Each month, the Social Good Blog highlights news and resources on a specific topic. In September, we are discussing best practices in nonprofit philanthropy. Today's post shares several resources for individuals determining how they can contribute to their favorite cause and for fundraising professionals looking to stay on top of the latest trends.
My name is Pablo Gaxiola. On August 7, 2014, I began the journey that has changed my life. Goodwill of Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) invited me to attend an orientation for the New Opportunity Work (NOW) program. I came in unsure of what was going to happen with only the smallest bit of hope that something would change. After an initial assessment and orientation I was given a job as an administrative clerk, utilizing experience and skills I learned from spending 15 years in prison.
Whether you are settling into a new dorm room for the school year, an apartment post-graduation, or just trying to make better use of the space in your long-time home, this post is for you. A cluttered environment can take a toll on your happiness by impeding your ability to truly relax. So, with a
This September is Hunger Action Month, and our friends at Feeding America are working to call attention to hunger, which impacts 48 million people – including 15 million children, in the United States. Organizations like Goodwill understand that food security and nutrition are inseparable from education and career success – families, individuals and children who are struggling to meet their nutrition needs are less prepared to succeed at work and at school. Communities across the country are trying to sustain those in need, and a critical resource in that effort is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a fundamental program for low-income individuals and families, SNAP provides millions with nutrition assistance. However, something has been changing with this critical program.
Through the operation of Goodwill’s well-known donated goods retail stores, Goodwill® provides jobs and career training -- services that are fundamental to our mission. Each year, tens of thousands of people are employed and millions receive mission services. To accelerate the creation of jobs and expansion of mission-related services, in 2013 Goodwill Industries International began offering a financing opportunity to enable more local Goodwill organizations to access the funds they need to improve existing sites and to open new stores and donations centers. In the three years since its creation, GMJCS has loaned $8.7 million to 12 local Goodwill organizations which have opened 22 new retail stores and 12 donation centers.
READ MORE from Innovative Fund Creates Local Jobs, Expands Goodwill’s Mission
It’s crazy to me that Labor Day is this weekend! As the unofficial end of summer, I really hate to see this holiday arrive. However, it’s also a wonderful reminder to soak up some sun while that’s still a comfortable option. Seeing as summer doesn’t officially end for a few more weeks (and fall is actually a really lovely season to spend time outside!), I’d say it’s still okay to invest a little time and energy into one last warm-weather hoorah with a few budget-friendly backyard purchases.
Imagine if a neighbor or family member suddenly found himself or herself without a job, and consequently without a home for his or her family. For Tiarra, this was an unfortunate reality. Without employment, she and her children were homeless and were at one point forced to sleep in a car. Now imagine if everyone in your community had access to job training to put them on a career path that provided financial stability and a secure future for themselves and their families.
READ MORE from Spread Awareness About the Importance of Job Training
In 2014 unexpectedly, my fiancée died tragically. He was the sole source of income for me and my four children. The shock and depression crippled me. My mom, who is from Maryland, stayed with me for about nine months. We met with Greta [from Goodwill Industries of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana] and talked about computer classes and possibly working at the Goodwill store.
Harry Potter super-fans have now read (and maybe re-read!) the newest installment of the series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a play whose script was released earlier this summer. Year after year (new release or not), this wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling is continuously infatuating for people around the globe, so it was about time we paid homage to it here!
When the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program program (TANF) was created, work and family supports were cited as priorities to provide a safety net and promote work, but over the years flaws in the program’s structure have become apparent. As a result of multiple barriers fewer families in poverty are being helped. In 2014, 23 out of every 100 families in poverty received TANF benefits, as opposed to 68 out of 100 in 1996. Currently, fewer than one in five poor children receive help through TANF. In addition, states spend very little – 8 percent -- of TANF funds on work-related activities that necessary for people to succeed.
READ MORE from 20 Years Since Welfare Reform: The Safety Net Needs Repair
