Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia Named Finalist for ChamberRVA IMPACT Award
August 7, 2018
ChamberRVA has named Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia one of three finalists among large organizations for its 2018 IMPACT awards.
The honor recognizes businesses that have made a positive impact on the Richmond region’s economy, community and with their employees. ChamberRVA identified Goodwill as a nonprofit organization that goes beyond thrift stores to fund an array of job training and support services that help job seekers and employers.
“Richmond’s business community plays an important role in helping Goodwill make an impact,” said Charles Layman, president and CEO of Goodwill. “Businesses hire the job seekers that we serve, contract with Goodwill for services such as janitorial, warehousing and logistics, and they donate to our commercial used goods and e-recycling programs,” added Layman. “We are grateful for their support of our mission to change lives through the power of work.”
InnerWill, a nonprofit organization devoted to Values-Based Leadership (VBL), nominated Goodwill for the award. Goodwill adopted InnerWill’s VBL program five years ago to expand its servant leadership culture. Through ongoing engagement with InnerWill, all of Goodwill’s managers are trained in VBL.
The two other nominees in Goodwill’s category are CapTech, an information technology management consulting firm, and Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, a public accounting firm. Finalists were selected by a committee of local business and community leaders.
“This year’s finalists truly are a testament to the caliber of business we have in the region,” said Pat Gottschalk, chair of the ChamberRVA Board of Directors. “Not only do we have companies that are dedicated to world-class customer service and innovation within their industries, but we’re also extraordinarily lucky to have companies that are dedicated to improving their home community right here in Richmond,” he said.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Goodwill’s mission is changing lives by helping people help themselves through the power of work. Goodwill provides more than 20 job training and career development programs, at no cost to job seekers, through its five Community Employment Centers in Richmond and Hampton. In 2017, Goodwill served 8,600 job seekers and helped place more than 2,000 into jobs with hundreds of employers.
Established in Richmond in 1923, Goodwill is one of the nation’s oldest social enterprises. The organization sells donated goods through 34 retail stores, two outlets and two electronic stores, and reinvests the revenue in programs that prepare and support job seekers with disabilities, language barriers, socio-economic disadvantages or are facing major life transitions.
ChamberRVA is the chamber of commerce representing the greater Richmond region and its business and economic interests. Established in 1867, the chamber’s mission is to build a thriving regional community by supporting the success of members, providing a strong business voice and developing leaders and entrepreneurs.
The 2018 IMPACT Award winners will be announced at a celebration dinner on Tuesday, November 13 at the Richmond Marriott.
