Goodwill of the Great Plains Awarded Grant from Taco Bell

Sioux City, IA (June 1, 2023) – Today, Goodwill of the Great Plains received a grant from the Taco Bell Foundation to support Youth Employment Services. The funds will go toward students working at Goodwill or one of our community partner’s locations to gain valuable work experience.

Goodwill of the Great Plain is one of more than 450+ youth-serving organizations that will receive a portion of the $15 million in Community Grants presented by the Taco Bell Foundation this year. The grants are an example of the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to break down barriers to education and fuel young people’s boldest ambitions.

“We are proud that the work we do through our Community Grants program connects young people with the resources and opportunities they need to learn and drive change,” said Jennifer Bradbury, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation.

Pictured from left to right are Goodwill participant Brendan, Job Coach Brian and participants Fred, Charlie, Tatania and Chris.

Goodwill of the Great Plains to hold 100 Year & Customer Appreciation Celebration

EVENT DATE: Thursday, May 18, 2023
EVENT TIME: 11:00am – 1:00pm (RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY @ 11:30am)
EVENT LOCATION: 3100 W. 4^thSt., Sioux City, IA
VIDEO & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

Sioux City, IA- To celebrate 100 years of creating dignity and compassion through the power of work, Goodwill of the Great Plains is hosting a customer appreciation celebration, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, at the Sioux City retail store at 3100 W. 4^th St. at 11:30am on May 18. Mayor Pro-Tem Dan Moore will also present a commendation to recognize the historic anniversary at that time.

From 11:00am-1:00pm, customers at both Sioux City retail locations (3100 W. 4^th St. & 5931 Gordon Dr.) will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card to the store, while the first 100 customers will get a coupon redeemable for 25% off their total purchase. Complimentary lunch provided, while supplies last, from 11:00am-1:00pm!

Starting as Wall Street Mission in Sioux City in 1890, Goodwill of the Great Plains joined the international Goodwill movement in 1923. The organization’s territory has since expanded, with 21 retail stores in a four-state territory; a 22^nd store will open in Vermillion, SD in 2024.

“Goodwill’s ability to tackle community needs would not be possible without the generous support of donors and shoppers,” said Goodwill of the Great Plains President & CEO Briget Solomon. “Our retail program provides jobs to community members, a place for job training opportunities for those enrolled in our programs and helps fund the work of Goodwill.”

Goodwill founder Edgar J. Helms (a Spirit Lake, Iowa native) explained it best – Goodwill is a business PLUS. It exists for service, not for profit. As such, Goodwill of the Great Plains operates mission programming throughout its territory, advocating for economic self-sufficiency through employment and education.

We accomplish this through various job training programs and placement services, which include four regional Job Centers, a new Career Cruiser (a Job Center on Wheels!) and more. In 2022, more than 400 people were placed into community jobs after utilizing our services.

About Goodwill of the Great Plains

Goodwill of the Great Plains is a community-based non-profit 501c3 organization headquartered in Sioux City, IA serving South Dakota and portions of Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. In 2022 Goodwill served over 30,000 people through mission programming funded in part by 21 retail stores. Goodwill programs received accreditation from CARF and a voluntary board of directors governs the organization. Please visit the Goodwill of the Great Plains website at www.goodwillgreatplains.org to learn more about our organization.

Expansion into Vermillion, SD Community

Goodwill of the Great Plains Announces Expansion into Vermillion Community

Vermillion, SD – Goodwill of the Great Plains is excited to announce the expansion of their service delivery and retail store to Vermillion, SD. On Tuesday, May 2^nd, the Vermillion Chamber and Development Company will be joining Goodwill for a Groundbreaking Ceremony at 11:30 AM on Goodwill’s future store site at 700 Bower Street in Vermillion. The community and public are welcomed to attend.

Goodwill’s mission is to serve as an advocate for economic self-sufficiency through employment and education. This is achieved through servant leadership values of compassion, achievement, potential, integrity, and dignity.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Vermillion community. Today is a special day as it lands in the middle of Goodwill week – a national celebration of the work and impact of Goodwills across the country. This year, Goodwill of the Great Plains is also celebrating its 100^th year as a Goodwill organization. Goodwill’s founder, Edgar Helms (a native of Spirit Lake, Iowa) set the foundation for our work not as a charity but a chance. As a Goodwill we are called to empower individuals and continue to be dissatisfied until every member of our community experiences abundant living. This new location will expand our footprint in South Dakota and further our mission to change lives.” – Briget Solomon, President and CEO of Goodwill of the Great Plains

The Vermillion store will become Goodwill’s 22^nd store in its four-state region and employ 12-14 people in the community. If you love shopping with Goodwill, you’ll love working at Goodwill! Career opportunities will be opened 60-90 days prior to the store’s grand opening. Applications for job seekers will be made available online as the date draws nearer.

To learn Goodwill’s construction progress and future grand opening slated for Q1 2024, follow Goodwill on Facebook and LinkedIn, and visit www.goodwillgreatplains.org to discover more on Goodwill’s history, community impact, and service delivery model.

Building an Active Community

Goodwill of the Great Plains is in the planning stages of a new mission facility to be located across the street from our current West 4^th Street campus. Goodwill has owned the land for about 30 years with a vision to use the property to expand mission.

The facility being planned will allow for expansion of services in a modern facility. Our current Adult Day and Day Habilitation services have grown exponentially, and we need more space for program offerings. The new building plans will offer a multi-use community center with gymnasium, specialized space for programming, space for meeting rooms and team member offices. We will have adequate space for Goodwill sponsored events such as career fairs, the Shoe Party, and a variety of vocational training offerings.

Goodwill’s mission is centered on empowering individuals through employment and education leading to self-sufficiency and higher quality of life. We are grateful for community support in the form of household donations and customer purchases through our retail stores. This project is an opportunity to enhance the community and add service offerings aligned with Goodwill’s mission thanks to this local support.

Goodwill of the Great Plains Celebrates John Hantla’s Retirement and Names Briget Solomon as New CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Goodwill of the Great Plains Celebrates John Hantla’s Retirement and Names Briget Solomon as New CEO

Sioux City, IA – After a successful 40-year career with Goodwill, John Hantla retired from serving the organization on January 14, 2022, serving as the organization’s third-generation President and CEO.

“John Hantla has continued a family legacy of community service through Goodwill of the Great Plains. His leadership has guided the agency through difficult times, including challenges facing all retail merchants in maintaining physical stores and the COVID pandemic. There is no question that Goodwill of the Great Plains is in a much stronger position after his service to the agency, both financially and in terms of meeting its mission to improve the economic self-sufficiency of the people it serves through employment and education,” said Chuck Corbett, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“I am honored to have had the opportunity to help lead the organization as we grew our footprint across our four-state region. Managing Goodwill was a joy for me, even as we navigated through challenging times. I found that if I surrounded myself with highly talented staff and allowed them to do their jobs, meaningful impacts could be accomplished throughout the communities we serve. I am blessed to have served with so many dedicated employees and a fully supportive board of directors, who gave so freely of their time. One of the people who accomplished great things is our new CEO, Briget Solomon. She will take the organization to new heights in the coming years,” said John Hantla.

Goodwill of the Great Plains Board of Directors has promoted Briget Solomon from within as the organization’s new President and CEO, effective January 1^st, 2022.

“We are very pleased that Briget Solomon has been selected to assume the position of CEO of Goodwill of the Great Plains. She has been with Goodwill for 17 years in a variety of positions, most recently by serving as Chief Mission Officer. She is liked and respected by the staff and possesses a passion for the people we serve. We look forward to her enthusiasm and vision to continue and expand the mission of Goodwill of the Great Plains” said Corbett.

“I am humbled to have the opportunity to lead an organization rich in history and successful at empowering individuals to find purpose through work. Now more than ever the mission of Goodwill is relevant as we assist community members in their employment goals. I look forward to advancing the mission of the organization and making a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said Briget Solomon.