A BELIEF IN THE POWER OF WORK

Frank McGee is Executive Director of Goodwill Industries, Inc. of the Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa. Frank, who has been with Goodwill for 25 years, spoke to Club members about the Goodwill program and its impact on area residents since 1933. According to Frank, Goodwill is a not-for-profit agency that is funded through government agencies, private support, and proceeds from the sale of donated goods. Retail sales of donated goods account for half of Goodwill revenue and Goodwill has an annual budget of $14 million. Frank emphasized that Goodwill in the Omaha region is very robust and in good fiscal shape. Last year there were 15 million pounds of material donations to Goodwill including clothing, furniture, vehicles, and property. Frank explained the mission of Goodwill is to prepare people with employment barriers for work, to eliminate unemployment, and to create jobs for people with disabilities. There are about 450 employees at Goodwill of which about half have some employment barriers.