Trelles Evans, Director of Mission Advancement for Reentry and Disability Services at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, discusses her role and the people served by the programs she oversees.

(Photos taken prior to  the onset of COVID-19)

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is excited to announce the receipt of a $40,000 grant from Early Learning Indiana’s Come Back Stronger Fund, supported by Lilly Endowment, which was created to reinforce Indiana’s supply of high-quality early learning opportunities, especially for the state’s most vulnerable children. 

Nearly half of 25-year-olds with autism have never had a paying job and only 16% of persons with autism ever live independently, so when twin brothers Andre and Austin Archer connected with Goodwill Disability Services in 2016 and said they were eager to do both, our team got to work. 

Kent A. Kramer, President and CEO of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, discusses Goodwill’s current priorities and what comes next for the organization with the chairs of Goodwill’s three boards of directors.

Each year, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana selects a Retail Site of the Year to honor the accomplishments of a location that did an exemplary job meeting production goals as well as providing employment opportunities to people with barriers like a disability, criminal history or lack of a high school diploma. This year, we’re honoring the team at our Richmond retail store. With more than 70 sites in central and southern Indiana, it’s quite an accomplishment to receive this award. 

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is proud to recognize Cook Medical with its Connections Award, which honors a community partner who has demonstrated a commitment to supporting Goodwill’s mission and helping individuals become self-sufficient. 

There are 460,000 working-age Hoosiers who lack a high school diploma. Prior to The Excel Center, Goodwill’s free high school for adults, there were few options for people like Jacob Barrett who wanted to earn one.