About Goodwill

Building Our Community

. . . One Job at a Time

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is a human service agency and network of not-for-profit businesses whose mission is to help people with special needs to overcome barriers to employment and enjoy the dignity and benefits of work and improved quality of life. Goodwill of SWPA and its affiliates employ more than 900 people, making it one of the largest and most diverse social and human service organizations in the region.

Since its founding in Boston in 1902, Goodwill Industries has evolved into a large and diverse international organization that includes 208 autonomous, community-based agencies in the United States, Canada and 22 other countries. The Goodwill movement came to Pittsburgh in 1919. Today, under a franchise-like agreement with Goodwill Industries International, the organization serves southwestern Pennsylvania and north central West Virginia and manages several affiliate units and special-purpose entities, including Goodwill of Fayette County, Goodwill of North Central West Virginia, Goodwill Commercial Services, Inc., Northside Common Ministries and Goodwill Residential Services, Inc.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania operates over 20 regional retail stores and several other businesses to help to support programs and to provide training and employment opportunities for clients. Revenues from Goodwill stores - along with income from our other business units, salvage sales, contract work, rehabilitation grants and fees, and public support - go directly to job-training services and equipment needed by people with disabilities and disadvantages. An average of nearly 90% of all revenue raised by Goodwill supports our job-training and employment programs.

Affiliations
Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is an agency related to the United Methodist Church. Major professional affiliations include:

• Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
  
  
• Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
  
  
• Pennsylvania Association of Goodwills
  
  
• Laubach Literacy Advance
  
  
• International Association of Residential & Community Alternatives
  
  
• Community Corrections Associations of Pennsylvania
  
  
• The Sheltered Workshop Association

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania service area >>>

Go to Goodwill Industries International website >>>

Go to Goodwill Italia's website >>>

2006 Annual Report >>>

FAQs About Goodwill >>>

Goodwill Client Profiles >>>

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"I'm proud of what I'm becoming and if it wasn't for Goodwill, I wouldn't be where I am today."

The power of work means different things to different people.  To Jason, who is recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, employment gives him the ability to provide for himself and his family and to do what he needs to do to stay sober. He doesn't want to be homeless again and he wants to be a good father to his children.  He works at Direct Advantage Marketing making telephone fundraising calls on behalf of nonprofit organizations. His shift supervisors help him stay balanced and Jason says his sometimes-stressful job is really very helpful in keeping him focused on his responsibilities.  Jason found help at Goodwill's Community Corrections Center where the court sent him for non-payment of child support.  His Goodwill caseworker got him set up with recovery groups and helped him find a place to live at the First Step Recovery Home in McKeesport.  Now, through his own determination, help from Goodwill, and the power of work, Jason is on track to eventually having his own apartment.  And since he's been in recovery, he has been able to renew relationships with his family.  "Goodwill is amazing," Jason says.  "People care about me at Goodwill; they're very compassionate and helpful."

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