Event will feature dozens of employers and is open to the public

More than 30 employers with a wide variety of jobs to fill will participate in a community job fair hosted by Goodwill Industries-Suncoast. The event will take place at Pinellas Technical College, 901 34^th St. South, St. Petersburg, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., May 10.

Job seekers who pre-register for the fair will receive early admission, plus access to a wide array of free job-related services – such as resume development and interview techniques – through Goodwill’s Job Connection Center.

Both employers and job seekers can register to attend at www.goodwill-suncoast.org/job-fair

This is one of dozens of job fairs being hosted by Goodwill agencies across the nation during Goodwill Industries Week, May 7-13. Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill agencies across the United States and Canada celebrate the power of work through local events and promotions.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

Donate to Goodwill for a BOGO offer to Dinosaur World

Looking for something fun to do with the kids over the summer? Goodwill-Suncoast and Dinosaur World have a mammoth deal for you!

Beginning May 5, each person who drops off clothing or household items at any Goodwill Industries-Suncoast donation site will receive a coupon good for up to two free children’s tickets to Dinosaur World, one for each paid adult admission. Goodwill shoppers who “round up” their purchases to the nearest dollar will also get a coupon. That’s a savings of up to $23.90, just for shopping smart or getting rid of items you’ve had around your house since the Jurassic period!

Donate now, before the offer is extinct! The BOGO coupons will be distributed throughout May, while supplies last, and can be redeemed through July 31, 2017.

Dinosaur World is a 20-acre theme park and outdoor museum featuring a paved Dinosaur Walk with more than 200 life-size dinosaurs. There are several outdoor play and picnic areas, along with an indoor Prehistoric Museum with animatronic dinosaurs.  Regular adult admission is $16.95, $11.95 for children 3 to 12. Dinosaur World is located at Exit 17 on I-4.

For a list of Goodwill-Suncoast stores and attended donation sites visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org

For more information about Dinosaur World visit www.dinosaurworld.com

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. Founded in St. Petersburg, Fla. in 1954, Goodwill-Suncoast is one of the largest and most effective Goodwill organizations in the world. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

Apollo Beach resident and Brandon group honored for their time

 Goodwill Industries-Suncoast will announce Laura Gage as Goodwill Volunteer of the Year, and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon as Volunteer Group of the Year on Friday, April 21. The awards will be presented during Goodwill’s BookWorks recognition luncheon at 11:30 a.m., at the Columbia Restaurant, 2117 E. 7^th Ave. (Ybor City), Tampa. 10 News Anchor Courtney Robinson will serve as master of ceremonies for the luncheon.

Goodwill-Suncoast Volunteer of the Year 2017

Laura Gage, Apollo Beach

Laura moved to the Tampa Bay area two and half years ago from the Chicago area, and she jumped right in to volunteering – not only for BookWorks but also for her church, other areas of Goodwill, and with the Hillsborough Education Foundation. In fact, when Laura first learned about Goodwill’s BookWorks program in 2015, she was so impressed she went home and filled out her application to volunteer the very same day. As a BookWorks reader, Laura traveled to west Tampa to spend 122 hours reading to 456 children and distributing 2,773 books in 2016. She is very passionate about early literacy and a fantastic ambassador for the BookWorks program. The teachers and directors at the centers she serves cannot praise her enough for her kindness and dedication.

Goodwill-Suncoast Volunteer Group of the Year 2017

Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon

 For more than a decade, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon has devoted itself to volunteering for BookWorks. There are nine dedicated readers: Gena Schaffer, Janet Daigle, Janelle Hill, Eddie Jenkins, Lynn Langowski, Fran Palek, Curtis Rogers, Nicholas Schar and Dipa Shah. In 2016 they spent 231 hours reading to 878 children and distributing 3,625 books at 14 different locations. The group has made it one of their missions to serve kids who are in the greatest need of support – more than half of the children they serve have special needs. The group is a wonderful community asset for BookWorks, helping to spread the word, recruit volunteers and keeping us informed of local events. They also volunteer to drop off books donated to elementary schools through the BookWorks program.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.

A unique program & partnership provides work experience to youth with disabilities

What happens when Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students graduate from high school? The difficulty in transitioning to “real life” is a pressing issue for the students and their families. Now, in an unprecedented partnership, Goodwill-Suncoast, Marion County Schools, Vocational Rehabilitation and Hilton Ocala are joining forces to launch a new Project SEARCH program in Marion County.

The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a business-led, one-year, school-to-work program which takes place entirely at the workplace. It’s designed for people with significant disabilities whose goal is competitive employment.

An Open House will be held Thursday, April 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Ocala, 3600 SW 36^th Ave. All Marion County Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students and families are invited to attend to learn more about the program and how to apply. The program will begin in the next school year.

Goodwill-Suncoast was selected in December to operate in Florida for Project SEARCH, providing employment services to students with disabilities in Marion County. Goodwill will work with the Hilton Ocala to provide on-site job coaching, training and outplacement services to students. Internships will last the entire school year and after completion students will receive placement services from Goodwill’s Employment Services Program in Ocala.

To learn more about Project SEARCH visit www.projectsearch.us

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including employment services, training centers for people with disabilities, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.