Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin strengthens our community
by providing supportive housing, employment services, and other assistance
to local residents with disabilities or other challenges.
WINTER 2015
Profile of Success: Tim Knowles
For the past 11 years, Tim has worked
at the UW Foundation as a concierge.
With support from Goodwill staff, he
spends six hours a week doing things
like cleaning conference rooms,
making sure copy machines are
stocked with paper, and shoveling.
Tim Knowles
Like so many young boys, Tim
Knowles was a Boy Scout. While
attending a scouting event at the
age of 14, his scout scarf got caught
on a stair rail, strangling him, after
the others had left the room. In
their absence, all oxygen was cut
off from his brain. He now faced a
life with decreased mental function
and his doctors thought he would
never walk or speak again.
Tim spent the next few years
relearning every day and basic work
skills, while at the same time finishing his education. After making
his way to Madison, he joined our
Supported Employment program.
It helps individuals with significant disabilities find and maintain
employment in the community.
“Tim is the kind of person who
strives to complete all of his work up
to employer expectations and he is
willing to help others. Whether it be
to carry something downstairs to the
basement or take on an extra task,
Tim does so willingly and without
complaint,” said Lauren Ganz, Tim’s
case manager.
According to Lauren, this past year
was a bit challenging for Tim. The
foundation started a large-scale construction project that has involved
completely renovating each floor,
one at a time. This proved to be
difficult for Tim at first as he had
to change his routine in order to
accommodate for the loss of his
regular tasks and the increase in
construction foot traffic. However,
Tim has since adapted well to
the changes and is now able to
remember his new tasks and how
the ongoing construction traffic can
affect his duties.
It’s not surprising that what friendly
and quick-witted Tim likes the most
about his job is the opportunity to
interact with others. He has developed
a close friendship with his supervisor
and was happy she gladly attended a
party celebrating his 50th birthday.
In addition to a chance to be with
others, his job gives him confidence –
he knows if someone asks him to do
something, he can figure out how to
do it and then do it well. It also gives
him the satisfaction of knowing he is
doing his part to pay his bills.
Another thing that makes him happy
is being busy.
Tim volunteers at an elementary
school for about six hours a week,
helping students learn how to read. He
particularly enjoys seeing the students’
happiness when they correctly figure
out how to pronounce words.
Continued on page 3
Season’s Greetings!
The Goodwill family wishes to
extend our heartfelt gratitude
and holiday greetings to you.
May there be peace on earth and
goodwill to all.
Vicki Holschuh
Goodwill President and CEO
1
Vicki Holschuh Assumes
Leadership Position
45 years, including 22 years as our
top executive.
Vicki Holschuh
Our organization is now under
the leadership of President and
CEO Vicki Holschuh. Holschuh
replaced Barbara Leslie who
retired after serving Goodwill for
Holschuh worked for Goodwill
Industries of Southeastern
Wisconsin for 18 years. She held a
variety of executive positions during
her tenure, including her final
position as senior vice president and
chief retail officer.
According to Gary Johnson, chair
of our board of directors, “Vicki is
an individual with incredibly strong
credentials who has helped the
Milwaukee Goodwill organization
Dear Friends,
With mixed emotions I began this
year by announcing my plans to
retire by year-end. The decision
wasn’t an easy one for me but after
serving this wonderful organization
for the past 45 years, I felt it was
time to begin a new chapter in my
life, one which includes more time
with family and friends and some
time just for me!
During the year, the board of
directors spent considerable time
and effort looking for the right
person to assume the leadership
role that I have held for the past 22
years. I couldn’t be more pleased
2
Barbara Leslie, Retired
President and CEO
with its decision to hire Vicki
Holschuh, a person I have known
and admired for many years. Vicki
has earned a stellar reputation in
the Goodwill network as senior
vice president and chief retail
grow into the largest in the nation.
While helping to develop its strong
retail program, Vicki has also never
lost sight of the mission and values
of Goodwill.”
He added, “As we look forward to
Vicki’s leadership, we know that
Barb Leslie will be missed and long
remembered for her tremendous
contribution to the growth of
Goodwill in this area of the state.
She and her team have built a strong
reputation and foundation for our
organization that will serve us well
in the future.”
officer for Goodwill Industries of
Southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee
Goodwill) where she has held
progressively advanced positions
for the past 18 years. In her senior
executive leadership role in the
largest and most profitable Goodwill
organization in the United States,
Vicki was responsible for strategic
planning and execution, operations
management, talent management,
and fiscal affairs for its retail business.
In addition to her knowledge of
the retail industry, Vicki has a deep
understanding and passion for the
mission of Goodwill. It gives me great
comfort knowing that Vicki is here to
lead this organization forward.
Continued on page 3
Continued from page 1
“I like to think of
Tim as the face of
the UW Foundation.
Everyone there
seems to know him
and it astonishes
me how fast Tim
can make friends
and get to know
the people around
him. I credit it to his
personality. He’s the
kind of person that
I hope helps others
realize that just
because someone
has a disability,
that doesn’t mean it
should define them.”
-Lauren Ganz
Tim’s Case Manager
Continued from page 2
During my final weeks at
Goodwill, I had the pleasure of
visiting each location to express
my deep gratitude and respect
for our employees who work so
hard to support the mission of
our organization. Goodwill is
blessed with so many talented and
committed people who clearly
find purpose in their work and
satisfaction in knowing that what
they do makes a real difference in
the lives of others in our community.
I was also able to express my
appreciation to members of
the board for faithfully and so
generously volunteering their time,
“I feel I need to do this volunteer
work. I benefit from it and so do
the kids. I think I grow when they
grow,” he said.
This year marked the 12th year
Tim has helped students learn this
valuable life skill.
In addition, for the past 21 years,
Tim has worked teaching individuals with physical disabilities how
to “water walk.” What’s interesting
about this position is that it is an
important part of his own therapy.
Soon he will be spending even
more time in the pool as he
trains to swim in the next Special
Olympics. He is hoping to bring
home a medal that can be proudly
displayed next to the gold medal he
won competing in tennis – a sport
he enjoys and is good at even with
his diminished physical reflexes.
talent, and resources in support of
this organization. Because of their
leadership and commitment, Goodwill
is positioned to continue a long
and proud history of strengthening
our community through services
that positively impact the lives of
local residents while also making a
significant contribution to improving
our environment.
It has been the mission that has given
me the inspiration and purpose that
held me at Goodwill for so long.
To witness the transformation that
occurs in the lives of those served
by Goodwill, given the barriers they
overcome and the dignity in which
they conduct their lives, has been a
truly humbling experience. My life is
richer because of them!
Tim also enjoys canoeing. This
summer he and a friend will be
trying their best to complete a
grueling paddling and portage race
ahead of one particular team – that
duo consisting of his friend’s wife
and Tim’s best friend, Kari.
Kari and Tim met 17 years ago, when
Kari lived in the same condominium
complex as Tim’s parents. Over the
years they have shared so much
– day-to-day things as well as fun
things like watching Badger sporting
events in person or on television
and hiking – another activity Tim
engages in even though has faces
a physical challenge, in this case,
minor balance issues. On their list of
fun things to do soon is take a road
trip with a foreign sports car Tim’s
father has handed down to him.
Reflecting on his life, Tim said, “I’m
proud that I’m able to do as much as
I do!”
None of this would be possible
without people like you, our partners,
who make our work possible. Your
incredible generosity has meant so
much to me personally and, more
importantly, has meant the world to
the beneficiaries of our services.
It has been a privilege and honor
to serve Goodwill throughout
these years and it is with heartfelt
gratitude and great excitement about
Goodwill’s continued success that I
bid you a fond goodbye.
Warm wishes,
Barbara Leslie
3
Free Job
Search
Assistance
Expands
We are proud to now offer free
online as well as free in-person
assistance to individuals with
or without disabilities who are
looking for a job!
Our website, www.goodwillscwi.org,
includes links to GoodProspects – a
Goodwill Industries Internationalsupported website where job seekers
can get help:
•
•
•
•
reating résumés and cover letters
C
Finding job openings
Applying for positions
Preparing for a job interview
The GoodProspects site also
provides access to helpful
information for those who want
assistance for long-term career
and financial success. The site can
help individuals:
lack of transportation or child care,
their work schedule is the same as
the center’s hours of operation, or
working on their job search for short
periods of time here and there is the
best approach for them,” said Tom
Grunder, our director of workforce
development.
• A
ssess their skills
• Explore career paths
• Understand their training and
education options
• Build their network
• Strengthen workplace
relationships
• Improve their financial skills
No matter which type of assistance
individuals are looking for, visitors
can request one-on-one assistance
from a virtual mentor and/or post
questions in the site’s community
forums.
“By providing easy access to this
free valuable information 24/7,
we are able to help those looking
for a job who may not be able to
visit our career center in Fitchburg
for any of a variety of reasons – a
4
Pam Johnson (left), manager of the Goodwill
Career Center, provides free job search
assistance to a client.
While the GoodProspects website
provides a wealth of helpful
information, some may want to
receive free face-to-face assistance
from staff at the Goodwill Career
Center located at 6291 McKee Road
in Fitchburg. The center offers:
• A
ccess to high-speed Internet to
search for jobs and community
programs and services
• Help creating résumés, cover
letters, and thank you letters
• A
n opportunity to increase
interviewing skills by participating
in mock job interviews
• A safe and supportive environment
“We’ve received so much positive
feedback about our career center
services,” Grunder said. “One
particular client visited the center to
receive help updating her résumé.
She was impressed with how warmly
our staff greeted and helped her
and with the quality of her updated
résumé. Within a few weeks she had
two job interviews. She returned to
the center for help writing follow-up
thank you letters and believes the
quality of the letter she sent to one
interviewer led to her receiving a job
offer. She said, ‘Goodwill staff are so
compassionate about helping people
and it shows. The career center
definitely gave me the tools that I
needed to improve my future.’”
The center is accessible via Madison
Metro route 52. Its hours are 10:30
a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through
Friday. For more information,
contact the center’s manager, Pam
Johnson, at pjohnson@goodwillscwi.
org or 608-268-5175.
Goodwill Provides
Free Tax Prep
Help
Goodwill is once again providing
free income tax preparation
assistance to area low-to-moderate
income families and individuals.
provide basic income tax return
preparation assistance. “This service
is a huge help to eligible taxpayers,”
said Sonja Patterson, our program’s
coordinator. “They don’t have to pay
a fee to have their return prepared
and their return is prepared by a
person who can ensure that they are
receiving all the credits due to them.”
Through the program, called
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA), IRS-certified volunteers
A family or individual earning
generally $62,000 or less is eligible
for the free assistance. The dates,
times, and locations of the tax return
‘Tis the Season….
For Donations
and Deductions
making a financial donation. Every
donation made on or before Dec. 31 is
deductible on your 2015 tax returns,
to the extent allowed by law.
Help us provide life-changing
services for area individuals with
disabilities or other challenges by
donating unwanted items and/or
To find the donation center nearest
you, visit www.goodwillscwi.org or
call 608-246-3140. To make a cash
donation, just visit any of our stores,
preparation sessions and other
information will be available in
January. Information will be
posted on our website, www.
goodwillscwi.org, and available by
calling 608-246-3140, ext. 155.
send your check payable to Goodwill
of South Central Wisconsin to 1302
Mendota St., Madison, WI 53714, or
donate online at www.goodwillscwi.
org. A list of our store locations is
available at the website and phone
number listed above.
Please make your donation today!
Taiwanese
Student Visits
Goodwill
training and supervision, at no cost
to the employer. She was the most
impressed by the good relationship
job coaches have with those
receiving our services.
This summer, Ya-Ling (Amily)
Peng, a graduate student from
Taiwan, spent several days with
Goodwill Supported Employment
participants and staff, as part of
her field experience. Her goal was
to learn about ways to support
individuals with autism, in the
workplace.
This was Peng’s first visit to Wisconsin.
She enjoyed Madison’s many green
spaces, lakes, and bike trails and
visited the farmers’ market and the
Memorial Union. She also tasted what
is probably Wisconsin’s best-known
snack – deep-fried cheese curds – and
thought they tasted really good!
Peng is pursuing a master’s degree
in rehabilitation counseling from
the National Changhua University
of Education. She works at the
Applied Behavior and Analysis
Research and Development
Center at the university and was
a member of the New Taipei City
Autism Association.
Ya-Ling (Amily) Peng (right) joins Jacob, a
Supported Employment participant whom she
shadowed during her time at Goodwill.
During her time with Goodwill,
Peng shadowed three individuals
receiving our Supported
Employment services and their
job coach. These services help
individuals with significant
disabilities find and maintain
employment in the community.
After assessing an individual’s
skills and matching him or her
to an employer, Goodwill staff
supplement the employer’s regular
Peng visited Goodwill thanks in
part to the efforts of Dr. Norm
Berven. Berven is a professor
emeritus and co-chair of the
rehabilitation psychology program
in the rehabilitation psychology and
special education department at the
UW-Madison and has had a long
association with Goodwill.
5
Beware of
“Think Before
You Donate”
Rumors
Sadly, during this season of
giving, a negative message titled
“Think Before You Donate” has
re-surfaced. This message contains
false and misleading information
regarding Goodwill Industries
International (GII) and several
other nonprofit organizations. The
rumors are being spread via email
and social media.
At Goodwill, we definitely
encourage you to “think before
you donate” and to learn as much
as you can about the charities
you’d like to support. We know
that you want to be certain
the organization you choose
RUMOR
BUSTER!
to support uses its revenue for
charitable purposes that support a
mission you stand behind.
Contrary to the “Think Before
You Donate” message, the current
chief executive officer of GII is Jim
Gibbons, not Mark Curran. Curran
has never been associated
with the Goodwill enterprise.
To learn more about GII,
please visit www.goodwill.org.
Additional information about
GII and information about other
organizations included in the rumor
is available through:
• Charity Navigator (blog.
charitynavigator.org) – Charity
Navigator is the nation’s largest
independent charity evaluator and
leading donor advocate
• G
uideStar (www.guidestar.
org) – This is a public charity
that gathers and disseminates
information about every IRSregistered nonprofit organization
Additional information about
this false and misleading message
is available at www.snopes.com.
(Search on “Goodwill.”)
Thank you for supporting Goodwill.
Your purchases, donations,
partnerships, and financial
contributions really do help us to
build better communities and help
area individuals with disabilities or
other challenges.
Full-time employees (those working
30 or more hours per week) are
eligible for health, dental, life, and
disability insurance, retirement
plans, and paid holiday, vacation,
and sick time. Part-time employees
working 25 to 29 hours per week are
eligible for paid holiday, vacation,
and sick time.
Information about available positions
can be obtained at www.goodwillscwi.
org and our corporate office on
Madison’s east side (1302 Mendota St.).
Interested persons can apply online or
pick up an application at the corporate
office or any Goodwill Industries of
South Central Wisconsin store or
donation center.
Join Our
Team!
Do you want a job that makes
a positive difference in our
community? One that changes lives?
We offer positions working
in our stores or donation
centers, providing services to
individuals with disabilities or
other challenges, or otherwise
supporting our mission. We
operate facilities in Madison,
Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona,
Fort Atkinson, Platteville, Portage,
Richland Center, and Sun Prairie.
6
Residents Donate
During “Moving
Days”
Once again Goodwill participated
in downtown Madison’s “Moving
Days.” The goal of the event
was to provide an opportunity
for those who were changing
residences to reduce waste by
donating, re-homing, or recycling
unwanted items.
During the four-day event, over
42,000 pounds of goods were
donated to Goodwill via donation
containers stationed at 15
apartment buildings. The revenue
generated through the sale of
these and other donated goods
was used to provide life-changing
services for individuals with
disabilities or other challenges.
Sean Vidal was one of the residents
who donated items to Goodwill.
We thank the following
participating property
management companies:
Forward Management
“I always like to donate to Goodwill
instead of throwing out my old
clothes. It just seems like the right
thing to do – to help other people.
Plus I shop at Goodwill a lot. Some
of the things I donated today I
bought at Goodwill!,” he said.
Vidal shops at Goodwill when
creating his Halloween costume
and when he is looking for a festive
Christmas sweater or other clothing.
He said, “I always go to Goodwill
before a big costume shop or
something like that because there
could be something at Goodwill that
is really fun and really interesting.
You find some other great stuff too
that you can wear to work or in your
day-to-day life. Love Goodwill!”
Goodwill is proud to have partnered
with the UW-Madison’s Office of
Sustainability, WE CONSERVE, and
REThink Wisconsin, as well as the
city of Madison and Society of St.
Vincent de Paul during this event.
LZ Management
Madison Property Management
Orosz Properties
SBA Management Services
Volunteers
Wanted!
We’re looking for individuals to volunteer
their time and talent in an effort to help
us fulfill our mission of strengthening
our community by providing supportive
housing, employment services, and
other assistance to local residents with
disabilities or other challenges. We
welcome those who are interested
in volunteering as a group as well
as those who want to serve on an
individual basis, students interested in
fulfilling educational requirements, and
individuals wanting to complete their
court-mandated community service.
Volunteer opportunities include
participating in and/or planning
activities for our clients, providing
support during our community events,
or providing other assistance. Right
now we have a need for a volunteer
with knowledge of the various careers
available in the technology field. We
We extend a huge
would like the volunteer to spend
THANK YOU to the
UPS employees who
a few hours at our corporate office
volunteered their time
on Madison’s east side assisting an
to do yard work at two
individual with disabilities determine if a
of our group homes and
technology-related career is a possibility
tidy up the grounds
given his skill set and providing other
at our Monona store
helpful related insights.
and donation center.
Thank You Volunteers!
Pictured are, from left
to right, Todd Benson,
Sheri Birchler, Corey
Skrede, Doug Jewell,
Andrew Wagle, Paul
Stapel, Zach Tuszka,
and Adam Wooldridge.
For more information, contact our
volunteer coordinator, Sonja Patterson,
at [email protected],
608-246-3140, ext. 155.
7
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
MADISON WI
PERMIT NO. 549
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES
of South Central Wisconsin, Inc.
1302 Mendota Street
Madison, WI 53714
Address Service Requested
Goodwill Industries of South
Central Wisconsin, Inc.
Board of Directors
Gary Johnson, Chair
Accounting Manager, MARC
Joan Klaski, Vice Chair
Community Representative
Greg Rice, Secretary
President, Executive Management, Inc.
Cheryll Olson-Collins, Treasurer
Administrator, Wisconsin Department
of Financial Institutions, Division of
Administrative Services and Technology
Benjamin Bemis
Vice President of Commercial Banking,
Chase Bank
Marlene Duffield
Vice President, DIMS, LTD.
Bruce Gust
President, Complete Insurance
& Financial
Paul Hoffmann
President & CEO, Monona State Bank
Scott Kelly
President, Kelly Financial Group, Inc.
Steve Knuteson
Principal Owner, Peak Creative
Craig Kinney Apartments, Inc.
Debra Beebe Apartments, Inc.
Jefferson County Apartments, Inc.
Old Middleton Road Apartments, Inc.
Sandra Hall Apartments, Inc.
Special Living Arrangements, Inc.
Madison East 2127 East Springs Drive
Madison West 4530 Verona Road
Fitchburg 6291 McKee Road
Monona 2501 Royal Avenue
Fort Atkinson 1530 Madison Avenue
Benjamin Schmidt
Development and Leasing Associate,
Urban Land Interests
Platteville 2001 Progressive Parkway
Gary Steinhauer
Partner, Steinhauer & Company, LLC
Richland Center 2496 US Hwy 14 East
Brian Worden
Partner, TeamSoft, Inc.
Dora Zuniga
Founder, Inspira Consulting
Portage 2902 American Legion Drive
Sun Prairie 2111 McCoy Road
Location with a Donation
Center Only
Middleton 6661 University Avenue
All permissible items except furniture
are accepted at this site.
Sally Gleason
Community Representative
Goodwill Affiliate Boards
Locations with a Store and
Donation Center
Board Members
Career Center
Nelson Flynn
Community Representative
Fitchburg 6291 McKee Road
Sandra Hall
Madison College Disability Resource
Administrator
David Olsen
Olsen Funeral Home, Jefferson, WI
Greg Rice
President, Executive Management, Inc.
Goodwill is a tax-exempt organization
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code. We are a member of Goodwill
Industries International Inc., Rockville,
Maryland. We are a not-for-profit organization accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
Pamela Valenta
Journey Mental Health Center of
Dane County
www.goodwillscwi.org
Goodwill Industries is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
This newsletter was printed using earth-friendly soy ink on U.S. made paper with a minimum 10% post-consumer recycled paper from responsibly managed forests.