Every October, the United States Department of Labor recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This period celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy.

Every year, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana hosts Goodwill’s Education and Mission Conference (GEM), a one-day professional development event. Mission and education professionals throughout Goodwill’s central and southern Indiana network have the opportunity to learn from one another and share best practices in their work through presentations and panel discussions.

The Excel Center®, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s tuition-free high school for adults, recently celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its southeast Indianapolis location (2251 Sloan Avenue). Speakers included Kent A. Kramer, president & CEO of Goodwill, Mayor Joe Hogsett, Johnny Manson, school director, and Adriana Flores, a recent graduate. 

Observed each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the value and talents of workers with disabilities. It’s a time to reaffirm Goodwill’s commitment to creating access to quality employment for individuals with disabilities and promoting a more equitable workplace. This commitment is central to Goodwill's mission.

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. 

Every year, thousands of Lilly employees volunteer at community-centered organizations worldwide for Lilly Global Day of Service. This year, the global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Indianapolis, had over 500 employees volunteer at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana recognizes and celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), a period to commemorate the contributions, histories and cultures of Latino and Hispanic Americans.

The Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana recently hosted Goodwill: UNBOXED, its third annual sold-out fundraising event. To date, the event has raised nearly $1 million to support our most vulnerable neighbors. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed as individuals without disabilities, significantly limiting their ability to live independently. As one of the largest employers of persons with disabilities in the state of Indiana — one-third of the more than 5,000 Hoosiers we employ report a disability — Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana highlights the extraordinary work of these individuals all year long.