In America, 80 percent of people with disabilities do not have jobs. This shameful statistic should encourage all of us to help people with disabilities earn employment. Fortunately, there are organizations dedicated to doing just that, including Goodwill Industries International, a 111-year-old social enterprise that places someone in...

If you ask job seekers whether their strategies involve searching and interacting online, most would likely say yes. But how a person uses the Internet for these searches is ever evolving. As companies are increasingly using software to sift through overwhelming numbers of job applications that come their...

Earth Day used to be simple: Plant a tree. Pick up litter. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Recycle.

Back in 1970, when the first Earth Day encouraged people to be mindful of these small acts, it was considered ample progress. The same cannot be said...

Now is the time of thrift. As the economic paradigm is shifting rapidly toward reuse and repurpose, more individuals are frequenting thrift establishments like Goodwill for bargains. What has always been a financially conscious and environmentally friendly choice is now becoming cool, as evidenced in part through Macklemore's Billboard-topping song,...

Over the last decade, "pop-up" retailing -- in which a brand or company shows up at a physical location for a limited period of time -- has gone from a holiday novelty to a year-round retailing solution. Some have been quick to dismiss the pop-up phenomenon as a trend that...

How are you reading this blog right now? Are you at home or work? Are you on your phone or a computer? Unfortunately, many people don't have such luxuries. In a job seekers' world that is heavily reliant on the Internet, a lack of digital access means a job seeker...

As the country wrestles with the budget crisis, there is one thing on which we agree: just as we are committed to the country's security and defense, we are committed to our veterans and military families. Without them, we would have no defense. They are proven leaders and community assets.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, "is, what are you doing for others?"

As we mark the 84th birthday of Dr. King this weekend, Americans across the country will honor his legacy by coming together to serve their neighbors and communities during a...

In a season when many of us are focused on gift buying or a tax deduction, December is a good time to think about another kind of giving: donating.

Even if you are tapped out financially, you can still give back by donating clothing and household items you no...

This holiday season, Americans are once again shopping. Gift-seekers turned out in droves for the first weekend of holiday shopping, and consumer confidence rose to a four-year-high. This is good news for our economy, but let's not forget that some 12 million Americans aren't concerned about...

Yesterday marked America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Organized by Keep America Beautiful, America Recycles Day is a time for each of us to think about our level of personal waste and to consider ways to...

"I thought that because I'm a veteran... employers would be receptive to hiring me," says Latonya Thomas. "But I got out of the military at a time when the economy was melting down and people were losing their jobs. Not only did I have to compete with other veterans, but...

What does it mean to give? It's different for each of us. Some of us give money, some give time, some give resources and some give their passion. The holiday season often is a time for giving and sharing to be top of mind.

On Tuesday November 27, 2012,...

Did you know that more than three in five American families now rely on women to be sole or co-breadwinners? In this highly charged political season, one thing I'm sure everyone can agree on is that our families and communities will suffer if more women don't have the...

One of the things that make America such a great country is our proud history of working together to overcome difficult times. It started with the founding of our nation 236 years ago, and it continues to this day. As individuals, we may not always see eye to eye --...

Every day, 500 military service members come home. Many will return with "invisible disabilities" such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, as well as other physical or emotional challenges. All are returning to an unstable economy, with a dismal 8.3 percent unemployment rate -- more than 10 percent...

For the fourth year in a row, Goodwill has partnered with Family Circle magazine to collaborate on a back-to-school clothing donation drive. Family Circle is urging its 18 million readers to donate to Goodwill in the magazine's September issue, which is available on newsstands now.

Throughout the...

There is a new commercial running in the United States that shows a series of students opening their college acceptance letters. It's heartwarming to witness their anxiety turn to joy as they realize that the door has opened to the next chapter in their lives.

At Goodwill,...

When I contemplate the characteristics exhibited by an exemplary volunteer, I think of dedication, selflessness, a desire to give back to the community, and a drive to uphold the highest level of humility and integrity. And, this past week in Duluth, GA, I was pleased to present the inaugural Forrest...

Lately, news reports have indicated slight improvements and declines in the U.S. economy, but the circumstances facing millions of Americans have remained the same for too long. U.S. unemployment has remained stagnant, and job opportunities either don't match the skills of job seekers, or people simply don't live where opportunities...