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Tacoma Goodwill 2008 Annual Report
Tacoma Goodwill 2008 Annual Report
Last year, we continued to widen our path of services as more than 5,200 people received job training
Terry A. Hayes and support through the dozens of programs we offer. For the second year in a row, we placed more
CEO than 1,000 people in jobs, a real achievement during challenging economic conditions. A major focus for
Tacoma Goodwill
us continued to be providing support to at-risk youth. This past year, we helped more than 100 young
people return to school. And with the assistance of a $550,000 grant from the federal Department of
Labor, our YouthBuild program continued to expand and change lives.
Milestones were many in 2008. We broke ground on the new Milgard Work Opportunity Center, a
facility that will serve as a vital community resource and transform the delivery of job training and
placement services. The centerpiece of the building will be the REACH (Resources for Education
and Career Help) center, a partnership of more than a dozen organizations, working in new and
innovative ways to tackle the growing challenges young adults face in today’s world.
The services Goodwill provides would not exist without our donations and retail store sales. In 2008,
we opened our 21st store in South Lacey. Our retail operations grew 8 percent, while our online sales
nearly doubled. Of course this is all due to the generosity of our donors, who provided nearly 49 million
pounds of gently used goods.
Bob Bruback The road ahead presents many challenges as more people than ever turn to Goodwill for help in
2008 Board President these tough economic times. But our determination to deliver on our mission is unwavering. Thank
Tacoma Goodwill you for being a part of our efforts to help more people find their way to a better life through work.
“Goodwill
cares about
people.”
Goodwill’s partnership with the Refugee Federation has completed its first year, providing expanded
services for people in need. “Tacoma Goodwill has excellent programs and we have the specialized
knowledge of working with cultural and refugee issues,” said Tung Thanh Nguyen, with the center at
the start of the partnership. Pedro puts it simply: “Goodwill cares about people.”
“I went
almost four
months
without
having
a job, no
paycheck,
It was tough.”
“If I was still
“Life is a lot
back home,
different. I’m
who knows,
more confident
I would
in myself.”
be in jail or
on drugs,
because
Brittany Bailey
that was the
atmosphere.”
On a path of accomplishment
When Brittany Bailey was growing up in California, she faced an abusive home life, serious illness and
even homelessness. “If I was still back home, who knows, I would be in jail or on drugs, because that
was the atmosphere,” she notes. Brittany moved to Tacoma where, now 20, she is a Human Resources
assistant/Community Service coordinator for Tacoma Goodwill and a product of the agency’s STEPS
program. STEPS is a Goodwill program helping young adults ages 16-21 develop life and career goals
and gain work experience.
In 2008, more than 300 youth participants worked 4,200 hours with partnerships involving the Boys
& Girls Club, Puyallup Youth Investment Center and Metro Parks Tacoma, among others. There were
35 graduates of the STEPS Summer Program – the most ever in the decade old program. Brittany said
her STEPS counselors helped her stay focused on school. She now attends classes at The Evergreen
State College as a result of receiving a grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. From STEPS,
Brittany said she looks toward the future. “Life is a lot different. I’m more confident in myself. My
mentors here at Goodwill have a lot to do with it; I feel I’ve accomplished so much.”
On a path to a career
Cody Brown had held several jobs – at a restaurant and car dealership – but admits he was reaching
a dead end. “Before Goodwill, I don’t think I could have had a job – I didn’t know what I wanted or
liked to do,” said Cody, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. “I didn’t want to feel I was being held
back because of my disability.” Referred to Tacoma Goodwill’s Supported Employment program,
Cody received skills assessments, help filling out applications, and job coaching that – coupled with
a determination to succeed – served to find a career. “I can work and show people that hiring some-
one with a disability is OK – you just have to work around it,” said Cody, who is a courtesy clerk at
the Orting Safeway Store and wants to become a store manager. “Everyone has a disability – it’s
what you do with it.”
The Supported Employment program served more than 100 people in 2008 in one-on-one and
group jobsites, matching qualified people with developmental disabilities to competitive jobs within
the community. For Cody, it included receiving training as a cashier and stocker at Goodwill’s South
Hill/Puyallup Store that has served him well: “It helped me learn customer service,” he said. “I want
to make sure the customers are happy.”
“Before
“ Everyone has a
Goodwill I
disability – it’s what
don’t think
you do with it. ”
I could have
had a job – I
didn’t know
wanted or
liked to do.”
On the path toward self-sufficiency
LaTasha Smith admits she was defeating herself, scraping by with no future for herself or her daughter. She
was afraid of seeing the bills, hearing from bill collectors and being embarrassed from not having enough
money. That’s when LaTasha heard about Tacoma Goodwill’s Financial Literacy program and learned “…to
manage my life responsibly.” It’s with pride she now points to a computerized budget that helps her separate
her wants from her needs and her work towards a business administration degree. “If you’re serious about
really taking a look at your finances, you need to take the class to give you the tools.”
That’s Financial Literacy. Open to the public and supported for a second year in 2008 with a $50,000 grant
from KeyBank and the Key Foundation, Financial Literacy provides classes on handling checking and savings
accounts, investing and managing credit. There were more than 600 participants in classes across Pierce
County, Longview and Yakima; and partnerships with two dozen organizations and programs. For LaTasha, life
without the skills she obtained would have been difficult. “I wouldn’t have the self-esteem. I’d still be walking in
the dark, trying to find my way,” she said. “Now I can see what I’ve got ahead of me – it’s a path I can see.”
serious about
really taking a
look at your
finances, you
need to take
give you
the tools.”
“The services we provide would
not exist without support from
donations and retail store sales.”
– Bob Bruback, Tacoma Goodwill Board President
Business Services
Retail Sales
More than 2.5 million shoppers came to our 21 retail stores in 2008; the largest number
ever. Store revenue supports job training and placement services like Computer Skills,
Financial Literacy and Career Skills Training. The highlight of the year was the opening
of the 21st store, located in South Lacey.
Stores and Attended Donation Stations employed more than 572 people, well more than
half of whom came to Goodwill with a disability or disadvantage.
Online Sales
In 2008, a record $2,156,900 in online sales revenue was raised – nearly double 2007 –
on purchases of 43,738 items, the most since online shopping debuted in 2002.
Contract Services
Tacoma Goodwill provided $1,691,800 in contract packaging services such as assembly,
packaging, shrink wrapping, transloading, warehousing and distribution and other
customized business solutions. Major customers in 2008 included Brown & Haley,
Tim’s Cascade Chips, Discovery Bay Games, Starbucks and Paper Magic.
Custodial Services
Custodial Services trained more than 104 individuals who were placed in 14 jobs like
Pedro Gonzalez, featured in this year’s report. Students are trained using state-of-the-art
equipment to prepare them for employment.
Donations
• 881,191 individual donors generously supported Goodwill by dropping off their gently
used clothes and household items – an increase of 16,751 individual donor visits.
• 137 companies from throughout the region donated much needed items such as office
furniture and equipment.
• Hosted 37 joint donation drives with area businesses, cities, counties and organizations
like Top Foods, City of Federal Way, University of Puget Sound, and Proctor Holiday Fest,
collecting 174,026 pounds of donations.
Helping people on a path for a better life
Tacoma Goodwill provided services to a record number of people in 2008.
Programs such as Financial Literacy, a free course in money management Population served*
to help build financial stability and independence, and YouthBuild, helping
young adults receive job experience in the construction trade while receiving 1,183
a GED, bolstered the training people received. A new Work Opportunity
Center in South Lacey also opened, providing expanded services in Thurston
County. Goodwill’s partnerships with businesses across the service area play
743
628
an integral role in achieving our mission. A total of 309 corporate partners 591
479
hired more than 500 Goodwill participants for on-the-job training or perma- 161
298
nent employment. Another 37 companies have representatives on Goodwill’s
Business Advisory Council.
Welfare, Disabled Non- At-risk Low Seniors Offenders
In all, 5,248 people with disabilities or disadvantages received services Displaced
Workers
English Youth
Speaking
Income
from Tacoma Goodwill. Another 1,023 people were placed in jobs, either in
the community or hired directly by Goodwill.
$40.3
$35.4
$32.6
$28.1
The accounting firm Clark Nuber has audited the financial statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. The audit received an unqualified opinion.
Opportunities for people with disabilities or disadvantages
Tacoma Goodwill programs provide a variety of job training and placement programs for the general public and intense, long-
term services for specific populations in the community, including; people on public assistance, low-income senior citizens,
people with disabilities, ex-offenders, English as a Second Language, and at-risk young adults. Specific programs include:
Computer Skills Training Job Search Room (open to the public) Job Placement
Custodial Training Financial Literacy Job Retention
Office Essentials, interview skills Wheels to Work Transitional Employment
and resumé building
Retail Sales Training
Tacoma
714 S. 27th St. CARF Certification
Tacoma, WA 98409 Tacoma Goodwill’s job-placement
253.272.5166 and training programs have received
the highest level of accreditation
Longview
1030 15th Ave. available. CARF International, an
Longview, WA 98632 independent reviewing agency,
360.425.6929 awarded Goodwill a three-year
TACOMA accreditation, good through
South Lacey November 2010.
SOUTH LACEY YAKIMA
4800 Yelm Highway S.E.
Lacey, WA 98503
360.456.0273 LONGVIEW
Yakima
109 S. Third St.
WorkSource Affiliate
Tacoma Goodwill is a WorkSource
Yakima, WA 98901 Retail Stores and Training Centers
509.452.6061 Work Opportunity Centers affiliate in Pierce County, assisting
in delivery of employment services.
“Goodwill helps people who want to work enabling them
to become more positive contributors to our community.”
-Toby Murray, Foundation Board President