| Excerpt from
Goodwill Industries Annual Awards Celebration Speech
[ www.peabodyhopevi.org
]
"Graduate of the Year" We would like to start our awards ceremony with our Graduate of the Year. This individual is someone who completed one of the training programs offered by our Workforce Development Team – and who has excelled as a result of that training. Our Graduate of the Year passed his or her course with flying colors and overcame obstacles in order to become self-sufficient. The nominees for this award are: Anita Seay, Curry Kucherer, Deidrie Taylor, and Frankie Knighton. When we asked our winner what kind of obstacles she has overcome in order to get where she is today, she said “so many I can’t even begin to tell you…things since childhood.” Our winner was referred to Goodwill’s Work Adjustment Training program from her family advocate and through the HOPEVI program. She started in February of last year and graduated on September first. Four days later, she was employed. Our winner is a single mother of three –one of her children is grown and out of the house-- the other two are 16 and 17 years old. Since she had to rely on public transportation or getting rides from friends in order to get to her new job, this mom says she got to work every day on a wing and a prayer. One of her goals when she graduated from our program was to save enough money to buy her own car. Well, she did that about a month ago. Our winner is a driver for Groome Transportation in Columbus and is considered a “part time plus” employee by her supervisor. Even before she had her own car, this winner has never been late to work, nor has she missed a day. Her boss wishes she had a dozen more workers just like her! Ladies and Gentlemen: please congratulate our Graduate of the Year – Anita Seay For information contact:
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers, Inc. |