Goodwill OC: A century of empowerment through employment

Goodwill of Orange County (Goodwill OC) is a leading workforce development organization and one of the county’s largest nonprofits. Celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, Goodwill OC has become a well-recognized community service provider and a top employer, boasting more than 1,300 team members, 25+ innovative programs that help individuals develop career skills, ShopGoodwill.com, the premier e-commerce site for the Goodwill network, and 28 thrift stores and donation sites throughout the county.

While Goodwill OC is most often known for its thrift stores, the organization is most proud of its mission work to positively impact lives and connect people with opportunities.

Goodwill OC has been matching the needs of Orange County employers with highly skilled individuals for 100 years. By creating highly customized plans based on business needs and goals, Goodwill OC has successfully placed thousands of individuals into careers at leading Orange County companies over the last century.

For individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, a young person trying to start a new chapter after making a mistake, or a veteran transition from military to civilian life, finding meaningful employment can change everything.

Goodwill OC currently works with 190 prominent employers in Orange County across various industries, including med tech, hospitality, food service, retail and manufacturing and more, to fill gaps in the local workforce and strengthen the local economy. In many of these hiring partnerships, job coaches from Goodwill OC are on-site to help employees navigate their jobs and master their roles, taking the burden of training off the employer. This support ensures that employees are well-integrated into their roles and can perform their tasks effectively.

For the individuals getting hired, these job opportunities are often the first time someone has said yes to them or the first time they are being seen for what they can do, not what they can’t. Its empowerment through employment and it is powerful – for the individual, the employer and the community.

Orange County employers who have hired team members from Goodwill OC have found it tremendously beneficial. Through hiring partnerships with Goodwill OC, employers experience high retention and low turnover, and increased morale and culture.

Edwards Lifesciences, the Irvine-based patient-focused medical innovations company, employs individuals from Goodwill OC in various roles, including technicians in a product testing lab, patient registry and equipment maintenance. Vidhya Harikumar, director of quality at Edwards Lifesciences, noted, “The benefits are tremendous. The biggest benefit from a business standpoint is filling a business need. The employees have demonstrated that there is a need for the roles that they fill, and we have been able to create permanent roles within the organization. From a diversity and inclusion standpoint, having these employees on campus has helped us to be more inclusive. It has driven us to evaluate our procedures, processes and the way that we communicate,” she said. “I would highly recommend that other local businesses hire employees trained by Goodwill OC. This partnership has been positive and valuable, and it feels remarkable that we are able to bring something like this to the workforce.”

Brian Samaniego, service center lead at the Orange County Fire Authority, who also employs several longtime employees hired from Goodwill OC, echoed this sentiment, calling the partnership a “win-win” for both employees and the OCFA. “This opportunity provides these employees with a profound sense of purpose and belonging,” he said. “Knowing that their contributions are essential to the organization’s success instills a strong sense of fulfillment and identity. They take pride in their work, knowing they play a meaningful role in the daily duties of their respective jobs.”

As some of Orange County’s most innovative and largest employers, Goodwill OC looks to you to help open doors and to create meaningful career opportunities. Provide an opportunity for individuals of all abilities to thrive professionally today, and join us in building a more inclusive tomorrow. To learn how Goodwill OC can match your company or organization with qualified employees, contact Rick Adams at [email protected] to get the conversation started.