The Goodwill® Advocacy Leader Award recognizes a Goodwill® agency that has demonstrated leadership and commitment to advancing Goodwill’s advocacy and policy efforts to further its mission of helping people secure employment and build stronger communities. This is the fourth year the agency has received the award.
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has advocated on a variety of issues including job creation, funding for employment programs such as the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In 2012, Goodwill team members held more than 40 meetings with local, state and federal policymakers.
“CEO Brian Itzkowitz and his team are to be commended for their tremendous commitment to educating policymakers on issues that affect Goodwill and the people and families we serve,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Their advocacy work has impact throughout the entire state of Arkansas and serves as a model for other agencies across the Goodwill enterprise.”
The award was presented at a May 15 reception in Washington, DC. The reception is part of Goodwill Industries International’s seventh annual Advocacy Day – “Designing Goodwill into the Future.” This is the second year that the Goodwill agency has been lauded for its public policy efforts.