Summer 2013 - Goodwill Southwestern Pennsylvania

Today’s Goodwillis lasting tributeto Dr. Robert FoltzBy Michael J. SmithPresident/CEOThe Goodwill family was deeply saddenedwhen Dr. Robert S. (Bob) Foltz, our longtimefriend and colleague, passed away onApril 14, 2013. Bob served as Presidentof Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh from1977 until his retirement in 2002. He wasthe very heart and soul of Goodwill in thisregion, and was a nationally recognized andwidely respected visionary leader who builtthe foundation for the agency we are today.Bob created a dynamic and vibrantorganization with a strong human servicesmission, and he was always focused onhis beloved clients and the challenges ofbringing the power of work into their lives.Beyond his contributions to our region, Bobworked passionately to grow the Goodwillmovement around the world in countriessuch as Jamaica, Poland and Italy.As a testimony to his contributionsto Goodwill, Bob was chosen to receivethe 2002 J.D. Robins, Jr. DistinguishedCareer Award from Goodwill International’sConference of Executives, a very prestigioushonor recognizing his outstandingachievements and his dedication to theadvancement of the Goodwill movement.He also received Goodwill’s Kenneth KingAward for Management Excellence in 1992;was co-winner of the Gerald L. Clore Awardfor International Development in 1993;and was named to the Goodwill IndustriesInternational Hall of Fame in 2006.When he retired, Goodwill’s Boardof Directors honored Bob by naming theGoodwill headquarters building (then onEast Carson Street on the South Side) asthe Robert S. Foltz Building. The plaquededicating the building to Bob’s memory isnow mounted on the Goodwill WorkforceDevelopment Center in Lawrenceville.For me, Bob’s passing was a verypersonal loss. He was my boss, my mentorand my friend for many years. I will alwaysbe grateful for having had the privilege ofknowing Bob, a truly outstanding, one-of-akindperson with deep compassion for peopleand a steadfast commitment to the Goodwillmission. l2What is it?RISE (Reentry throughIndustry Specific Education)is a pre-apprenticeship constructiontraining programfor facilities maintenancecreated in conjunction withthe Home Builders Institute(HBI), a national leader forcareer training in the buildingindustry. The RISE Projectintegrates work-basedlearning with vocationaland academic skills trainingand includes job readiness,employability skills, careerdevelopment, life skills andon-the-job training.Trades training plan“a perfect fit” for AmirGoodwill’s RISE Project proved to be a perfectfit for 19-year-old Amir of Pittsburgh. He waslooking for employment but did not want to goback to a traditional classroom setting. Whenhe learned that the RISE Project is 70%hands-on training, he knew it was right for him.So far, Amir has learned how to buildand repair walls, how to reset a bathroomtoilet, and how to tell if a wire is carryingelectricity. After attending RISE Job Readinesssessions, he was surprised to learn that healready had some skills to create a resume,and practicing different styles of interviewingprepared him for his first job interview.Amir is excited to be learning the skillsnecessary to pursue a career in the trades andmay eventually apply for an apprenticeshipprogram. l