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Business
Collaborations: Success Stories
Hiring
or OutSource Resource:
Philanthropy:
The TJX Companies, Inc.
Goodwill and the TJX Companies have a strong business collaboration
that began in 1998 with a groundbreaking partnership that led to
Goodwill's First Step Retail Training program.
Participants
in our First Step program spend three weeks in class learning the
nuts and bolts of working in retail. After successful completion
of the training course, they have an opportunity to work at a Goodwill
store or a TJX Companies-owned store – T.J.Maxx, Marshall's,
or A.J. Wright.
Now in its seventh year, First Step has been highly successful in
helping participants move from welfare to work more quickly. It
has also been very positive for The TJX Companies from a business
perspective.
According to Ernie Herrman, President, The Marmaxx Group, The TJX
Companies, Inc.
“We
have had a very high retention rate for sales associates hired
through Goodwill. This is a direct result of our great, long-standing
partnership. Goodwill-trained employees are among the most loyal
employees you can have.”
Today, TJX’s
involvement with Goodwill extends beyond the First Step Job Training
program. TJX employees are actively involved with Goodwill’s
Business Advisory Council and The Goodwill Invitational Golf Tournament
committee. In addition, The TJX Companies host clothing drives to
support Goodwill’s Clothing Collaborative for Job Trainees
and provide corporate donations to The Goodwill Stores.
Stop & Shop
Stop & Shop has been a leading employer of Goodwill training
program graduates, having hired 17 trainees in the last year alone.
Stop & Shop routinely contacts Goodwill in advance of store
openings and last year hired 11 Goodwill trainees for its new store
in Brigham Circle in Boston.
In addition to hiring Goodwill trainees, Stop & Shop participates
on Goodwill’s Business Advisory Council and has generously
donated food for Goodwill’s Thanksgiving Food Basket program
for families in need.
.
Boston 2004 – Host Committee for the Democratic National
Convention
When Boston 2004, the city’s host committee for the Democratic
National Convention, needed assistance assembling 30,000 gift bags
for media and delegates, they turned to Goodwill’s The
OutSource Resource. The OutSource Resource, which is staffed
by 100 individuals with disabilities working out of Goodwill’s
Salem Job Training Center, completed the work in just over a week.
KeySpan
Energy
When KeySpan
Energy was looking to fill 14 new positions in its call center,
the company turned to Boston Career Link, a one-stop career center
operated by Goodwill, to find pre-screened, qualified job seekers.
KeySpan filled six of the positions with job seekers referred by
Boston Career Link, and it continues to partner with Goodwill and
Boston Career Link to recruit, screen and prepare potential applicants
for positions at the company. KeySpan also participates on Goodwill's
Business Advisory Council.
"Within
the first six months of partnering with Boston Career Link, we
have already increased our applicant pool in volume and, more
importantly, with qualified candidates."
“In addition, we recently hired six new hires from their
training programs, and Boston Career Link has maintained contact
with both the new hires and us to ensure their success. KeySpan
is committed to developing a skilled workforce that reflects the
communities in which we work. Going forward in 2005, we plan to
continue our successful partnership with Boston Career Link and
applaud the outstanding efforts of its staff for understanding
our company and our company’s recruitment needs.”
Janet
T Bryson
Senior Human Resources Representative
Staffing & Employment
KeySpan Energy
Citizens Bank
Goodwill and Citizens Bank have enjoyed a long and multi-faceted
partnership. Goodwill and its career center, Boston Career Link,
have been a valuable resource for Citizens Bank in meeting its hiring
needs. Citizens Bank has also turned to Goodwill's OutSource Resource
for help with contract production work. Over the years, Citizens
has provided financial support to Goodwill programs and many of
the bank's employees have been dedicated volunteers at our annual
holiday events that serve people in need.
“Boston
Career Link has been a great partner with Citizens Bank. They
have presented us with well-prepared candidates for traditional
employment as well as for our CCJP (Citizens Community Jobs Partnership)
training program. In addition, we have recently teamed up with
Boston Career Link to provide us with clients for mock interviews
as a part of an interview training workshop we have for our managers.
Boston Career Link staff has been very professional and extremely
accommodating in meeting our needs. It can be difficult to sustain
an effective relationship with community organizations as we each
have changing business needs. However, Boston Career Link has
consistently met our expectations and been a reliable resource
for us. We truly appreciate the partnership we have established
with Boston Career Link and look forward to growing it further.”
Jana
C. Goffe
Recruiting Manager
Citizens Bank
ZOOTS
Goodwill’s relationship with ZOOTS Dry Cleaners began in 1998
when ZOOTS opened its first store and began collecting donated clothing
for Goodwill. Three years later, given the success of the donation
collaboration, ZOOTS and Goodwill teamed up for “The Big Drop,”
a fall/winter donation drive that encourages people to make a difference
around the holidays.
Today, the Goodwill-ZOOTS collaboration has evolved into a successful
business relationship. Five days per week a supervised group of
Goodwill trainees sorts hangers at ZOOTS’ production facility
in Brockton. These are individuals living with disabilities who
require a more structured environment in which to apply their skills.
The collaboration is a win-win for both Goodwill and ZOOTS: Goodwill
trainees get on-the-job experience and a paycheck, and ZOOTS is
able to recycle its hangers and meet it production goals.
Mellon New England
Mellon New England and Goodwill began a collaboration in 1997 when
wepartnered to start an after-school program for at-risk adolescent
girls. With an initial grant from the Mellon Charitable Giving Program,
The Mellon Academy for Girls was up and running as a Saturday
leadership and career development program for girls ages 10 to 18.
Today, more than 100 girls participate in the Academy, which has
expanded into an after-school and Saturday program that emphasizes
academics, career exploration and leadership development. In addition,
Mellon New England continues its involvement with the program though
financial support and assistance with curricula development.
The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
Goodwill enjoys a longstanding relationship with the New England
Patriots and the Kraft family. Each year at Thanksgiving time, New
England Patriots players and The Kraft Family come to Goodwill to
help distribute food baskets – filled with everything needed
to prepare a Thanksgiving meal – to families in need. The
individuals who receive food baskets are enrolled in or have recently
completed job training at Goodwill or have benefited from Boston
Career Link’s job search services. The food baskets and the
Super Bowl champions’ enthusiastic involvement in the event
year after year provides a much needed holiday boost to people who
are struggling to support themselves and their families.
Goodwill Business Advisory Council members
Goodwill’s Business Advisory Council acts as our strongest
link to the business community. Its purpose is to assist Goodwill
in achieving its mission by promoting employment opportunities for
individuals participating in Goodwill’s programs. This council
works actively with our placement services – placement specialists
from Goodwill’s Programs
and Services and Boston
Career Link.
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