Press Releases

We let the public and local news media know about Goodwill news stories through Press Releases and more frequent Media Alerts. Our most recent Press Releases are below. To join our news media list and receive our periodic Media Alerts, please email us at marketing@goodwillvalleys.com.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Media Contacts

Chelsea Moran, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Email: marketing@goodwillvalleys.com
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 1225

Media Kit

The Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Media Kit includes a history of both Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. It also includes a fact sheet with interesting facts about our organization and a list of media contacts.

Interested in a story about individuals with disabilities who receive services through Goodwill programs? The National Center on Disability and Journalism provides an excellent language style guide for those journalists seeking the appropriate and accurate language to use when writing or talking about people living with disabilities.

Goodwill Industries International Contacts (National Inquiries Only)

For national media interviews, email pr@goodwill.org.

General Goodwill Information

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys serves 35 counties and 14 cities throughout Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia. Our vision to eliminate poverty is fueled by our mission of empowering individuals, strengthening families, and inspiring communities. Your donations and shopping allow Goodwill to provide skills training, job placement, and support services to help people achieve their fullest potential.

Goodwill Announces Banking Services & Marketing Partners for Melrose Plaza

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys welcomes new partnerships for Melrose Plaza’s banking services and marketing. The partners were selected through Requests for Proposals. Goodwill is partnering with Bank of Botetourt to provide banking services at a new branch that will be a part of the Plaza. Wallace360, a local marketing and creative agency, will establish Melrose Plaza’s new branding and help strategic marketing and communications efforts prior to its opening. Melrose Plaza will also work with local artists, historians, educators, and Northwest small businesses to incorporate elements of Northwest history into the Plaza. The Melrose Plaza initiative…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Welcomes Chief People Officer

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys welcomes Rachel Putman as Chief People Officer effective February 20, 2023. In this role, Putman joins Goodwill’s Executive Leadership Team and will lead Mission Services and Organizational Development which includes Human Resources, Employee Engagement, and Learning & Development. Putman had most recently been with Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands in South Carolina for eight years where she served as their Vice President of Mission and People. In that role, she was responsible for strategic leadership of Mission Services, Human Resources, and Learning & Development. She also served as the organization’s Chief Compliance Officer…

Goodwill’s 2022 Impact

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys helps people achieve their fullest potential through the power of work and independence. In 2022, Goodwill provided services that helped more than 1,400 people find competitive employment. More than 900 job placements were in high-demand occupations paying higher wages and providing individuals with opportunities to advance along a career pathway. Goodwill served more people in 2022 and increased its impact through self-funding programs. There was a 53% increase in the number of people placed in employment and a 22% increase in the credentials earned. “We are excited about the impact Goodwill had…

Goodwill Focuses on Restoring Community with a New Project in Northwest Roanoke

Goodwill Industries® of the Valleys is partnering with the City of Roanoke, public and non-profit partners, as well as community stakeholders to develop a new center in Northwest Roanoke. The center will feature a grocery store, an adult high school, wellness center, and banking services. The new center will be located at the existing Goodwill Roanoke Jobs Campus which is currently home to the corporate headquarters and program services offices located at 2502 Melrose Avenue, NW, Roanoke. Goodwill has long been a proud member of the Northwest Roanoke neighborhood and is committed to contributing to the strength and resilience of…

Goodwill Opens Pulaski Donation & Employment Services Center

Pulaski, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is opening their first Donation & Employment Services Center in Pulaski. The center will serve as a donation drop off location as well as offering Mission Services employment programs. It will be located at 641 East Main Street in Pulaski. There will be an Open House at the center on Monday, April 11th from 10 am – 12 pm with a Ribbon Cutting at 10 am. Everyone is welcome to attend and discover more about the center, available services, or make a donation! The Pulaski Center will be open Monday – Friday…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys’ Inspire 2026 – Strategic Plan

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2021. Ninety years of serving communities, families, and individuals. As Goodwill’s leadership reflected on the impact of the past ninety years, it was important to focus forward by looking back – to the roots – and find the why behind what Goodwill does. The founder, Edgar J. Helms, began Goodwill with a vision of ‘not charity, but a chance.’ He believed in giving people the opportunity to work as a path to both financial and personal independence. Such independence was key to combating poverty by providing ‘a…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Announces New Board Members & Officers

Melissa Lubin John Provo Vivian Sanchez-Jones Sam Worthington February 14, 2022 Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys announced four new board members and new board officers who will each help support the organization’s work to eliminate poverty through empowering individuals, strengthening families, and inspiring communities. This brings the number of board members to 19. “We’re eager to expand our board with four new members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to Goodwill’s board,” said Richmond Vincent, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “We have worked carefully to ensure Goodwill’s board and leadership represents experts…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Welcomes Additional IT Leadership

February 2, 2022 Hunter French Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys appointed Hunter French as Vice President of Information Technology Security on January 31, 2022. In this role, French will be responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring a strategic, comprehensive enterprise cybersecurity and IT risk management program. Hunter reports to Brenda Moore, Chief Information Officer. French joins Goodwill’s Executive Leadership Team and will lead the Information Technology department along with Brenda Moore, Chief Information Officer, and Chris Conner, Vice President of Information Technology. French had most recently been with BDO USA, LLP. He was formerly at Medical Facilities…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Announces Board Leadership Change

August 23, 2021 Roanoke, VA – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Board of Directors announced new board leadership today. Effective Monday, August 23rd, Matthew Churchill, Wells Fargo, will assume the Chairman of the Board position. Matt has served on Goodwill’s® board since 2016. He is actively involved throughout the community, also serving on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Matt is the former President of the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce. He says one reason he gives back to the community is because he enjoys living here. He wants to contribute to what makes it…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Announces New President & CEO

March 3, 2021 Roanoke, VA – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys announced Richmond Vincent Jr. as the incoming President & CEO following the retirement of Bruce Phipps in April. In partnership with Voltage, Goodwill’s Board of Directors began the search process in September 2020 after current President & CEO Bruce Phipps announced his retirement. Phipps has nearly 18 years of service at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and 48 years within the Goodwill enterprise. Vincent currently serves as President & CEO at Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi (GSMS) and Mississippi Goodworks and has since 2017. He is also a member…