Goodwill 50th Anniversary: The people who make the mission worth doing

Nancey is a Job Coach at Goodwill’s Group Supported Employment program. She currently works with adult participants with developmental disabilities. The fact that she serves in our mission services isn’t the story…it’s what she’s done in the past 7 years to get where she is today.

Nancey’s substance abuse was a result of very dark experiences when she was younger. Add that to a partner who also abused drugs, no high school diploma & raising young children, she didn’t see very many options. While in recovery, she got a job as a store associate at Goodwill & one year later she earned her GED by doing in-house tutoring with Goodwill’s Employee Development program. It was, however, through her 19-month Child Protective Services case & her rehabilitation that got her interested in helping those struggling like she did.

Two weeks after getting her GED, she enrolled at Pima Community College in a fast-track program to get her Behavior Health Services Certificate. With the support of family and co-workers, she celebrated receiving her certificate in June 2016. She hopes to continue to a career to help families dealing with substance abuse and mental health challenges.

Goodwill’s Employee Development program supports Goodwill employees with career plans, financial planning, education plans and goal-setting. It’s a pleasure to watch our employees grow into themselves, explore and take steps towards their career goals, even if it may not ultimately be within Goodwill. The Employee Development program also provides crisis support and tuition reimbursements. Goodwill’s Employee Development is fully funded by the sale of generously donated items.