Category: The Goodwill Blog

April is National Volunteer Month, when we celebrate the work that volunteers do year-round. During National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), organizations across the country will recognize their volunteers for helping them achieve their mission. As Goodwill Industries International's national volunteer specialist, I often hear stories about the dedicated volunteers giving their time at Goodwills in the U.S. and Canada. However, one program has allowed one financial institution's employees to turn their skills into a life changing volunteer opportunity: Good Assets, a financial education program funded by the Charles Schwab Foundation.

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According to professional job hunters, only 10-20 percent of jobs get published on job boards or in classified ads. The remaining 80 percent remain unpublished — making these job opportunities accessible only through networking. People in your network can give you job leads, offer advice about a particular career path, and introduce you to others who can help you in your job search. To help the people we serve achieve their potential and find new jobs and careers, Goodwill® offers “do’s” and “don’ts” of networking to help you make new connections and advance your career.

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Spring is right around the corner. As I come out of my winter hibernation, I find myself experiencing the following symptoms: * The urge to clean my space * The need to clear the clutter * The desire to repurpose the stuff I no longer use Do you experience one or more of these symptoms? Fear not — you, just like me, simply have a case of the spring cleaning bug! Gladly, Goodwill® has two new partners that have joined the Donate Movement to help us declutter our lives and help those in need in our community.

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It’s that time of year again – March is upon us and the IRS April 18 deadline to file your tax return is only five weeks away. It's time to gather up all your documents, complete your paperwork and make the most of your tax refund this year. Goodwill offers some timely tips to make the filing process easier and ensure you get all the money back you deserve this tax season.

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Congress averted a potential March 4 government shutdown by approving a temporary spending measure. This Continuing Resolution will keep federal programs funded through March 18, 2011, and cut current spending by $4 billion. While temporarily averting a shutdown, the threat to job training programs remains at 'Code Red.'

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On March 2, Americans gear up to celebrate the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss and the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. This day encourages communities to celebrate one of my favorite things: reading. Being unable to read makes many aspects of life difficult, from ordering on a menu to completing applications for jobs. Many Goodwill® agencies provide resources to help individuals increase their reading proficiency.

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Balancing a career, family and finances is one of the biggest challenges facing single mothers today. According to the Women's Economic Security Campaign, the unemployment rate for women who maintain families was 11.3 percent in 2010—the highest rate in the past 25 years. As single mothers look to find jobs and support their families, Goodwill can offer a range of services to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency.

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On February 11, 2011, the House Appropriations Committee unveiled a proposal to cut spending by $100 billion including more than $3.8 billion from the U.S. Deparment of Labors job training programs. If accepted by both the House and Senate, the cuts would be likely to take effect immediately. Click here to take action to support job training programs!

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February is National Financial Aid Awareness Month and Goodwill® wants to make sure every student benefits from the many financial aid rewards, scholarships, and free services available to save on education.

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It’s no surprise that higher levels of education correlate to better jobs and better pay. What’s a little less known are the growing number of educational options available for non-traditional students (e.g. adult learners). Whether you want to earn a GED or obtain an advanced degree, educational institutes and companies across the country offer the means to advance your education and career prospects.

READ MORE from Career Advancement Starts With Your Education

Last week, millions of Americans watched the State of the Union. In outlining his strategy for “winning the future,” President Obama highlighted the need to create jobs by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building the rest of the world. He also focused on the need to reduce the deficit. Among budget-cutting strategies he outlined was a proposal to freeze annual spending for the next five years, exempting education, defense, veterans affairs, homeland security, Medicare, and Social Security.

READ MORE from “Winning the Future” Requires a Win-Today Workforce

Did you know you could be eligible to get more money back -- as much as $5,666 -- from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this tax season? That is money you can use to boost your savings, build your assets, and help you pay for other important household and medical expenses.

READ MORE from The Earned Income Tax Credit Puts Money In Your Pocket