Windsor Essex Goodwill and other independently operated and governed local Goodwills across Canada want their communities to know their operations are solid and they are dedicated to continuing their mission of providing jobs for people who face barriers to employment, and affordable necessities to families.
“There are six autonomous Goodwill organizations throughout Canada, beyond Toronto. We are very concerned and saddened by the issues in Toronto, but every Goodwill is unique. Each Goodwill has a local governing board of directors, made up of community leaders,” says Michelle Quintyn, CEO of Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes (London). “The Goodwills we represent are solid financially and we need donations, as always, to fulfil our mission of providing affordable necessities to families in need, while providing opportunities for persons who experience barriers to employment and other important social services.”
Goodwill’s mission is to provide training, jobs and other services for community members. Donations of clothing and household goods support employment and other necessary services.
“We want to ensure our employees, our donors and our communities that the work of Goodwill will continue uninterrupted in the communities we serve, and we still need the very generous support of our donors to do so,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of Goodwill Industries Essex Kent Lambton, in Sarnia.
The six other independent Goodwill organizations in Canada are: Goodwill Industries Essex Kent Lambton, Inc., Goodwill Industries Niagara, Goodwill Industries of Alberta, Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes (London), Goodwill, The Amity Group (Hamilton, ON), and Industries Goodwill Renaissance Montreal, Inc. (Montreal, QC).
Goodwill operates as a network of 165 independent, community-based organizations in 13 countries. In 2014 Goodwills collectively provided employment and community services, with more than 26.4 million people served and more than 318,000 people placed into employment.
The Goodwill movement was founded in 1902 and adopted the name Goodwill in 1915. Goodwill organizations operate independently of each other and of Goodwill Industries International. GII is not a parent company, it is a member organization. As such, GII provides consultative services and technical support to its 165 members, which are autonomous, community-based organizations across the United States and Canada.
Kevin Smith
Chief Executive Officer, Goodwill
