Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries continues to elevate the good across the communities it serves, according to Shelley Murray, CEO.
“[Goodwill’s] vision looks forward to a future where individual potential is realized, opportunities are abundant and communities are prosperous,” Murray says. “These guiding principles are reinforced by core values of empowerment, dedication, community, dignity and evolving.”
Goodwill’s mission services aided 43% more people compared with 2024, with job placement, transportation and resource referral assistance services. Essential needs vouchers were issued to 54% more recipients.
Goodwill provided 340 emergency vouchers, clothing and other necessities to residents of an Austintown apartment complex after an explosion there in November.
Goodwill screened the vision of 1,387 children and issued 88 referrals to remove barriers to learning.
It expanded into Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania last year.
Designed to build soft skills for the addiction recovery community, the pilot Good Start program received a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to expand.
Assembly for Workforce Solutions brought employers, workforce providers, behavioral health organizations, community-based agencies and systems leaders together to focus on barriers to employment.
Through RISE, Goodwill hosted 12 events, including Community at the Center, Project AHA!, Scream for Screenings and Unmute the Uncomfortable.
Goodwill completed a $120,000 renovation of the Boardman retail store and relocated the New Castle store to a higher-traffic area. Goodwill’s 11th retail and donation center will open in East Liverpool with expanded Mission Services on the second floor in partnership with local nonprofits.
A comprehensive rebranding initiative has begun, including a redesigned website and AI training, according to Murray.
A new Thrift Trail is raising awareness about local nonprofit services.
In March, Goodwill will host the third annual Mission Breakfast. The Golf Fore Goodwill outing is June 29 at Tippecanoe Country Club and the Youngstown Radio Reading Service celebrates 50 years this year.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit GoodwillYoungstown.org.
Pictured: Community Solutions Director Carol Holmes-Chambers and CEO Shelley Murray help lead the Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries’ efforts to positively impact the region.
