100th Anniversary Associate Appreciation Event

Yes!  Goodwill operations that are typically open on Sunday (donations at stores and ADC’s) will be closed on Sunday, May 7th, so that all associates have the opportunity to attend this special event.  The MARCOM team will provide signage and online messaging prior to event date to inform donors of this change. 

On the morning of the event (Sunday, May 7^th) volunteers will be stationed just before the walk-thru security checkpoint at Busch Gardens to check in associates and provide you with your ticket(s).

If you indicated on your RSVP that you were bringing a guest, you will receive the “+one” ticket at that time as well. No extra tickets will be available the morning of the event, and all attendees (associates and guests) must have a valid admission ticket to gain entry to the park.

Associate and “+one” tickets MUST be picked up by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 7^th.  These prepaid tickets will not be available after this time so that our volunteers may enjoy the park day as well.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Signage and additional volunteers will be stationed along the walk from the parking lot to direct you to ticket pickup.

Yes.  Anyone you listed on your RSVP for the morning breakfast/event MUST arrive with you for check-in and admission prior to the park opening.

Once an associate has been allowed into the park they will not be allowed to leave again until AFTER the park opens at 10:00 a.m., even to meet RSVP’d guests.

Conversely, any guests NOT listed on your submitted RSVP form will not be allowed into the park until after the 10:00 a.m. opening due to capacity limitations.

Upon purchase of the discount tickets via the Busch Gardens website you should have received an email confirmation that included your electronic tickets.

Associates are responsible for printing or showing on their mobile device the purchased ticket.

Goodwill does NOT have access to purchased discount ticket and will not be able to provide access to these the day of the event. If you are experiencing issues with your PURCHASED ticket, please contact Busch Gardens directly.

Associates and their RSVP’d guests attending the breakfast and event (8:30-10:45 a.m.) are asked to stay in the park until the event concludes (not attempt to leave and come back).  

Should you need to leave before the conclusion of the event and wish to return, please see a Goodwill Event Volunteer who can direct you to speak with a Busch Gardens team member.

Once the formal event concludes and the park is open to the public you can receive a stamp to return later in the day upon exiting thru the designated “Returning Later?” aisle at the park exit.

If you previously purchased a ticket for your guest prior to the announcement of the additional “+one” ticket, please click here to submit your refund request.

Reminder – Goodwill will cover the cost of ONE additional ticket per associate.  Proof of purchase will be required for a full refund.  Refunds will be processed by payroll by April 30th.

If you would like change the name of your guest(s) on your RSVP, please email anniversaryevent@goodwillvirginia.org with the change.

NOTE: No additional names may be added to RSVP’s at this time.  (For example you may swap out the name of one guest for another, but may not ADD any other guests to your RSVP.

Please email anniversaryevent@goodwillvirginia.org if you RSVP’d but can longer attend.  This will free up your reserved ticket(s) for associates on the waiting list.

The additional tickets purchased by GCCVA for the event have been exhausted as of Friday, April 28th.  Unfortunately no additional associates may be added to the event at this time.  

If you would like your new hire to be added to our will-call list, please email anniversaryevent@goodwillvirginia.org.  This does NOT guarantee a ticket for your new hire, but will place them on the waiting list should a ticket become available.

Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia is covering the cost of parking for ONE vehicle per associate.  (For example, if you and your family drive separately your family driving separately will need to pay for their own parking.)

In order to receive FREE parking the morning of the event, associates are asked to:

• Arrive between 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. through the MAIN Busch Gardens parking toll booth
• Indicate that they are participating in the Goodwill event
• Wear their 100th Anniversary t-shirt (provided in late April)
• Present their Goodwill Associate ID or Name Badge (if available)

NOTE: Associates arriving AFTER 11:00 a.m. will be required to pay for their parking that day.

If your are being dropped off/picked up from the park and your driver does not intend to stay with you, they may enter thru the main toll booth and let the attendant know they are dropping off/picking up.  From there they will be directed to follow the lanes and attendant direction to the designated drop off/pick up area.

Goodwill is providing limited, first come, first serve transportation from four locations throughout our territory.

To sign up for transportation, click here.

Goodwill provided transportation is encouraged for associates who have no other transportation options.  Due to capacity limitations, associates may only bring ONE guest on Goodwill provided transportation to ensure as many associates as possible are able to take advantage of this added benefit.

The deadline to sign up for transportation is 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2nd. NO additional transportation reservations may be made after this time as we must provide a list of riders and final headcount to the transportation company on Wednesday, May 3rd.

A strict code of conduct will be enforced for those riding on Goodwill provided transportation.  Goodwill reserves the right to refuse transportation to any associate who displays behaviors that are considered dangerous to themselves or others, do not align with Goodwill core values and/or could pose safety issues for other passengers or the driver.  This includes, but is not limited to, intoxication, verbal or physical abuse, disruptive (loud) behavior, etc.

Yes!  In addition to park admission, associates will receive complimentary continental breakfast (fruit, yogurt, pastries and beverages) between 8:30 a.m, and 9:30 a.m. as well as a meal voucher for lunch or dinner in the park later in the day!

To receive the meal voucher, associates must attend the morning program held at the Globe Theater.   (Please note that meal vouchers will be provided for associates only, not family members.)

A full listing of restaurant and food offerings in the park can be found here.

Guests who were included on the associate RSVP list will be included in the breakfast and morning celebration activities. 

Additional guests that are not included on the RSVP list unfortunately will not be included and will need to enter the park upon opening at 10:00 a.m. due to capacity restrictions of the Globe Theater and the catering amount provided by Busch Gardens (based on the RSVP list).