One of the historic and still most important ways Goodwill adds value in a community is by providing employment opportunities to individuals whose options are limited by disability, low education levels, or criminal histories. During a deep recession when many companies are cutting back, the unemployment rate among such individuals typically rises significantly. Overall, that was certainly the case in 2009.
James M. McClelland, PresidentI’m happy to report, however, that despite the effects of the recession, Goodwill actually increased employment last year. We ended 2009 with 2,180 employees, 57% of whom have limited vocational options. Over 1,600 of our employees work in our retail and commercial services divisions, both of which experienced significant growth in 2009. Some highlights:
- We added five new retail stores and replaced three others.
- E-commerce sales had very strong growth.
- Expansion of secondary market and recycling operations resulted in our diverting over
3.6 million pounds of goods from the waste stream, thus reducing trash disposal costs, increasing revenue, and simultaneously enabling us to be better environmental stewards.
- Our Commercial Services Division had its best year ever, with good growth in business from two customers in segments of life sciences and the addition of a new customer whose business is growing rapidly.
Another significant part of Goodwill is focused on helping increase the high school graduation and post-secondary participation rates of young people in central Indiana. I’m pleased to report that the Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, the public charter school Goodwill started in 2004, is making good progress. Despite the fact that most of our students come to us well behind where they should be academically and over 80% are from low income households, our five-year graduation rate is now nearly equal to the statewide five-year rate for all public high schools. In addition, 96% of our graduates have been accepted into a post-secondary institution, and after two years 69% are still enrolled or have completed a post-secondary course of study. We have made a commitment to continue supporting our graduates until they attain a post-secondary degree or other credential that will increase their employability and earning capacity.
In 2009, all of our students were given netbooks and are now able to do some of their coursework online at their own pace. In addition, the school’s new Ruth Lilly Science and Wellness Center was completed and is a wonderful addition that will benefit our students for many years to come. Both of these developments enhance the high tech/high touch approach of the school and its phenomenal staff.
Financially, we had a strong year and the endowment in the Goodwill Foundation recovered much of the value it lost when stock markets plunged. The Foundation is an enormously important resource for the development of new operations and services and greatly enhances Goodwill’s ability to continue adapting, evolving, and increasing its impact.
Certainly, the year was not all positive. Health care costs soared and are an ongoing concern. We also need to find additional resources that will enable us to build a gymnasium for the school. However, we have much for which to be thankful — and we are especially grateful for the tens of thousands of central Indiana residents who support us with their donations of goods, their purchases in our stores, their financial contributions, their time as mentors to our students, and their wisdom, advice, and encouragement. As always, we will continue to strive to be good stewards of our resources and have the greatest possible impact in the lives of people and in the communities in which we operate.
James M. McClelland
President