to the people who repaired them. At first, he did not think about the success but later the system run smoothly and gained profit. That also created a perfect slogan for Goodwill “Not Charity, but a Chance”. The early vision of Dr. Helms has created an organization with $5.59 billion assets nowadays. This is described not only a business but also a social service for less fortunate people. Goodwill gives them employment, training and hope for these people. The money actually goes back to community through job training, placement services and children of employees. It also has classes for people who have disabilities and difficulties in finding employment.

Founding and Development

• 1902 was a year in the history of Goodwill. Dr. Helms took old clothes collected from rich people and then sell for poor people with a very low price.

• In 1921, “Not Charity but a Chance” became the slogan that Goodwill wanted people to remember give hope to others that were not lucky by helping them a job and making them useful for society and family.
• In 1926, the Methodist Church sent Helms on a mission around the world to spread the Goodwill story.
• In 1952, Goodwill celebrated its 50th anniversary.
• In 1968, the “Smiling G” logo was introduced the first time and soon became the friendliest logos in the U.S because its smile makes people feel happy and want to help each other.
• In 1999, Goodwill Santa Ana run website shopgoodwill.com in an era of e-commerce. But until 2009 the website got more attention from shoppers and the revenue became higher through shopping online.
• In 2004, Goodwill retail stores and outlets numbered a record 2,000. In 2007, the annual number of people served through Goodwill programs and services topped 1 million for the first time.
• Today, Goodwill Industries is easily recognized and have more valuable for a nonprofit organization and an outstanding social service. Goodwill have many branches across the United States, Canada and 13 other countries. Goodwill assists people to find jobs, pay their bills, raise up their families and feel useful for society.  Through working, they will have more job training programs and other community-based services.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Due to the widespread of Goodwill all over the U.S., I will only introduce Board of Directors of Goodwill of Orange County.

• Nicole Suydam (President & Chief Executive Officer)
• Corrine Allen (Chief Operating Officer)
• Kathy Copeland, Ph.D. (Vice President, Human Services)
• Joe Ringer (Vice President, Asset Protection, Safety and Compliance)
• Phillip Runnels (Vice President, Technology/CIO)
• Randy Taylor (Vice President, Facilities Development & Logistics)
• Donald J. Voska (Chief Financial Officer)

Mission Statement

Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.

Means to Accomplish Mission Statement

One of the strengths of the Goodwill movement is that each Goodwill is unique because its operations and services reflect the opportunities and needs of its local communities. Goodwill organizations offer job placement services, on-site and virtual job training, and other community services such as career counseling, résumé preparation, financial education, transportation and child care. Goodwill organizations are grateful to partner to make training programs, place, financial aids and many useful courses that help employees increase skills in working. Such funders include Google, Walmart, Accenture, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Justice, USAA, SafeLink Wireless, the Dulin Fund, and the Charitable Giving Fund of Tides Foundation. In some cases, Goodwill also get gifts and donations and other means for financial support and strengthen the warehouses.

Accomplishment

Mission Results in 2017

• 288,000 new employees and 30,000 current workers earn a credential. Therefore, these individuals increased $15.8 billion in income.
• Goodwill serves nearly 40 million persons and about 3.5 million people used computers and mobile devices for shopping online.

How They Did It

• Total revenue in 2017 is $5.87 billion and people donate 106 million.
• Goodwill increases to 3,300 stores and outlets that make the income roar high.

Conclusion

Experts’ Opinions

Every charity organization has controversy about finance and money. Goodwill is the same with a big trouble in paying top dollars for CEO and paying less than minimum wages for employees. Goodwill Industries International generates billions in revenue and stands at number 14 among 100 U.S charities. The revenue comes majority from selling used goods, secondhand clothes and furniture at the price comparable to other competitors that sell new. Every local Goodwill has its own strategy for growing business. Therefore, CEOs have the major role in gaining revenue and they are paid much higher than the employees that are paid under minimum wage. In 2010, Goodwill Industries International paid its president and CEO James Gibbons more than $500,000 in compensation. After that many state and local stores applied that payment. There were uncovered investigations at Goodwill Florida and California to prove that they paid executives top-dollars. In Florida, CEOs of Goodwill are paid from $390,000 to $440,000 while in California from $265,000 to $500,000. The first shot began in 2016 when CEO Frank McGree was fired because he received nearly $900,000 annually. In contrast, 100 employees at his branch just made less than minimum wage. In another report, at Goodwill North Carolina, the couple in charge of the store get $800,000 while disable workers received just pennies. People argued that problem because of the Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) of 1938 grants employers the right to pay people with disabilities subminimum wages. Charity organizations should not use the old and out of date act to get money from less fortunate people.

My Opinion

With 80 percent of working age adults with disabilities in our country not participating in the workforce currently, it is more important to explore more types of opportunities than to be paid at minimum wage like others. Not every disabled Goodwill employee complains about salary. Most of them will be just left at home without anything to do instead of getting payment and opportunity to learn skills. Goodwill may bring purpose to disabled workers’ lives that are usually full of darkness. More than 85 percent of revenue of Goodwill will come back to support and develop its program and service to community. The financial information is audited every year and public. The price tag is always comparable to others and Goodwill has its own loyalty customers thanks to the unique goods that you hardly find when shopping at Walmart or Target. The growing revenue annually proves that the mission, value and vision of Goodwill is on the right way. Just look at the number stores all over the U.S and predict the future of this charity organization. Finally, remember that every charity organization was founded for some reason that only the owners knew. They have idea to earn money and they have to cash out their money to invest first, so don’t ever think everything is free. Imagine that if Dr. Helms did not have these thoughts, disable employee would not have chance to be useful to family and society. The CEOs run the organization in order to make profit and then the profit comes back to salary, training, scholarship, community-based services and programs. Never say that why CEO get more money than the workers because every company in the world operates like this.

Works Cited

• “About Us.” Goodwill Industries International, Inc., www.goodwill.org/about-us/.
• “About Us – OC Goodwill.” OC Goodwill, www.ocgoodwill.org/about/#PowerofWork.
• Carter, Maria. “If You Think Goodwill Charges Too Much for Used Clothing, You Need to Read This.” Country Living, Country Living, 19 Mar. 2018, www.countryliving.com/shopping/a18198848/is-goodwill-a-nonprofit/.
• “Good Question: What Does Goodwill Do with Profits?” NBC2 News, www.nbc-2.com/story/23352182/good-question-what-does-goodwill-do-with-profits.
• “Goodwill Industries.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_Industries.