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Jason Haigh - 2010 Goodwill Employee of the
Year
Raised in New Castle County, Delaware, Jason finished at the top of his class from the Job Corps Program in Port Deposit, Maryland. As a result, he earned a scholarship to attend college, but soon started a personal downward spiral that got him in trouble with his family and the authorities. In 1997, Jason hit rock bottom when he was arrested and found guilty of drug trafficking. Only six days before his son was born, he received a prison sentence of 12 and one half years. When Jason saw his son only once during the first two years of his sentence, he vowed to turn his life around once freed from prison.
In 2008, Jason was released after serving 11 years in prison. An ex-offender with no work or credit history, he turned to Goodwill. Jason's willingness to make good on his vow to change his life was clearly evident to those who worked with him and he was quickly promoted from a cashier to a Manager in Training. Since then, Jason's positive attitude and strong leadership skills have led him into his newest position as the manager of Goodwill's newest retail store in Smyrna.
Our 2010 Employee of the Year, Jason is truly a Goodwill success story. With his determination and hard work, Jason recently purchased his first home on Townsend, has full custody of his son and is planning to get married in the near future. Like his father, Jason's 13-year old son has also turned his life around to become a better student, now that his dad is a part of his life.
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Amy Rausch - 2010 Sen. William V. Roth, Jr.
Achievement Award
Amy's childhood was not an easy one. She was often ridiculed by her classmates for being different and struggled to keep up with her academics. Into adulthood, her challenges only grew. She searched for a job where she would be accepted but continued to fail, often being told she was too slow.
In 2007, Amy was referred to Goodwill by Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation where she completed the work adjustment training program two weeks ahead of schedule. Since graduating, Amy has become a valued member of the Goodwill family and found her home at the Kirkwood Highway store where she is a production associate. Her co-workers appreciate her glowing smile and hard work at one of Goodwill's busiest stores and, she often receives compliments from shoppers about her pleasant personality and outstanding customer service skills.
The Senator William V. Roth Jr. Achievement Award recognizes a Goodwill employee who has overcome physical or developmental obstacles to learn the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. Amy's success and positive attitude demonstrate Goodwill's mission and the "Power of Work".
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Lori Disselbrett - 2010 Personal Achievement
Award
Lori, a customer service associate at the Milford Goodwill store, admits she was always good with her hands and mechanically inclined. For many years, she put her skills to work installing and servicing plumbing systems in both residential and commercial buildings. But when a back injury forced her to find another vocation, she turned to Goodwill.
With only a high school education and virtually no computer skills, Lori needed help to make the transition from the plumbing trade to the office and retail setting, so, she enrolled in a 15-week training program to learn computerized office skills at Goodwill. Her dedication to being successful was clearly evident—she even borrowed a motorcycle when her truck broke down and rode it to class in the dead of winter in order to complete the training.
Lori's transformation from laborer to leader was complete when the computer skills she demonstrated and her positive "can-do" attitude led her to be hired in the Milford store. Her aspiration to improve herself and to help the organization achieve its mission is yet another reason that Goodwill is proud to recognize Lori as the 2010 Achiever of the Year.
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Jean Pillet - 2010 Goodwill Volunteer of
the Year
When Jean retired from the Wakefern Food Corporation in 1998, he had spent 47 years in the food industry, and created many collaborative business and community partnerships. He was also instrumental in developing supermarket career programs being used in four states by schools and occupational centers, which includes the Goodwill ShopRite cashier training program. However, when Jean retired and moved to Kent County, Delaware he continued to volunteer his time for causes in which he believes. He is a board member of the Mid-Atlantic Career and Education Center, located in Pennsville, New Jersey, that provides developmental learning for adults and mentoring for youth.
At Goodwill, Jean is a dedicated volunteer for the ShopRite cashier training program where he regularly conducts a food systems related workshop for students. He often attends the cashier training graduation ceremonies at Goodwill, offering words of encouragement to program participants and helping to mentor them as they enter the food industry.
Goodwill is proud to name Jean Pillet as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year, recognizing his dedication and support of the mission and those whose lives are touched by Goodwill.
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James Alexander - 2010 Goodwill Graduate of
the Year
When James started in Goodwill's ShopRite cashier training program, he wasn't sure where it would lead. Wounded in 2004 in Iraq while serving in the Army, he returned to Delaware with both physical and emotional scars that needed healing. He worked unloading trucks and as a security guard, but found those jobs unfulfilling.
When James was let go from his last security position, his life didn't look bright. He was lost and wasn't sure what his future held. It was when a family member told him about Goodwill's cashier training program that things began to come together. James enrolled, worked hard and demonstrated the leadership and team building skills he learned in the military. Not only did he help his classmates during the training, but he often returns to Goodwill to mentor current program participants.
James was able to use his exceptional customer service skills and knowledge to advance with the Kenny Family ShopRites to a position as a loss prevention specialist. His dedication to the mission at hand, whether protecting our country or the assets and employees of his store, is to be commended. Goodwill is proud to name James as the 2010 Graduate of the Year.
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Gordon DelGiorno - 2010 Goodwill Advocate of the
Year
Gordon DelGiorno and his brother Greg, have been running their production company, Film Brothers, since 1999. A native of Wilmington, Gordon started his business with a focus on making feature films and has branched out into areas such as online video commercials.
Over the years, Gordon has been a tireless supporter of local non-profit organizations, such as the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and Junior Achievement. He has not only gone above and beyond with every video he has produced for Goodwill but has looked for creative ways to further market the organization in his network of community contacts. After being exposed to the mission of Goodwill and those whose lives are touched, Gordon looked for an opportunity get involved. Despite his busy schedule, Gordon has stepped up to volunteer to mentor a youth as part of Goodwill's mentoring program, GoodGuides.
Gordon DelGiorno is not one to sit idly by when it comes to issues of importance to his community. He is a man of action and involvement which is why Goodwill is pleased to name him as the 2010 Advocate of the Year.
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Harrington Raceway - 2010 Goodwill
Employer of the Year
Thousands of people visit the Harrington Raceway and Casino each year to try their luck at one of the nation's oldest racetracks or at the state-of-the-art gaming hall. The facility, located 25 minutes south of Dover, has run a race meet every year since 1946 and features some of the top drivers and horses during the racing season.
Senior management at Harrington, especially Brian Gillis, executive director of Support Services, has worked with Goodwill to hire custodial personnel to help maintain the public areas of the facility. Many of the Goodwill clients hired by Harrington had some sort of disability, yet management took the extra step to make accommodations for a successful working relationship. They provided extra supervision during the initial instructional period to make sure that the tasks to be accomplished were clearly understood. The Goodwill clients were also provided with direct access to management staff to clarify any outstanding questions or to obtain immediate feedback.
As a result of their caring commitment to helping clients to be successful, Goodwill is pleased to recognize Harrington Raceway as the 2010 Employer of the Year.
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Delaware Center for Distance & Adult Learning - 2010 Goodwill Community
Partner of the Year
The relationship with DCDAL began in 2009 with a partnership to provide Goodwill team members and their families with opportunities to earn GED's and high school diplomas through Goodwill's educational scholarship fund. The learning program offered by DCDAL differed from other partnerships since it was provided in an online format. This meant that Goodwill team members could prepare for their GED and/or high school diploma without having to set foot in a classroom. In addition, DCDAL has been instrumental in referring employees to traditional in-person programs as needed.
To date, 12 Goodwill team members and family members have enrolled in the program. Two team members have successfully obtained their GED's through this program with DCDAL. In 2011, the Goodwill Center was selected as a full testing and orientation site for all of New Castle County. This opportunity will allow better access for testing and orientation for Goodwill team members and their families.
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WSFS Bank - 2010 Goodwill
Business Partner of the Year
The relationship between WSFS Bank and Goodwill is a long and rewarding partnership. Both organizations have been a fixture in Delaware for decades, helping to meet the needs of the community—whether as the seventh oldest, continuously-operating bank in the United States or as the state of Delaware's oldest non-profit organization providing vocational services.
Members of the locally-owned bank's leadership team have also personally given their time to Goodwill. For many years Bill Foley (vice-president of Commercial Banking) served as a member of the Goodwill Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board Finance Committee. Skip Schoenhals (The current Chairman of the Board of WSFS) helped provide direction and leadership to Goodwill's strategic planning process and the development of the educational scholarship fund. Mark Pryslak, vice-president of Private Banking has served as both chair and vice-chair of Goodwill's annual awards luncheon committee.
Like Goodwill, WSFS Bank has a history of making an impact on the lives of those served. Both organizations share a commitment to service and to building strong communities. As an organization that has benefited from that dedication, Goodwill recognizes WSFS Bank as the 2010 Business Partner of the Year. |
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