SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – Throughout the month of February, Veteran Air Conditioning held a donation drive to support Goodwill Manasota’s mission services. The company picked up gently-used items that its clients in the Sarasota-Manatee area no longer wanted or needed, and transported them to Goodwill, where they are being sold in retail stores throughout the area. Proceeds support Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through the power of work.
Veteran Air Conditioning owner Kevin Henault, who has been a proud Ambassador for Goodwill Manasota for a number of years, supports the organization in particular for its commitment to helping veterans reintegrate into their families, jobs and communities. Henault – who served in the Army – comes from a long line of veterans. He notes that many of the men in his family have served in the Armed Forces, in every conflict since World War I. And his son returned from Afghanistan in 2015, where he served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
“I appreciate that Goodwill works to help and employ veterans through its many programs and services,” said Henault. “Especially given my own family’s tradition of service, I’m honored to partner with Goodwill to help the veterans in our community as well as those who are seeking to improve their lives through career services, education and training.”
Henault, who employs numerous veterans, has hired veterans through Goodwill’s Veterans Services Program. He also notes that his wife, Adriane, is a Goodwill fan who loves to shop in its retail stores.
“This is a wonderful example of a local business showcasing great corporate social responsibility. Through our Ambassadors Program, we are proud to partner with companies like Veteran Air Conditioning for events and donation drives throughout the year,” said Gray Videnka, vice president of the Goodwill Manasota Foundation. “We are grateful to Veteran Air Conditioning for continuing to help us to give chances – not charity – to deserving people in our community.”
Veteran Air Conditioning management offered up a prize of $200 for the technician who brought in the most donations. Nearly 50 households donated to the effort, with eight technicians collecting goods during service calls. Items the team members collected included clothing, shoes, jewelry, functioning computers, household items and decor, kitchenware, books and more. Veteran Air Conditioning held similar donation drives to benefit Goodwill in 2016 and in April of 2019.
Through Goodwill Manasota’s Ambassadors Program, community members make 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 their friends, family and colleagues to Goodwill. For more information or to get involved, contact Pavitra Ciavardone at pavitra.ciavardone@gimi.org or call (941) 355-2721, ext. 163.
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 philanthropic donations and revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.