ROCKVILLE, MD—Goodwill Industries International and Prison Fellowship signed an agreement today to collaborate on job training and mentoring services for people who spent time in prison and at-risk youth, and to influence public policy initiatives. The partnership aims to help these populations make a successful return to their communities following incarceration, support the children of formerly incarcerated individuals and reduce the rate of criminal recidivism.
Goodwill and Prison Fellowship will work together to engage their respective staff members nationwide and encourage local community partners—including businesses, social agencies, nonprofits and faith-based organizations—to assist with the efforts.
“Goodwill has demonstrated excellence in its services and programs that connect people from all backgrounds to achieve economic and social success,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “The partnership with Prison Fellowship will help ensure that people with a criminal history have the tools they need to become productive and independent members of society so that they can support themselves and their families.”
“The goal of the Prison Fellowship-Goodwill collaboration is to provide greater opportunity for ex-prisoners, their families and the systems that support them. These skills will help ex-prisoners succeed on the outside and increase the likelihood they will stay out-making communities safer for all of us,” said Curt Kemp, chief operating officer for Prison Fellowship. “The partnership will include vocational training, life skills, education and other comprehensive services.”
The agreement between Goodwill Industries International and the Prison Fellowship will enhance the dignity and quality of life for those people with a criminal background and allow them to rejoin the community successfully.
About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 166 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of the nation’s top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands, as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,400 retail stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2009, nearly 2 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) 741-0186. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl. Facebook: GoodwillIntl
About Prison Fellowship
Founded in 1976 by former Nixon aide Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship is the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship partners with churches, volunteers, other faith-based ministries, civic organizations, businesses and social agencies to focus on three areas: prisoners, communities and prisoners’ families. Find Prison Fellowship online at www.prisonfellowship.org. For all general inquiries call (877) 478-0100. Prison Fellowship is located in Lansdowne, VA.