Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. www.goodwill-suncoast.org Fall 2011
A Screaming Success!
He ∙ ro: one who shows
What do you get when you mix a cocktail party with offbeat monsters, a “freak strut” fashion show and an great courage
awards ceremony to honor heroic people?
Goodwill’s first annual Heroes, Villains & Vixens event, that’s what! The three worthy people pictured here
On Friday, Oct. 21, Goodwill-Suncoast and SunTrust Bank honored three heroes and cast a spooky were honored as Goodwill’s 2011 Heroes.
spotlight on villains and vixens at Goodwill’s inaugural Halloween fundraiser. The unique event was held at Congratulations, Crystal, Jeremy and Tim!
Clearwater’s Kapok Special Events Center, with News Channel 8’s Gayle Guyardo as master of ceremonies. Please read their stories on page 4.
Guests were treated to cocktails, hors d’oeuvres from The Wine Cellar, live music, and a fashion show of
evening wear and out-of-the-ordinary costume ideas. Raffle prizes included a 55-inch Samsung television
donated by HSN; a Fender guitar autographed by Rise Against and other rock bands;
and Halloween-themed jewelry donated by HSN.
Businesses in the community enthusiastically stepped
forward as sponsors of the first-time event, which benefitted
Goodwill’s training programs in Tampa Bay, Lakeland and
Ocala for people who have developmental disabilities. Funds
raised from ticket sales will help offset state funding cuts to
Goodwill’s programs, which provide training, work and pay-
checks to people who are challenged by severe disabilities.
Presenting Sponsor
Crystal Lancaster
A young woman with the courage to become
self-reliant.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors Jeremy Ingram
A man whose spirit and charm shine through,
despite his adversities.
In-kind Sponsors
Chris West, Goodwill regional
sales manager, vamps it up as
Cruella de Vil during the freaky Tim Donahey
fashion strut. A man who inspires others by not letting his
disability define him.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. Opportunities Fall 2011
Page 2
Heroes Among Us
Dear Friends, employees who quietly devote their days to helping others,
Day in and day out, Goodwill- to making the world a better place. I salute each of Good-
R. Lee Waits Suncoast staff members are working will-Suncoast’s 1,300 employees for their contributions to
President and CEO hard to help people transform their lives. our mission.
Employees in Goodwill’s training, And I salute each of you for your continuing support
Charlie Robinson, Jr.
employment and housing services offer through financial and material donations to Goodwill, for
Board Chair volunteering, participating in our events, and telling oth-
the encouragement our clients need
to achieve independence and self- ers what you know about Goodwill. These are challenging
Members of the Board times; let us all do what we can to bring more “goodwill” to
sufficiency, despite disabilities and other
Lee Bell, CPA obstacles. the world.
Joshua Beyer Sincerely,
In October, Goodwill publicly hon-
Mark W. Brown
Renee H. Dabbs ored three exemplary individuals as our 2011 Heroes. Two of
Steven M. Erickson them are among more than 55,000 people who received services
Tom Falone, IV from Goodwill-Suncoast last year, and one is a 16-year Goodwill
Mark E. Gauthier employee. R. Lee Waits
Martin Gladysz They are heroic for achieving successful lives in the face of President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Horowitz significant disabilities. But behind the scenes are the heroic
Oscar J. Horton
Karl Koch
Richard E. Ludwig
John Maceovsky, CPA
John McCaugherty Two Elected to Goodwill Board
David E. Murphy Two members were elected to the Goodwill-Suncoast Board
Carole Philipson
Ed Rader
of Directors in September. Paul Horowitz is new to the board, In Memoriam
and Martin W. Gladysz returned to the board after a one-year
Charlie Robinson, Jr. Earl Basting passed away
hiatus. They join 23 other executives from a variety of industries
Timothy Salzsieder Aug. 30. Earl “the Blaster”
Loreen M. Spencer currently serving on the all-volunteer board.
Basting was a professional
Robert G. Stern, Esq. prizefighter who began his
Bob Wabbersen career in 1954. He fought
Rep. Will Weatherford
world middleweight champion
John H. Whitcomb
Sugar Ray Robinson and a
long list of other well-known
opponents during his box-
Our Mission: ing career. Earl retired from
To help people achieve the ring in 1965 and began
their full potential working for Goodwill in 1993
through the dignity and as a truck driver. He eventu-
power of work. ally worked his way up to the
position of security supervi-
Opportunities is a quarterly sor at Goodwill’s St. Petersburg headquarters. Earl retired
publication for friends and
Paul Horowitz
from Goodwill in 2009. His Goodwill friends and co-workers
Martin W. Gladysz
employees of Goodwill
Partner Executive Vice President and
remember him as a very kind, gentle and well-loved man.
Industries-Suncoast, Inc.
Horowitz & Co CPAs, Tampa Chief Financial Officer
Michael Ann Harvey Raymond James Bank,
Vice President for Marketing St. Petersburg
and Public Relations
(727) 523-1512, ext. 1010
michael.harvey@
goodwill-suncoast.com
Chris Ward, Editor
(727) 523-1512, ext. 1011
chris.ward@goodwill-suncoast.com Decades on the Job!
If you do not wish to receive This year, many Goodwill-Suncoast employees are celebrating 30 or more years with the organization.
this newsletter, please contact Congratulations to them all. Goodwill would not be the same without their hard work and dedication!
the editor.
Derrick Walker tops the list
Visit our website at with 43 years of service. He
www.goodwill-suncoast.org began working at Goodwill on
Call toll-free: (888) 279-1988
Sept.18,1968 as a client in our
TTY: (727) 579-1068
Adult Day Training program.
Derrick worked his way up to a
dock worker position, and now
operates the clothing baler at our
St. Petersburg headquarters.
Derrick says he’s way too young
Themia “TC” Chavers John Comis
to have worked here this long! Hired 3/30/72
Hired 8/23/71
40 years of service 39 years of service
Dock Worker Dining Hall Attendant
St. Petersburg MacDill Air Force Base
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. is
an equal opportunity employer that Diane Carver Lee Waits Debbie Passerini Lee Zeh Joan Robinson
provides services without regard to Hired 1/5/73 Hired 7/19/76 Hired 7/5/77 Hired 9/4/81 Hired 10/7/81
race, spiritual beliefs, national origin, 38 years of service 35 years of service 34 years of service 30 years of service 30 years of service
age, sex, sexual orientation, marital Processing Associate President and Chief Executive Vice President Corporate Secretary Processing Associate
status, veteran status, socioeconomic Pinellas Park Executive Officer and Chief Operating and Vice President Pinellas Park
status or disability. If you need Officer
accommodation or assistance in
accessing any area of employment or
program services, please let us know.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. Opportunities Fall 2011
Page 3
Goodwill Director Receives High Honor
Jean-Marie Moore, Goodwill-
Suncoast director of human
services operations, has received
the Michael Goodman Award. The
Florida Association of Rehabilitation
Facilities (Florida ARF) presents
GoodStuff ...
the award annually to one admin-
istrator in the state who has made
outstanding contributions serving
people with disabilities.
Florida ARF describes Jean-
Marie as a tireless advocate who
persistently works to increase the
options available to people with
disabilities in all spheres of life.
They note that her strong beliefs
Voted the Best, Again!
positively impact all those with Goodwill was voted Best Thrift Store
whom she works and the people in the Tampa Tribune’s 2011 readers’
she serves. poll. Readers of the Brandon News,
Goodwill-Suncoast’s Jean-Marie Moore has been honored for
Congratulations, Jean-Marie, on Northeast News, Southshore News
her impassioned advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities.
this richly deserved recognition. & Hernando Today rated Goodwill as
the top thrift store. Congratulations to
Goodwill’s Brandon, Wesley Chapel,
Ruskin and Spring Hill stores. A big
Summer Boot Camp Leads to Jobs thank you to all who voted and who
Dozens of young people in Pasco and Hernando counties got a leg up in the job market this shop at Goodwill!
summer, thanks to an expanded summer version of the Career Central Youth Employment Pro-
gram. The program, operated by Goodwill on behalf of the Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board,
served 82 16- to 21-year-olds during June.
The month-long program starts with a job readiness boot camp covering resume writing, inter- A Rays Home Run!
view techniques and other soft
The Rays Baseball
skills for employment success.
Foundation, the chari-
Then each young person com-
table arm of the Tampa
pletes a customer service cer-
Bay Rays, chose Good-
tification issued by the National
will-Suncoast as one
Retail Federation.
of its 2011 Community
Armed with these skills and
Grant Fund winners.
credentials, the young people
The $5,000 grant will
are placed in two-week paid in-
buy hundreds of books
ternships in fields ranging from
for Goodwill’s BookWorks preschool literacy program.
retail to county government.
Accepting the check are Goodwill Community Relations
The summer internships led to
Coordinator Jinnie Kerdi and Director of Community and
permanent employment for a
Program Development Kris Rawson, center left and right.
number of young people.
Thank you, Rays!
Throughout the year, the
program serves five to 10
young people each month.
Sharing Her Insights
Leticia Mendoza of Dade City gained job experience during an Beth Lang, an office assis-
internship at Catholic Charities.
tant at Goodwill’s St. Pe-
tersburg headquarters, was
recently invited to speak to a
USF class called "Narrative
Perspectives on Disabilities.”
A Perfect Fit Beth spoke to students about
the reality of having cerebral
palsy and who she is in rela-
tion to her disability. She told
Arlene Woodrome the students, “I have a dis-
ability, I am not disabled.”
Evaluation Technician/Secretary
Ocala Adult Day Training
Nine years ago Arlene Woodrome came to Good-
will-Suncoast in Ocala as a temporary employee.
Lucky for us, she decided to stay on!
Save Green on
Arlene was there when Goodwill’s Adult Day Train- Black Friday!
ing (ADT) program for clients with disabilities began in
Ocala, and she has witnessed its growth. On Black Friday, our 15 Goodwill-Suncoast stores
“It is amazing to see clients start our program and will feature unbeatable deals on BRAND NEW gifts.
see how they progress through all facets of the jobs Save even more with this coupon!
at our Goodwill store,” she says. “Two clients began
working in the office with me and are now Goodwill
employees. There are now two other clients working
25% OFF
in the office with me. I would not be able to accom- any one item with this coupon
plish all I do without their help.”
Black Friday 11/25/11
As a retired design engineer from Florida Power & Light Co., Arlene says she
doesn’t have to work – but she does because she loves her job and looks forward through Sunday 11/27/11
to helping others. at Goodwill-Suncoast retail stores.
“She really cares about what she does,” says Derek Arnold, site supervisor.
Discount excludes mattresses.
“And she’s always ahead of everybody.” One coupon per customer per day. No copies please.
So ahead that Derek says Arlene has taken it upon herself to train more ADT Not valid on employee purchases.
clients, helping them polish their clerical skills and learn software such as Excel For store locations, visit
and Word. www.goodwill-suncoast.org
“She’s training them on skills they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to OPP
learn,” says Derek. “I can’t imagine what it would be like here without her.”
10596 Gandy Blvd.
Non-Profit Org.
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
US POSTAGE
Change Service Requested PAID
Permit #5008
St. Pete, FL 337
Opportunities Fall 2011 Page 4
Monstrous Fun, For a Cause
Goodwill’s Adult Day Training center in Lakeland turned up spine-chilling treat for visitors. The brave who ventured in
the creativity and threw open its doors to host “Monster Man- were treated to a wildly creative, creepy tour through the
sion: Where Terror Lives.” The center was transformed into a spooky mansion.
haunted house with room after room of seriously scary surprises. Monster Mansion was open Oct. 20 and 21, with Dr. Paul
So scary, in fact, that the Mansion got a special visit by Dr. Paul Bearer II’s visit on the final evening. In lieu of an admission fee,
Bearer II and his hair-raising hearse. the Goodwill Adult Day Training center asked for donations to
Goodwill’s clients with developmental disabilities at the Lake- the Good Shepherd Hospice, in honor of its former supervisor
land center worked very hard to transform their work space into a Lori Reed, or donations of non-perishable food items for the
Agape Food Bank.
They said “terror” and they
meant it! Goodwill clients
transformed their work
spaces into very scary
scenarios.
Dr. Paul Bearer II – and
his hearse – were on
hand for photos and even
more creepiness.
Honoring Goodwill Heroes
Goodwill Attended Donation Centers
Donations also gratefully accepted at Goodwill stores
Hillsborough County TEMPLE TERRACE Pasco County
APOLLO BEACH Gas Kwik/ BAYONET POINT
MiraBay Village, Sweetbay Marathon station Point Plaza
U.S. 41 & Leisey Rd. 7105 Temple Terrace Hwy. 12023 U.S. 19 at S.R. 52
Pinellas County HUDSON
BRANDON CLEARWATER NEW !
Bloomingdale Wal-Mart 9717 SR 52 at
Walmart NEW ! Parkwood St.
949 E. Bloomingdale 23106 U.S. 19 N. LUTZ
Oak Park Plaza (Weekends only) Willow Bend Chevron
NEW !
745 Lumsden 2250 Gulf to Bay Blvd. 22932 S. R. 54
LUTZ (Accepts furniture) NEW PORT RICHEY
Lake Chapman Plaza Tri-City Plaza Rowan Rd. at S.R. 54
16301 N. Florida Ave. East Bay Dr. and U.S. 19 N. ODESSA
Van Dyke Shell station LARGO Shell station
5524 Van Dyke Rd. Publix Plaza S.R. 54 at Suncoast Pkwy.
NORTHDALE 12002 Indian Rocks Rd. ZEPHYRHILLS
16010 Mapledale Blvd. Twedts Bowling Alley Merchants Square
Near Lifestyle Fitness 13100 Seminole Blvd. Sweetbay
7333 Gall Blvd. Jill Wilkinson of SunTrust Bank presents award checks to Goodwill Heroes during
Northdale Walmart OLDSMAR
Hernando County the Heroes, Villains & Vixens event.
N. Dale Mabry at Bearss Ave. S.R. 580 W. at Duane Ave.
(Weekends only) SPRING HILL
PALM HARBOR Mariner Square
RIVERVIEW Bill’s SuperGas 13050 Cortez Blvd. Crystal Lancaster
Riverview Oaks Plaza and Auto Service Center
Corner Alt. 19 Advance Auto Crystal Lancaster is a young woman with an intellectual disability that limits
9624 U.S. 301 South 14321 Spring Hill Dr.
& Nebraska Ave.
Advance Auto Parts at Barclay Ave. her understanding. While old enough to be an independent adult, she often
Brooker Creek Plaza, Publix
13324 Boyette Rd. East Lake Rd. at Polk County
fears what that independence entails.
SEFFNER Ridgemoor Blvd. LAKELAND Goodwill’s Freedom Village Apartments in Pinellas Park gave Crystal her
Parsons Village Plaza Curlew Crossing Advance Auto Parts NEW !
first chance at living alone. In the three years she has lived there, Crystal has
710 W. Dr. MLK Blvd. Shopping Center 4120 Clubhouse Rd. learned to cook, clean, do laundry and manage money on her own. Her confi-
S.W. corner Curlew Rd. Barclay Plaza
TAMPA
and U.S. 19
dence has soared, and she is very proud of her ability to do these tasks.
Advance Auto Parts 4945 U.S. Hwy. 98
NEW ! Eastlake Woodlands Plaza
5399 Gunn Hwy.
East Lake Rd.
Shepherd Plaza NEW ! Jeremy Ingram
Carrollwood Square at Tampa Rd. 1625 Shepherd Rd.
Corner Ehrlich Rd. Marion County Jeremy Ingram possesses a spirit and charm that shine effortlessly through
PASADENA
and Lynn Turner Rd.
Sweetbay Plaza BELLEVIEW his personality – despite the challenges of multiple developmental disabilities,
Citrus Park BP 6851 Gulfport Blvd. S. Belleview Square including blindness.
8606 Citrus Park Dr. 10751 Hwy. 441
PINELLAS PARK Jeremy is a happy, hard-working participant in Goodwill’s Adult Day Training
Lowe’s 7601 Park Blvd. OCALA program in Lakeland. He and his teammates assemble floor mops that are sold
4210 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. (Accepts furniture) Friendship Center
8449 S.W. Hwy. 200 in Publix stores across Central Florida. Besides working at Goodwill, Jeremy
U-Save ST. PETERSBURG loves to play the guitar, sing and attend church.
7701 W. Hillsborough Ave. Ocala Springs Sweetbay
Gallagher’s Tree Lot NEW !
7131 N. Hwy. 441
Waters U-Save 3100 4th Street N.
7735 W. Waters Ave. Coquina Key Silver Springs Kmart Tim Donahey
3711 E. Silver
Westchase Primrose School Shopping Center
Springs Blvd.
Tim Donahey is a living symbol of the Goodwill spirit. In fact, he’s one of
Linebaugh Ave. 4250 6th St. South the silhouette images on Goodwill-Suncoast trucks and billboards. Cerebral
and Countryway SUMMERFIELD
(Weekends only) Spruce Creek palsy may limit his mobility, but Tim hasn’t allowed it to limit his achievements.
(Accepts furniture) 17860 Hwy. 441 As a teenager, Tim enrolled in Goodwill’s training program in St. Peters-
burg, where he worked on life skills and explored employment options. Before
For donation hours, store locations or donation bin locations, visit long, Tim landed a job as a security associate at Goodwill. Now he’s the most
www.goodwill-suncoast.org experienced member of the Goodwill security staff, with 16 years on the job.
Thank you for donating to Goodwill. A steady paycheck has allowed Tim to buy and pay off a home that he shares
with two dogs, two cats and a parrot.