| Goodwill Success Stories

Mary Dowell

“What drives me to lead is my personal pursuit to be my best self – whatever that may be,” says Mary Dowell, Principal Consultant, MJ Dowell & Associates, LLC and member of Goodwill’s Board of Directors.

For Chris Talton, an opportunity to serve others is what drives his passion to lead. Chris has been employed at Goodwill Industries for more than 10 years in various leadership roles; he currently serves as the Director of Operations – Naval Station Great Lakes.

“I am driven to lead because I want to leave a legacy of giving.”

A motivating leader and community volunteer, Kathy Davis is driven by her desire to help people grow.

Sandrae is a smart, hardworking young woman who felt hopeless going from job to job with no real sense of satisfaction.

Watching the journey of our participants through Goodwill’s programs is something we are so fortunate to be a part of.

Meet Molly - a fun, active and social young woman who attends Goodwill’s Waukesha Day Services program. Summer is always busy for Molly and Goodwill proogram members, as their days are filled with outdoor activities like Garden Club, sailboat excursions on Lake Michigan and trips to the Milwaukee County Zoo (one of Molly’s favorites!)

Goodwill launched EmpowerOne in 2017, with a goal to provide a network of services that would allow individuals with disabilities to follow their own path to employment in the community. The program offers a range of services individuals can choose from to fit their goals including soft skill building, on-the-job training, and connection to community employment opportunities. Luis’s story is one that exemplifies this journey.

Crystal was a young teen mother when she began working at Goodwill. Faced with the challenges of a baby to care for, her job attendance began to suffer. After talking with the Goodwill management team, Crystal focused on how to improve her situation and entered Goodwill's Career Path program. Now Crystal enjoys a healthy work-life balance and providing for her son. When you shop and donate to Goodwill the revenue from the sale of donated goods helps people like Crystal overcome barriers and gain independence.

Ron

For Ron, working at Goodwill is the best job he's ever had. He's seen first-hand how Goodwill saves lives. As a Director of Goodwill's Supply Chain, Ron oversees an operation of 75 people, and each person has a story to share. For some it's about transformation, for others it means overcoming hardships as well as gaining dignity and independence.