BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota is pleased to announce a new partnership with fellow area nonprofit, Manatee Literacy Council. The organization, formerly known as Manatee Reads!, has recently changed its name and is now working out of an office next door to Goodwill’s Cortez location; its new address is 3501 Cortez Rd. W., Suite 6 in Bradenton.
To celebrate its new name and location, Manatee Literacy Council held an Open House in September. Guests learned about the adult literacy program, saw the new office, and enjoyed food and refreshments. Four authors from the community were in attendance to present their views on literacy and literature over the course of the event as well.
Manatee Literacy Council executive director Marilyn Cox is thrilled to partner with Goodwill Manasota. “Our mission is to empower Manatee County residents to independence through literacy,” she said. “Goodwill has proven its commitment to education, providing thousands of hours of on-the-clock training and mentoring as an investment in its employees’ well-being. We could not have found a better place to continue our work in Manatee County.”
Earlier this year, the Literacy Council of Sarasota presented the 2017 James E. Duffy Friend of Literacy Award to Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Bob Rosinsky during the annual Literacy Matters luncheon. The honor was presented in recognition of Goodwill’s ongoing partnership with Manatee Literacy Council to provide workplace English language and literacy classes on-site, where employees can better access the educational services they need for self-sufficiency, empowerment, and the ability to thrive.
“Ongoing education is critical if adults are to succeed and achieve financial stability, and literacy is at the core of efforts to better their lives,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Margie Genter. “We welcome Manatee Literacy Council to our Cortez location and are honored to be its partner in strengthening the community.”
For more information about Manatee Literacy Council, call (941) 746-8197 or email Marilyn@manatee-literacy.org. For more 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.