SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota recently received a grant of $5,000 from Westfield Insurance Foundation – thanks to the help of M.E. Wilson – to help provide financial literacy programs. The grant is part of the Westfield Legacy of Caring program, which invites Westfield independent insurance agents to nominate a local nonprofit in the areas of disaster recovery, insurance pathways, family stability, or safety.
For the past 15 years, Goodwill Manasota has been committed to promoting financial literacy and ensuring that individuals living at or below the poverty level have the tools they need to effectively manage their money. Last year, 32 Goodwill Manasota employees completed “Budgeting 101” on Goodwill U, the organization’s online training classes, and 29 completed “Budgeting 201.” In 2016, thanks to Goodwill, 325 individuals participated in financial education classes, 257 participated in budgeting classes, and 32 completed the Home Buyers Education program, after which five team members were pre-approved for a mortgage.
“We know that employment is just the first step in the long road to financial security. If someone has never learned how to budget or been taught financial literacy, the chances for self-sufficiency are greatly reduced,” said Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Bob Rosinsky. “We are grateful to the corporate partners who have supported our financial literacy program with grants. Thanks to the generous donation from Westfield Insurance Foundation, we can increase our efforts toward ensuring families can make their way to financial stability.”
“M.E. Wilson and its employees are proud members of the Sarasota/Manatee community. Our collaboration with Westfield allows us to further our citizenship efforts and have impact in critically important initiatives,” added Robin Moch, CIC, a partner with M.E. Wilson. “Just as we strive to help provide peace of mind and security to our clients, the Legacy of Caring fund is an extension of the fundamental role insurance plays every day stabilizing families, businesses and communities.”
Goodwill Manasota is one of 78 nonprofits nationwide receiving a Westfield Legacy of Caring grant, collectively totaling nearly $550,000. Westfield is proud to work with its independent agents in distributing nearly $1.3 million since the onset of the Legacy of Caring program in 2015.
For more information about Goodwill, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721.
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.