SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – In 2016, Goodwill Manasota partnered with immediate past mayor of North Port, Jacqueline Moore, to launch a community-wide campaign called “Kindness Community.” The effort was designed to make a positive impact by bringing our community together and encouraging acts of kindness. Since then, more than 10,000 people have signed the Kindness Pledge, which can be found at experiencegoodwill.org/kindness.
To fortify and enhance the effort, Goodwill has engaged leaders in the local business community to share their experiences – at work and beyond – to make our community a better place. The speaker series will take place monthly through the summer, with three speakers at each event. Cost is $20/person or tables of six for $150; lunch is included.
The programming is as follows:
• Friday, June 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Goodwill Corporate Campus (2705 51st Ave. E., Bradenton): Jaime DiDomenico, Cool Today/Plumbing Today, Brian West, Publix, and Margarita Valenzula, Culver’s.
• Friday, July 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Goodwill North Port (14879 Tamiami Tr.): Alicia C. Accardi, Sticky Fingers Studio, TinaRae Gregoire, Achievements Learning Center, and Margarita Valenzula, Culver’s.
• Friday, August 11, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Goodwill Mecca (5150 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota): Peter Crowley, Remax Alliance, Jason Gaskill, Adams and Reese, LLP, and Rod Hershberger, PGT Industries.
“We have been thrilled by the reaction to the Kindness Community as good deeds have served to inspire and energize others,” said Veronica Brandon Miller, vice president of Goodwill Manasota. “With the added voices of speakers during our Kindness at Work speaker series, we can help people realize they, too, have the power to bring about positive change through activities at their workplaces – as well during personal time – and make our community a better place.”
For more information or to RSVP, call (941) 355-2721, ext. 104.
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 2016, Goodwill Manasota served 28,207 people, placed 755 people in jobs and assisted 240 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $92.1 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted more than 40 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.