SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota, which has worked for years to build a large volunteer and supporter base, will be recognizing and thanking its supporters through the Ambassador Good Guide. The publication – a new venture for the organization – is a resource directory where Goodwill’s supporters, known as Ambassadors, can promote their own businesses and support other Goodwill Ambassadors.
Ambassadors receive a free listing but can upgrade their profile with a nominal contribution. The free publication, which will be distributed through Goodwill’s Job Connection offices, in stores, online and at partner business locations, will be available in 2017.
One of the businesses that will be included is Canada Med Services, led by mother-daughter team Dulcy Kushmore and Samantha Hobbs. Canada Med Services has sponsored various Goodwill programs, named Goodwill one of its 2013 Charities of Choice (through which customers could select Goodwill to receive a portion of the proceeds from their prescription medication order), and partnered with Goodwill to present free, one-hour seminars at area Goodwill community rooms about how to save money on medications. Kushmore and Hobbs are both Goodwill Ambassadors.
“Our company has a vested interest in supporting the community we live and work in,” said Hobbs. “My mother and I have greatly enjoyed working with the team at Goodwill – we’ve always felt our time and energy were well-spent, and resulted in a positive impact on the community. Given the size and diversity of the Goodwill Ambassadors program, we are excited to consider the connections that will be built through the Ambassadors Good Guide.”
Goodwill Ambassadors are community members who have made a commitment to share the mission of Goodwill with the greater community by volunteering at events, speaking on the organization’s behalf, creating new fundraisers, and introducing others to Goodwill. Since the program was conceived five years ago, more than 1,000 volunteers and supporters have joined the effort.
“Goodwill could simply not succeed on the scale it does without the dedication and outreach of its supporters,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Veronica Brandon Miller. “We wanted to find a way that we could not only recognize our Ambassadors – who help us to succeed in our mission of changing lives through the power of work – but also help them to succeed in their business endeavors. We hope that the Ambassador Good Guide will do just that, by offering exposure and a great way for our supporters to find and connect with each other.”
For more information about how to participate in or find a copy of the Ambassador Good Guide, please contact Morgan Gerhart, Goodwill Manasota’s director of development, at morgan.gerhart@gimi.org or (941) 355-2721, ext. 107.
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2015, Goodwill Manasota served 22,739 people, placed 961 people in jobs and assisted 358 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $81.3 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted 41 million pounds out of the landfill. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. Goodwill Manasota is accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota, in essence, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.