2007
Goodwill Annual Luncheon

Achiever of the year 2007
Cindy Velez When Cindy Velez needed work two years ago, she turned to the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Today, Cindy is an administrative assistant, helping other seniors in the same situation.

After taking three years off to care for her ailing parents in Puerto Rico ,
Cindy moved to Southwest Florida to be closer to her daughters. She says it was hard to find work after she moved to the Sunshine State . “I used to drive my granddaughter to school in the mornings and then go straight to the Career and Service Center to look for a job.”

At the Career and Service Center , Cindy learned about the SCSEP and Goodwill through Program Manager Jerry Gavin. Her first assignment through the program was as a receptionist and greeter.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Cindy’s bi-lingual talents make her a valuable asset—and her skills didn’t go unnoticed by Goodwill. When SCSEP became part of Goodwill In May 2007, Goodwill decided to expand the SCSEP staff. Cindy was the perfect candidate for the new Administrative Assistant position. “I like it because I’m able to help other people. I can relate to their situation,” she says.

Cindy was introduced to Goodwill as a senior citizen looking for a job—now, she’s helping other seniors find a way to supplement their incomes and find permanent jobs.

Graduate of the year 2007
James Everett When James Everett came to Goodwill’s Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) in July of 2007, he was unemployed and struggling through a bout of depression. He came to Goodwill hoping to find a meaningful job after moving back to Southwest Florida from Atlanta .

SCSEP Program Manager Jerry Gavin referred James to shopgoodwill.com, where James worked for five months. “It gave my life a purpose, gave me a reason to get out of bed in the mornings,” James says. “I wanted to feel needed, and I felt like they counted on me to be there.”

James’ confidence grew, and he started looking for full-time work. He applied for a position at Catholic Charities—an organization he’d volunteered with two decades earlier. In November, he was hired by the Diocese of Venice Catholic Charities as its Lee County Program Director for Hispanic Services .

James says that Goodwill provided him with the assistance he needed to move forward in his life. “Goodwill was there when I needed them,” he explains. “And I’m able to do what I enjoy most, helping people. I’m trying to pay it forward.”

Employer of the year
Granny NANNIES Granny NANNIES is a home healthcare agency that provides “a helping hand and a gentle heart” to people who are ill, injured, elderly, or incapacitated in some form. They employ Certified Nursing Aides, Home Health Aides, and companion sitters that deliver one-on-one care in their clients’ homes. In Southwest Florida , they employ nearly 100 caregivers and companions, several of whom were referred by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.

Goodwill employment consultant Carol May explains why Granny NANNIES has been named Employer of the Year “They have a caring attitude towards people who need help, and understand that just because someone has a disability, that doesn’t mean they can’t do a job.”

“We’re pretty excited to be named Employer of the Year,” says Granny NANNIES Owner/Administrator Trina Toston. “It’s been a really good relationship with Goodwill. We strive to be fair and respectful with all of our clients and our caregivers. They’re not just a number to us. So when our customers come aboard, they stay with us—and that boils down to our great caregivers.”

Carol May says the great relationship has been mutual. “I get the most positive response from Granny Nannies. The customers really appreciate the effort they make.”

Business of the Year
Westco Builders of Florida, Inc. Westco has been an important business partner with Goodwill since 1997, when Westco and Goodwill built Park Villas, a HUD housing development in North Fort Myers . Since then, the relationship has blossomed. Westco has completed ten housing communities for Goodwill, with another scheduled to open in Spring 2008.

Goodwill’s Vice President of Administrative Services, Rick Evanchyk, explains why Westco has been named Goodwill’s Business of the Year. “With most contractors, once the project is over, they’re done. Not Westco. They put their heart and soul in every project. They really believe in the Goodwill Mission.”

Westco President and Owner Rich McConville says that working with Goodwill has been one of the most rewarding parts of his business. “To have the opportunity to see these people living independently, it really pulls at your heart.” He adds, “When you go back to these apartments and see what it means to these people and to their lives, it’s unbelievable.”

Because of that response, Rich says that his company’s work with Goodwill has become a serious part of its mission. “We’ve adopted this as a significant part of our business plan and goals,” he says. “We’ve put a lot of effort into improving the lives of people with disabilities so they can have a nice, safe place to live.”