Goodwill of Orange County

THANKFUL ?? As we gather around the table this holiday season, we're filled with immense gratitude for our amazing community. Your support means the world to us! Your donations and purchases have directly impacted the lives of countless individuals. In 2023, we were able to serve more than 30,000 people through our workforce development programs, all thanks to your support and generosity. But this year is even more special! We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary, a century of helping people find jobs, gain skills, and reach their full potential. Your support over the past 100 years has been instrumental in making this possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. ??

A massive thank you to Skyline Displays of Orange County for their generous donation of marketing banners to Goodwill of Orange County and the Tierney Center for Veteran Services! We are so grateful for the beautiful banners and your support in our mission of empowering individuals in the Orange County community!

As we wrap up National Veterans and Military Families Month, I wanted to give a shout out to Tierney Center for Veteran Services. At Disneyland Resort, we’re honored to join forces in their meaningful mission, especially during Goodwill of Orange County's 100th anniversary year! From financial support to job placements and creative fundraising, we’re making a real difference together! #OCGoodwill #100YearsOfWorkingWonders #TierneyCenter #DisneylandResort

This photo was featured as one of the Orange County Register photographers’ favorite images from October 2024! Our President & CEO, Nicole Suydam, was captured standing beside the powerful words that embody Goodwill of Orange County’s mission at our Santa Ana headquarters. As we celebrate 100 years of transforming lives through the power of work, this photo reminds us of the impact we’ve made—and continue to make—together. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gMmzBzVe ??: Mark Rightmire #OCGoodwill #100YearsOfWorkingWonders

#DidYouKnow your donations to Goodwill of Orange County do more than just clear out your closet? They fuel a #CycleOfGood that transforms lives right here in Orange County! ?? From keeping millions of pounds of goods out of landfills to funding job training programs, every item you donate or purchase creates opportunities and builds brighter futures for our community. ?? Discover how your generosity powers this impact—and how easy it is to start the cycle of good today. Read the full article to learn more! #OCGoodwill #Sustainability #WorkforceDevelopment #CommunityImpact

Ready to be moved and inspired?! Check out Bailey’s beautiful story of perseverance on a journey to achieving his career goals. I’m grateful that The OC Register opened the door for this amazing internship opportunity for Bailey. ??

?? Meet Bailey: A Journey from Graduation to Published Writer ?? Bailey K., a 2023 UC Irvine graduate with a degree in history and a minor in creative writing, embarked on a journey through Supported Employment (SE) to achieve his dream of becoming a writer, editor, or researcher. To kickstart his career, Bailey participated in Goodwill OC’s External Situational Assessment (ESA) to help identify his strengths and areas for growth. During his ESA, Bailey assisted two California State University, Long Beach students with their culminating projects by conducting in-depth research and gathering data for a class curriculum. In this role, Bailey honed essential skills like time management, office etiquette, and adapting to a professional setting. After successfully completing his assessment, Bailey was recommended for employment moved into Goodwill OC’s Paid Internship Program (PIP). This program connects individuals with unique interests, degrees, and experiences to paid work opportunities that build resumes and enhance employment prospects. Through PIP, Bailey secured an interview with the Orange County Register. Bailey impressed the interviewers with his writing portfolio and insightful questions, securing the internship with the OC Register. Since then, he has had multiple articles published, showcasing his work ethic and the quality of his writing. Bailey's journey from graduation to becoming a published writer is a testament to his talent, determination, and the support that helped him along the way. We can’t wait to read what Bailey writes next! Curious about our Supported Employment program and how you can partner with us? Reach out to Manny Vallejo at [email protected] to learn more!

A week before Halloween, I had the honorable roll of spokesperson for Goodwill of Orange Counties Halloween segment on Fox 11 Los Angeles. Don’t forget.. for every Dallor spent at your Local Orange County Goodwill, 94 cents of every dollar funds job training, employment programs, and community services! Take a look at our fun clip! ~Ismael

We’ve had a such a busy fall at Bracken's Kitchen Inc. that it just hasn’t afforded us much time to get out and support our friends who are doing good. But this week we had 2 great events that we found the time to attend. Thank you Dave Elliot & Ed Hart from the Instittute for Community Impact for putting on a great event at the annual “Influencers For Good” event. It was great to be a part of recognizing some amazing people including a couple of wonderful friends in Julie Hudash and Wing Lam Keep up the great work everyone. And of course Dawn S. Reese, CFRE and Shari Battle did a great job as emcee’s for the event and introducing all of the honorees. Thank you Molly Bracken and Andy Zschach for joining in on the fun. And today we had the privilege to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and my wonderful friend Claudia Bonilla Keller, MPA at their annual No Lunch Lunch. Second Harvest Food Bank is an amazing organization that helps to make our work so much easier. The problem is that I was so busy saying hi and catching up with so many friends that I didn’t think to take many pictures. But one person I did get a chance to get a picture with was Nicole Suydam who leads Goodwill of Orange County today. When I started Bracken’s Kitchen so many years ago she was one of the people I reached out to and consulted with as we were starting out. She was a wonderful support and inspiration for me in the early days and I was excited to let her know that one our employees, a Goodwill partner, made the salad dressing for the lunch today. Exciting indeed. It was so exciting to see and catch up with so many forces for good in our county this week. Always a pleasure to see you LaVal Brewer Madelynn Hirneise Charles Antis Richard J. Ward, CFP?, Chelsea Bergfeld Lauren Tabios Kedric Francis Jenny Dinnen Alison Edwards, Bonni Pomush Bill Sanderson and so many more. We’re honored and blessed to live in a community full of caring individuals.

So proud of our California State University, Fullerton students for learning servant leadership in our community and with such an amazing organization! ?? ?? Goodwill of Orange County Nicole Suydam Thank you for serving on the board Dean Sridhar Sundaram!