Goodwill Delivers Report on 2014 Success Stories

June 10, 2015, By Chip Minemyer, Editor, Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

Cliff Kauffman looked ready for Thunder in the Valley as he touted the work of Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies.

Cliff Kauffman, director of retail for Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, dons biker gear for a fashion show Wednesday during Goodwill’s Report to the Community gathering at Pitt-Johnstown’s Living Learning Center.

Cliff Kauffman, director of retail for Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, dons biker gear for a fashion show Wednesday during Goodwill’s Report to the Community gathering at Pitt-Johnstown’s Living Learning Center.

Decked out in a leather vest and bandana, Kauffman strolled the runway Wednesday evening as part of a fashion show to celebrate the items community members donate to Goodwill for resale in its stores.

Employees and volunteers strutted in outfits ranging from dresses and shirt-and-tie combinations to Kauffman’s more laid-back look.

Revenue from its stores supports Goodwill’s programs – which include such areas as workforce training, school-to-work transitional support, youth mentoring and job services, and programs for workers with developmental disabilities.

“I think it’s great for the community,” said Kauffman, Goodwill’s director of retail. “People get to see what we’re all about and what we do. It’s all for fun.”

The fashion show was part of Goodwill’s Report to the Community event held at the Pitt-Johns­town Living Learning Center.

The organization also paid tribute to many individuals who have benefitted from Goodwill’s initiatives.

Phyllis Bandstra, Goodwill’s president and CEO, called the fashion show an opportunity for folks to see “what people’s donated goods provide for our shoppers.”

Bandstra said: “It takes the community to be successful – the whole community. Those items you take to Goodwill become an investment in our neighbors and their families.”

Individuals honored, and their agencies or employers, were:

• Karen Sellers, PA CareerLink.

• Vanessa Carroll, Presbyterian Home of Greater Johnstown.

• Jared Burgan, Ideal Market.

• Jason Almeida, Dairy Queen.

• Angela Silk, Home Instead Senior Care.

• Michelle Mauro, PA CareerLink.

• Patrick Flanagan, Von’s United Beverage.

• Joe Pipon, Goodwill Industries.

• Darla Harris, Richland Goodwill Store.

• Gretchen Rauch, a May Penn Highlands Community College graduate.

• Dakota Rigel, Presbyterian Home of Greater Johnstown.

• Sheryl Place, mentor with Goodwill GoodGuides.

• Brianna and Christopher Cashaw, Goodwill GoodGuides.

In addition, Valerie Deater of The Tribune-Democrat was honored for her work as chairwoman of Goodwill’s Business Advisory Council.

 

Online Shopping at Goodwill

Through the Shopgoodwill online auction site, you can experience a fun and exciting way to shop for specialty items such as one-of-a-kinds, collectibles, antiques, estate pieces, jewelry, nostalgic items, and more!

At Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, we know that our donors value their donations to Goodwill and want us to get the maximum value possible to support our mission. Listing these items on Shopgoodwill allows us to generate more revenue because these items go to the highest bidders who know the values of the items.

Donors can be sure that the revenue generated from the sale of their donated items on Shopgoodwill.com will support job training and employment services for people in their community – just as it does through purchases made in our 10 Goodwill Retail Stores.