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We Make Life Better Through Work |
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2006 PRESS RELEASES
February 14, 2006 For more information contact: Bill Coon For Immediate Release Goodwill Industries of El Paso will be having a Grand Opening for their eleventh store on February 25, 2006. Ribbon cutting will be at 8:45 a.m. at 9616 Montana Drive. The Store's Grand Opening will be at 9 a.m. This is the old Big 8 Store at Montana and McRae. Opening a new store helps Goodwill increase the impact of our mission. The mission of Goodwill is, "We actively assist persons with disabilities or disadvantages to attain independence and self -sufficiency through training, employment, and opportunities for personal growth." Guinn Rogers, President/CEO, states "This is our largest Goodwill store. We are excited to meet the needs of the community. We will employ at least 12 people with a disadvantage or disabilities. Our eleventh store allows us to improve the lives of our employees and the community that shops at our store."
For more information: Rebecca Downey, 915-778-1858, Ext. 30 El Paso, TX--Football players from the University of Texas at El Paso were only too happy to help kick off a celebration of Goodwill Week on Friday, May 5 by participating in a fashion show on El Paso's ABC Affiliate KVIA-TV. Quarterback Jordan Palmer, and Wide Receivers Johnny Lee Higgins and Chris Marrow are frequent shoppers at El Paso's Goodwill stores. They created quite a stir at UTEP's annual athletic banquet in April when the trio appeared in Goodwill attire. Some of their favorite purchases include t-shirts touting classic college football clashes from years ago and anything 'polyester." They love the 1970's look. #
KICKING OFF GOODWILL WEEK- From left to right: UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer, and Wide Receivers Chris Marrow and Johnnie Lee Higgins pose at KVIA-TV before heading onto the set for a live fashion show with Anchor Robert Holguin and Meteorologist, Amber Sullins. # For more information: Rebecca Downey, 915-539-2240 or 915-588-1858, Ext. 30 May 16, 2006 El Paso, TX--Goodwill - Serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico - hosted a Staff Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, May 9 at the Holiday Inn Airport in recognition of Goodwill Week. Comedian Patrick Candelaria entertained Goodwill employees and their families. Candaleria, a nationally recognized performer, has also been bringing laughs to U.S. Armed Forces since 1997 in places like Bosnia and Iraq. Goodwill honored a number of employees with awards: · Outstanding Supervisor of the Year- Patricia Salinas, Store
Manager, El Paso. # For more information: Becky Downey, 915-539-2240 or Arlene Alarcon,
915-269-2158 June 26, 2006 Transforming Lives -
El Paso Women Gain Confidence and Jobs Through Education and Training CUTLINE: READY TO GO TO WORK * Recent graduates of Goodwill El Paso's Transitional Employment Program are ready to be placed in retail positions. From left to right, Yolanda Naverette, Ruth Ostos, Elisa Chevarria, and Olga Mauricio. Not pictured, Angelica Villanueva.
Goodwill of El Paso- Serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico- is the lead agency in a new opportunity that recruits, trains and places unemployed or underemployed Hispanic females in jobs within the retail industry. The program, launched in February, utilizes the workforce development
expertise of three El Paso agencies (Goodwill, El Paso Community College
and SERCO) and a growing number of retail business partners, to improve
the lifestyles of women with limited English speaking abilities who
have experienced barriers to meaningful employment. These barriers include
a lack of education, transportation and childcare. The curriculum includes 120 hours each in computer instruction, customer service, English as a Second Language, and on-the-job experience. Walgreens provides its customer service curriculum and two cash registers. Goodwill Academy, as a certified Microsoft Training and Testing Center, provides computer training for each participant, and also houses the ESL classes taught by El Paso Community College. Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, Walgreens and Goodwill stores offer real-world experience, and potential job placement. "We are so pleased to witness the transformation of these women from being uncertain about their futures to positions of power over their lives," said Arlene Alarcon, Vice President of Workforce Development. "You can see the pride of their accomplishments in their eyes." For participants who quit other jobs (as janitors) to improve their circumstances, it is essential that the TEP program provide weekly stipends to off-set the loss of income. Transportation and childcare are also provided. Initial funding came from Frontera Women's Fund, The Cimarron Foundation, and area businesses. Why This Program is Important Since 1994, more than 30,000 jobs have left El Paso, creating the largest pool of certified NAFTA-displaced workers in the country. The Texas Workforce Commission provides the following statistics on NAFTA-affected workers: · 97% are Hispanic Goodwill of El Paso, through its Transitional Employment Program, is directing its efforts to these women who have had little success in finding meaningful employment. In the past, Hispanic women in El Paso have joined their male counterparts in choosing labor-intensive jobs that do not require English to succeed. These industries at one time included the apparel and food processing sectors. When the apparel industry-specifically blue jean manufacturers like Levi Strauss Corporation-closed plants in El Paso, most of those who lost their jobs were middle-aged, non-English speaking women. Goodwill and its partners hope to turn around this devastating loss of jobs by changing the odds and overcoming the barriers that blocked these women's upward mobility. "It's a small ray of sunshine, in what has been a cloudy world of work for them," Alarcon added. "We're just plain excited at the results." # For more information: Becky Downey, 915-539-2240 or Arlene Alarcon,
915-269-2158 June 28, 2006
Goodwill of El Paso Named Best Thrift Store by Inside/Out Magazine Goodwill-Serving West Texas and Southern New Mexico-has been named Best Thrift Store by Inside/Out Magazine. Goodwill staff gathered at Cohen Stadium on Thursday, June 22 for a celebration with other Best of the Best winners. This is the second year in a row that Goodwill has received this honor. # |
