Palmetto Goodwill

PALMETTO GOODWILL'S MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE DIGNITY AND POWER OF WORK. PALMETTO GOODWILL IS CHARTERED THROUGH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, JOB READINESS AND OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING TO UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS IN 18 COUNTIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA. PALMETTO GOODWILL, ESTABLISHED IN 1979, HAS OPERATED UNDER THE MODEL OF "SOCIAL ENTERPRISE" THROUGHOUT MUCH OF ITS EXISTENCE. HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DIVERSIFIED FUNDING BEYOND RETAIL REVENUES TO BRING TOGETHER LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, INCLUDING PRIVATE AND CORPORATE FUNDERS. IN 2021, PALMETTO GOODWILL OPERATED 33 RETAIL STORES WHICH SUPPORTED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATED, TRAINED, AND EMPLOYED PEOPLE. THESE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON THROUGH A NETWORK OF NINE (9) CAREER OPPORTUNITY CENTERS.

GOODWILL'S DONATED GOODS PROGRAM PROVIDES EDUCATION, JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS THROUGH THE RESELLING OF RETAIL ITEMS. SALES OF DONATED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND REVENUE FOR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. GOODWILL HELPS PEOPLE EARN A LIVING, IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES BY PUTTING 90% OF ITS REVENUE FROM ITS 31 THRIFT STORES BACK INTO MISSION PROGRAMMING. PALMETTO GOODWILL'S DONATION PROGRAM HELPED KEEP MORE THAN 30 MILLION POUNDS OF WASTE OUT OF SOUTH CAROLINA LANDFILLS. GOODWILL'S DIVERSION OF ITEMS FROM LANDFILL HELP OUR PLANET, REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SUSTAINABLE.

PALMETTO GOODWILL PROVIDED CAREER NAVIGATION SERVICES TO MORE THAN 16,800 UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED EDUCATION, JOB READINESS AND OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING TO MORE THAN 4,800 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF CAREER OPPORTUNITY CENTERS, ONLINE TRAINING PROVIDERS, TECHNICAL SCHOOL NETWORK, AND OTHER TRAINING PROVIDERS TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS FOR IN-DEMAND CAREERS IN THE FIELDS OF (1) HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE, (2) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, (3) INDUSTRIAL TRADES, (4) RETAIL TRADE, (5) TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING. IN ADDITION TO TRAINING, PALMETTO GOODWILL PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING RENT, MORTGAGE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING VOUCHERS, FURNITURE VOUCHERS, BUS PASSES, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

PALMETTO GOODWILL LAID THE GROUNDWORK TO IMPLEMENT PALMETTO EXCEL CENTER WITH A LAUNCH DATE IN THE FALL OF 2023 AND THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS IN 2025. THE MISSION OF PALMETTO EXCEL IS A CHARTER SCHOOL BUILT ON THE EXCEL CENTER'S NATIONAL MODEL IS TO PROVIDE ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT TO EARN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WHILE DEVELOPING CAREER PATHS THAT OFFER BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE EMPLOYMENT AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. PALMETTO EXCEL WILL OFFER A FLEXIBLE, YEAR-ROUND SCHEDULE AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO HELP STUDENTS MANAGE WORK, LIFE, AND FAMILY NEEDS AS THEY PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS. STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE HIGH-QUALITY, DIRECT INSTRUCTION IN RIGOROUS 8-WEEK TERM CORE COURSES AND CAREER CERTIFICATION CLASSES THROUGH TRIDENT TECH, WITH WHICH PALMETTO EXCEL WILL SHARE A CAMPUS. PALMETTO EXCEL WILL USE A CUSTOMIZED, PROVEN EXCEL CENTER CURRICULUM WITH BUILT-IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORTS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WILL INCLUDE AT NO COST CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND LIFE COACHING AND CAREER NAVIGATION SERVICES.