At the age of 13, Katie Reigelsperger learned she was expecting a child. Lacking a support system as her parents struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism, Katie's parents withdrew her from school. While her friends were applying to college and attending prom, Katie was caring for her baby, changing diapers and working a series of low-paying jobs that lacked advancement and had little financial security or benefits. Then she learned about The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, and her career path and life were forever changed.

Saja Abbas arrived in the U.S. in 2009 as a refugee. Born in Iraq, her family was forced to flee their home in 2006 to escape war. As a result, Saja missed out on attending middle school and high school. 

Goodwill New Beginnings, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, was excited to celebrate its second graduation in 2023. In a June ceremony, 12 individuals who have experienced the justice system were honored for accomplishing their reentry goals and fulfilling all of the requirements to graduate from the program.

Kris Bussey was only 10 years old when she was first introduced to painkillers on the school bus. 

Dakota McLaughlin experienced significant challenges growing up. His mother passed away when he was young, and he was also bullied at school, especially when he came out as gay, which often left him feeling alone. After experiencing domestic violence from a family member, Dakota felt safer leaving home, even though he had nowhere else to go. 

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana proudly presents its 2023 Educators of the Year!

When Lacee McCorkle connected to Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) in 2019, she was at a turning point in her life. She had recently graduated from a recovery home after 15 years of drug use and a period of incarceration.

Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership, a program that pairs registered nurses with first-time parents and their families, will expand to serve even more Hoosiers in the coming year. Thanks to funding from both the Indiana State Department of Health and the Lilly Endowment in 2022, the evidence-based model can now be implemented in 61 Indiana counties, increasing the NFP Nurse capacity for families facing concentrated barriers. 

Sarah Schwartz graduated from Indiana University Southeast in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in education and a concentration in math. There weren’t many positions available for math teachers near her home in southern Indiana, so she continued to work part-time in the IU Southeast math lab. She also got a second job at a Goodwill retail store to earn extra income.

Each year, Goodwill celebrates some of the most extraordinary Hoosiers we serve through a ceremony that honors recipients across seven award categories. Eligible nominees include employees, students, program participants and community partners. When you donate and shop at Goodwill, you're empowering people in your community, like those whose stories you can watch below, so thank you for your support. Together we're changing lives!