Goodwill® Encourages Small Steps to Protect Planet

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Apr 19, 2012, 12:39 ET

Calculator Shows Individuals Make a Difference

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The proliferation of advice on sustainable living has left many consumers overwhelmed and wondering if their green efforts even make a difference. Goodwill Industries®, a pioneer of the reduce-reuse-repurpose philosophy, wants the public to know that simple acts, like donating gently used clothing and household items to Goodwill, can have a lasting impact on the planet.

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"April 22 is Earth Day, and it provides the perfect opportunity for individuals to commit to one new green practice that can make a difference. Small acts add up to big change when you harness the power of millions who care about our planet," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.

Through the sale of donations, Goodwill diverts billions of pounds of usable goods from landfills annually. Revenues from the sale of these goods at Goodwill stores fund programs that put people to work, including people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing challenges to finding employment. And, like donors, shoppers play a key role in the process. When people find bargains in their local Goodwill stores, they not only save money, but they also extend the lifespan of items that would otherwise be discarded.

To show individuals how their donations make a difference, Goodwill developed the patent-pending Donation Impact Calculator at http://donate.goodwill.org. The calculator translates the value of donations into job training programs, employment placement services and other vital programs that benefit local communities. For example, the donation of one working computer translates into 5.8 hours of a job search class. In 2011, more than 100,000 people saw the impact their donations made through 288,000 calculations on the site.

"For more than a century, Goodwill has linked protecting the environment to helping people earn paychecks, support their families and strengthen their communities," said Gibbons. "Each individual shopper and donor is an important partner in what we do."

About Goodwill Industries International:
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. 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 2,600 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 2011, more than 4 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 http://goodwill.org or call (800) GOODWILL. Facebook: GoodwillIntl. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International