Individuals and Community Recognized at Goodwill’s Annual Breakfast Event

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. (Goodwill) honored individuals and community partners from the greater Cleveland area at its annual Power of Work breakfast today at Corporate College East (4400 Richmond Rd, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128). This event allows Goodwill to report back to the community on its mission programs, operations and overall impact locally.  

“Our annual Power of Work event allows us an opportunity to share the success stories of our participants and recognize the outstanding work of area businesses and community leaders,” said Anne Richards, President and CEO of Goodwill. 

This year’s breakfast was generously sponsored by The Emotional Relief Fund, Cuyahoga County Board of DD and Schauer Group, and featured Ned Helms as the keynote speaker. Helms is the grandson of Edgar J. Helms, founder of the Goodwill movement. 

The breakfast highlighted the mission programs offered by Goodwill across the greater Cleveland area and includes an online auction, which is open through October 22 at 11:59 p.m. at goodwillgoodskills.org/auction. Goodwill presented the following annual awards: 

• Employer of the Year Award: The Cleveland Guardians Baseball Club was honored for the organization’s commitment to hire people with disabilities and provide opportunities for vocational rehabilitation through Goodwill Industries. 
• Ken Weber Servant Leadership Award: Goodwill employee Jill Zarrelli was the recipient of this recognition, named in honor of former CEO Ken Weber and given for her dedication and leadership to the mission of Goodwill. 
• Max S. Hayes High School received the Collaborative Partner of the Year award. The high school has been an excellent partner for Goodwill’s pre-employment youth services program, which provides school-aged youth with the skills necessary to transition to the world of work. 
• Lethola Wright was honored as Achiever of the Year. Wright participated in Goodwill’s Employment G.P.S. program, which provides goal, planning and support (G.P.S.) and includes long-term, intensive case management support focused on helping achieve goals of employment and education. 

• Anthony Dukles received the Edgar J. Helms Outstanding Achiever Award. Dukles participated in a vocational evaluation and work incentive plan and job development with Goodwill. With the help of Goodwill and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Dukles was able to find employment. 

In 2022, more than 826,000 community members donated to Goodwill, which in turn helped impact more than 18,600 local lives and diverted more than 23 million pounds of materials from landfills.