Goodwill Industries® Partners with StoryCorps on Military Voices Initiative

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Mar 11, 2013, 08:00 ET

National Partnership Captures Veterans' Stories for Library of Congress

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 11, 2013 Goodwill Industries International and StoryCorps have partnered to record the stories of veterans, service members, and military families as part of the StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative. The first recording will take place at Goodwill Industries of Houston, one of the leading Goodwill® providers of veteran employment services, from March 14-15 in Houston, TX.

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Goodwill Houston has a long standing history of serving veterans. In addition to being the recipient of several federal grants for veterans, the agency is involved with Operation: GoodJobs, an initiative to empower military veterans with the tools they need to find employment, advance in their careers and ensure long-term financial stability for their families. The Goodwill not only assists veterans with job training and placement, but also designs individualized, holistic plans that support a range of family needs for the entire family and help ensure economic security in the long-term.

StoryCorps, a national oral history project, provides Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve their stores. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews with nearly 90,000 participants. From July 2012 through November 2013, StoryCorps' Military Voices Initiative is recording the stories of more than 700 post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Twelve veterans served by Goodwill Houston will share their stories during the two-day recording session. A family member, friend or other loved one will interview each veteran about his or her experiences in the military and the challenges faced in transitioning to civilian employment. Each conversation will be preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

"Veterans are civic assets and leaders. As a nonprofit whose commitment to supporting veterans transition to civilian life dates back to World War I, we are honored to be part of the StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "The initiative will amplify our veterans' important stories, build support and appropriately honor them."

StoryCorps is the largest oral history project of its kind. A select number of interviews are edited for national broadcast and aired on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. The project is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and The Boeing Company.

"The Military Voices Initiative will not only provide military families with a national platform to share their stories of service in their own voices, but will also enable civilians to understand more clearly the complex challenges of their bravery and sacrifice," said Dave Isay, founder and president of StoryCorps. "As veterans return to civilian life from Afghanistan and Iraq, we believe that the simple act of listening tells them how much they matter, and by preserving that conversation for posterity, we assure them that they won't be forgotten."

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 is one of America's top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes). 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 2,800 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 2012, more than 4.2 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at locator.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl or @GoodwillCapHill, or find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

About StoryCorps
StoryCorps is a national nonprofit organization that provides people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, preserve, and share their stories. Each week, millions of Americans listen to StoryCorps' award-winning broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition. StoryCorps has published three books: All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps, and Listening Is an Act of Love —all of which are New York Times bestsellers. For more information, or to listen to stories online, visit storycorps.org.

About Goodwill Industries of Houston
Goodwill Industries of Houston provides training, education and employment opportunities to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Goodwill Houston strives to be the premier workforce development resource in greater Houston, based on the excellence of our people and our career services. For more information about store locations, programs and services, visit goodwillhouston.org,facebook.com/GoodwillHoustonOrg or call (713) 692-6221.

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operation of more than 1,400 locally-owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

About The Boeing Company
Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing is the prime contractor for the International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing provides products and support services to customers in 150 countries and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International