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 | Cell Phone: (540) 520.8138

Michelle Darby, Vice President, Marketing & Development
Email: marketing@goodwillvalleys.com
Office: (540) 581.0620 ext. 1107 | Cell Phone: (540) 525.5728

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)

Lauren Lawson-Zilai, Senior Director, Public Relations
Charlene Sarmiento, Manager, Public Relations
For national media interviews, email Lauren Lawson-Zilai and Charlene Sarmiento at newsroom@goodwill.org.

General Goodwill Information

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is headquartered in Roanoke and serves 35 counties and 14 cities in Central, Southwest, and Southside, Virginia. Its mission is to help people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence.

In 2020, Goodwill served 63,078 youth, adults, and seniors who needed assistance getting back to work and gaining greater independence, placed 2,598 people into jobs in our community, and helped individuals attain 6,321 industry recognized credentials that will allow them to be more competitive in their job search and to find higher paying employment.

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…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Announces Organizational Changes

June 21, 2021 Roanoke, VA – Richmond Vincent, Jr., President & CEO for Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, announced new departments and changes designed to create an updated organizational structure. These changes provide leaders with clear authority, accountability, and responsibility. The new model has four business segment Chiefs, each reporting directly to Vincent. “I am excited about the changes to the organizational structure at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys,” said Richmond Vincent, Jr., Goodwill’s President & CEO. “The catalyst for the organizational changes was from the feedback provided to me by the Board of Directors and individual meetings with community…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Celebrates 90 Years

October 8, 2021 Roanoke, VA – October 10 marks the 90th anniversary of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. Founded in Roanoke on October 10, 1931, Goodwill consisted of a cabinet and shoe shop, store, mission hall, and 32 rooms for the homeless. The first superintendent was Mr. S.L. Thomas, and he oversaw the work of 20 – 30 people operating a paper plant that generated about $10,000 a year. Records, dating back to 1935, list the Roanoke program as one of 89 Goodwills nationwide and the 64th program organized. Today, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is one of 156 independent,…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Leverages a Second Solar Array to Advance its Mission

October 11, 2021 Roanoke, VA – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is harnessing clean energy from the sun to save on their electricity bill, allowing them to put those savings directly into the work they do ensuring every individual can acquire the skills and support needed to earn a good job and advance into a sustainable career. The new rooftop solar array is located on the Goodwill Roanoke Jobs Campus building in Roanoke, Virginia. This is one of several solar projects that RER Energy Group has been honored to develop for organizations in the Goodwill movement, and the first of…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys President & CEO to Retire and the GoodSupport Fund Established in His Honor

April 6, 2021 Roanoke, VA – Bruce Phipps, Outgoing President & CEO for Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, will officially retire on April 16, 2021. Phipps has nearly 18 years of service at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and 48 years within the Goodwill enterprise. Goodwill established the GoodSupport Fund in honor of Phipps’ dedication to the mission of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. The GoodSupport Fund will offer support for those enrolled in Goodwill training and services who experience financial hardships and barriers to success. Barriers can be childcare expenses, utilities, work uniforms, program textbooks, or car expenses. The…