“Everyone is struggling to find good jobs these days, but
veterans face particular challenges and it is our duty as a nation to support
these young men and women who are having difficulties transitioning back into
civilian life," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries
International. “We at Goodwill believe it is absolutely imperative that we give
each of these veterans every opportunity they need to thrive.”
Operation: GoodJobs assists veterans with job training
and placement, but also plans for each participant’s continued success by
designing individualized, holistic plans that support the needs of their entire
family and helps ensure economic security for participants and their families in
the long-term. Each participant in Operation: GoodJobs will receive a complete
career assessment and an individualized development plan that will include a
range of family needs, from basic needs like nutrition, shelter and child care,
to specific job training identified in the assessment process.
“As one of the nation’s largest private employers of
veterans and those on active duty, we share Goodwill’s vision of a country
where every veteran has a chance to succeed economically and support his or her
family,” said retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Gary Profit, senior director
of military programs at Walmart. “Making that vision a reality starts today
through Operation: GoodJobs. These young men and women stood up for us, and now
it’s our turn to stand up for them.”
Veterans return home as proven leaders who have
demonstrated their work ethic and commitment to achieving results as part of a
team. Operation: GoodJobs will help to provide the necessary career counseling,
resume help and skills training, so that veterans can obtain employment
positions and in turn, employers can realize their skills and talents and match
those skills with available employment opportunities.
If you know of a veteran who would benefit from these
services or have questions, please call 800-GOODWILL.
Background: Our Returning Heroes
As the military works to withdraw troops from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) — two conflicts that represent the longest-running military engagements in U.S. history — the need for a continuum of coordinated, integrated services for veterans and their families is at an all-time high. Too many service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are finding it difficult to secure employment so they can continue their service and support their families. In 2010, there were more than 20 million veterans in the United States. That number is increasing every day as troops come home. Under current plans, at least 100,000 men and women will leave military service in the next five years. This news is troubling as a stubbornly bleak job market translates to high unemployment for veterans, especially those ages 18-24, who face an employment rate of more than 20 percent — more than twice the national average.
About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165
community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in
13 other countries. Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social
enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and
other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items
in more than 2,600 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill
agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and
government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging
and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In
2011, more than 4 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from
Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues
directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you,
use the online locator at www.goodwill.org.
Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl or find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support
initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010,
Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to
fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education,
workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness
initiatives. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
Contact:
Lauren Lawson-ZilaiGoodwill Industries International
Direct: (240) 333-5266
Lauren.Lawson@goodwill.org
Tara Raddohl
Walmart Corporate Communications Direct: (479) 277-7589
Tara.Raddohl@wal-mart.com
www.walmartstores.com/reporter
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