Goodwill Celebrated Four Individuals at the 16th Annual Hall of Honor
Online, March 7, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Goodwill Industries of Central Texas hosted a packed crowd of more than 400 business partners and community members at their 16th annual Hall of Honor event on Thursday, March 3, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Austin. The event honored four individuals who overcame barriers to employment and achieved success in the workplace. The Doubletree Hotel was also recognized for supporting Goodwill as a business partner and helping individuals find employment in the community.
Honorees Gabriel Barron, Heather Davis, James Gogolewski and Calvy Schoen each overcame various barriers to employment, including homelessness, substance abuse issues and lack of education, to obtain work. Through Goodwill's support and employment services, which include resume and interview training, job coaching, basic needs assistance, or help with locating proper childcare, all four honorees have achieved meaningful employment in the community.
"The four individuals honored during the Hall of Honor didn't just achieve gainful employment in the face of barriers, they have achieved something Goodwill works to instill in everyone we help-a greater level of self-sufficiency," said Jerry Davis, president and CEO of Goodwill. "They are just a few shining examples of the more than 14,000 people that Goodwill served just last year. This event is Goodwill's mission at work, and our honorees should be very proud of their successes in both the workplace and in life."
During the banquet, videos featuring each honoree's story were premiered. It was an emotional evening, and the room full of attendees left with an important message about the power that work has to change lives. Visit www.austingoodwill.org to watch each honoree's video to learn more about their journey to overcome their obstacles to employment to find a meaningful job at an employer in the community.
This year's banquet was underwritten by sponsors, which allows Goodwill to invite and educate more community members about Goodwill's mission. The attendees collectively made a significant contribution this year to support Goodwill's programs that help people find jobs in Central Texas. To learn more about Goodwill's Hall of Honor Awards Banquet and to watch a video about each inductee, visit www.AustinGoodwill.org.