Goodwill Community Foundation Increases Community Support in 2014
Durham, NC (PRWEB) January 19, 2015 -- In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. day Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF®) encourages giving back and community service all year round. In fact, in 2014 the organization increased its support for the people of eastern North Carolina, including the Triangle, through employee pay, donations of fresh produce to the food bank, and support for families with member who have special needs.
“In 2014 we actively sought out and funded programs that positively impact the people of the triangle and eastern North Carolina – this is the embodiment of carrying out the actions of supporting community through service. And, is what Martin Luther King, Jr. day represents,” says Rev. Dennis McLain, GCF® president. “We provide employment opportunities with benefits and pay that is higher than the industry average. Our Farm exists for the sole purpose of feeding our hungry neighbors. Our supply and support programs are designed to offer no-cost options for families who need a little extra support from their community. Math, English and technology illiteracy is a major barrier to life success. GCFlearnfree is our solution that is used by children and adults to overcome this barrier. This is why we exist and 2014 was a banner year for our outreach efforts.”
Ninety-four percent of the cash realized from the value of the items donated to GCF® fund programs and grants for people across eastern North Carolina, such as:
• More than 360 eastern North Carolinians are served through employment at GCF Donation Centers & Stores. Wages and benefits increased 2.42 percent in 2014, from $20.21 to $20.70. This is .72% more than the government cost of living adjustments in the same year.
• The GCF® Farm, which is located at GCF’s Durham, NC headquarters, harvested 80,017 pounds of produce, a 26.61 percent increase over 2013. Once harvested, the food was taken directly to the local food bank for distribution to hungry families across eastern North Carolina.
• GCF® Family Support Services provided no-charge services, resources, and NICU programs to 1,933 families with members who have special needs. This is a 5.6% increase over 2013.
• GCF® provided $870,000 in grants to community-based organizations throughout the region, including six Boys & Girls who give children a safe environment where they can learn and thrive.
• GCFlearnfree.org, GCFaprendelibre.org and GCFaprendelivre.org provided no cost online learning in basic math, English and technology to over 6 million students in the U.S. and 260,000 in North Carolina.
For more information on how GCF® does this, please visit http://www.gcfglobal.org.
About Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF®)
Goodwill Community Foundation (GCF®) continues to be a leader in an era of change by providing the training required for the emerging world where technology is integrated into everyday life. The mission of GCF® is to create and provide education, employment and life enrichment opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally for people who desire to improve the quality of their lives.
The Durham-based tax-exempt organization provides employment, fresh produce and volunteer opportunities, family services for parents with children with disabilities and free accounting services to youth programs across eastern North Carolina. GCFLearnFree.org and GCFAprendeLibre.org has provided free lessons for over 555,000 people in North Carolina since 2010 to improve their technology, math and English skills.
All GCF programs are funded through revenue generated from the value of donated items to 37 Goodwill Community Foundation stores throughout eastern North Carolina. GCF employs more than 300 people who earn an average of $20 per hour with benefits at these stores. For more information on GCF®, visit http://www.GCFGlobal.org.
Laura McAliley, Martin Communications, +1 (919) 741-0291, [email protected]
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