Goodwill Industries - Dan Buron
Our own Dan Buron provided members with a detailed overview of the agency he now oversees. Dan has been in this community for approximately a year and a half. He said that he is in a job that he really feels he was called to do. He has been with the Goodwill organization 13 years. Dan was the youngest of 8 children and had a sister who was 10 years his senior and was very close to. In spite of her developmental disabilities she was very active athletically and worked at a restaurant in Libertyville, IL which she took much pride in and brought her much joy. Dan said that she passed away a number of years ago yet he said her spirit remains with him as he performs his work at Goodwill.
Goodwill was actually founded in 1902 by Edgar J. Helms who was a minister and provided jobs to parishioners who were European immigrants by asking Boston’s wealthiest for donations of clothing and households goods he collected in burlap bags that could be refurbished and sold for a profit and paid to its workers who were generally hired because of their needs. It was a “had-up” not a “hand-out”.
There are currently 4 stores in the tri-county area – 1 store in Lenawee County, 2 stores in Monroe and 1 in Washtenaw County. The organization’s main thrust he said was to help people become self-sufficient and to realize their full potential. A job to most people, he said, was very rewarding and fulfilling. He saw it in his sister. He sees it every day when he goes to work. People take pride in being able to work, bring home a paycheck and reach a level of independence.
Goodwill is not only a “social service” but a “social enterprise” for the past 111 years! There are currently 150+ Goodwill locations across the country and in 14 other countries in the world! A large organization was just started in Brazil.
Among the programs offered locally are: Day Programs – for 90 people with significant developmental disabilities, Micro-Enterprise – for people who want to start a new small business, Student & Adult Services – this includes employment and training, Summer Experience, Job Placement Services, and Work Skills Evaluation. On the Contracts and Industrial Operations programs include secure document shredding and industrial cloths.
Some of the other service providers they partner with include: Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce, Bedford Business Association, Dell, Inc., Department of Human Services, , Jackson Community College, Lenawee County Probate Court, Lenawee County Solid Waste Department/Recycle Ann Arbor, Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority, Monroe Community Mental Health Authority, Maurice Spear Campus Youth Center, etc.
Much of the income Goodwill takes in comes from store sales. A slide Dan showed listed the organization’s impact on the community. Here is that impressive listing:
· Developing 15 micro businesses
· Provide employment and work training to 1,500 people a year
· Catherine Cobb Voucher Program
· Great Start Books
· 100% high school graduation rate
· $2.5M payroll with 250 people on the payroll
· Businesses generating $3.5M in revenue
· Recycle 2.5 million pounds of material per year
The future, Dan said in closing, was very bright. Here is the list he shared:
· Continue expansion of the Homeless Youth Program in partnership with Jackson College
· Develop an internal Job-to-Career Model
· Develop innovative partnership that strengthen our community
· Maximizing our social enterprise model to provide the greatest rate of return