John Thompson was born with autism and didn’t learn to speak until he was eight years old.
Recent Posts
Making Connections Through Music
[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 13, 2023 2:00:00 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Disability, Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Retail, Mission Awareness
Your Impact: 2022 Goodwill Mission Outcomes
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 21, 2023 2:25:05 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, Disability, Education, Foundation, Senior Community Service Employment Program
When you donate, shop and make financial gifts to Goodwill, you're changing the lives of thousands of the most vulnerable Hoosiers. We’re so thankful for supporters like you who are making an impact in central and southern Indiana. Together, we're changing lives. THANK YOU!
Couple Finds Love Connection at Goodwill
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 14, 2023 11:00:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, The Excel Center, Education, Valentines Day, Retail, Mission Coaches
In 2018, when Richard Ramsey enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s high school for adults, he didn’t know that he was taking the first step toward meeting his future fiance.
Achieving Success through Perseverance
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 24, 2023 12:40:55 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Goodwill Commercial Services, Education, Criminal History, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness
When Teresa Smith joined Goodwill Commercial Services in 2009, she was re-entering society and the workforce after a period of incarceration and a decade-long addiction to methamphetamine, which led to her losing custody of her son. Her history with the criminal justice system made it difficult to secure a job, but she approached the opportunity at Goodwill with a focus on improving her professional skills and rebuilding her life.
Empowerment Through Education
[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 30, 2022 11:00:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Language Barrier, refugee, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches, Goodwill Education
Imagine being denied a basic education unless you pledge allegiance to political beliefs that you do not ascribe to. This is what Rizan Hajji Mohamed faced when he was forced to flee his home country of Syria.
Building Sustainable Communities
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 26, 2022 2:00:00 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Community Partners, Employment, Goodwill Commercial Services, 38thandSheridan
It’s been two years since Pete Yonkman, CEO of Cook Medical, a medical device manufacturing company based in Bloomington, Indiana, approached Goodwill’s leadership about partnering on a unique project. Those conversations came on the heels of the murder of George Floyd and pandemic-related racial disparities and included questions about social justice and the role we play as employers in helping to strengthen our communities.
Finding Strength in Adversity
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 17, 2022 8:48:36 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, TalentSource, Language Barrier, Parents, Mission Awareness, Multi-gen impact
Oumou Samake was born in Africa but lived in Paris, where she received a degree in social work prior to immigrating to the United States with her husband in 2016. Shortly after arriving, she learned she was pregnant.
Mission Coaches Make a Difference
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 4, 2022 2:24:55 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Criminal History, Retail, mental health, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches, Goodwill Education
When Johnny Manson joined Goodwill in October 2016 as a part-time donation attendant, he had been struggling to secure employment due to past legal issues and a lifelong history of depression.
Getting Back to Her Roots
[fa icon="calendar'] Jul 5, 2022 1:40:59 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Goodwill Commercial Services, 38thandSheridan
Born in Indianapolis with fond memories of attending Auntie Mame's Preschool near 38th and Emerson and elementary school at IPS School 92, a few blocks from the Goodwill Commercial Services manufacturing facility at 38th and Sheridan, Juanita Easterling, director of plant operations, is returning to her roots.
Finding Meaning Through Employment
[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 24, 2022 4:18:35 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches
After separating from her husband of 10 years, Samantha Russell turned to drugs in an effort to cope with the stress and anxiety she was experiencing.