GOODWILL OF ORANGE COUNTY’S WORKING FOR INDEPENDENCE LUNCHEON IS A BIG SUCCESS

Santa Ana, CA - Thursday April 17, 2008—Recently Goodwill of Orange County (Goodwill) hosted its third annual Working for Independence Fundraising Luncheon at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport. The one-hour luncheon was prompt, compelling, and a great success, raising $175,000 to support Goodwill’s mission -- to provide people with disabilities and other barriers the opportunity to achieve their highest levels of personal and economic independence.

Nearly three hundred businessmen and women attended the one-hour luncheon. Among the afternoon highlights were testimonials from men and women who have overcome barriers to employment thanks to Goodwill’s powerful job training programs. Linda R., a woman who was born deaf, faced many difficult challenges on her path to finding meaningful work. Today she is a successful and highly valued employee of Northern Trust, a global investment firm. The room was silent as everyone listened to Linda’s story, in a touching presentation by Jean Hand, Second Vice President of Northern Trust and interpreted by a member of Goodwill’s DEAFinitely Professional Interpreting Services.

In addition to learning more about educational and vocational training, guests also learned about Goodwill’s growing suite of business services including custodial, document destruction, packaging and assembly services as well as e-waste solutions. Following the brief presentations and a short video, everyone in attendance was invited to make a one-time gift or pledge to Goodwill.

Goodwill of Orange County is a nonprofit organization with its Main Campus located at 410 North Fairview in Santa Ana. Now in its 84th year, Goodwill of Orange County has provided thousands of people with disabilities and other barriers the opportunity to achieve their highest levels of personal and economic independence through competitive employment.

For more information about Goodwill of Orange County and its education, training and employment programs and services, please contact Katherine Ransom, Communications Manager at (714) 547-6308 ext. 308 or katheriner@ocgoodwill.org

Information may also be found at www.ocgoodwill.org

--- GOODWILL OF ORANGE COUNTY---