Three Women CEOs Poised to Make HERstory with New Goodwill Collaboration
March 21, 2024
In a first of its kind collaboration, the CEOs of Goodwill organizations from Maryland, Washington D.C. and Delaware – who all happen to be women – have joined forces to launch an innovative sustainability initiative aimed at making the most use of donated items that don’t sell in their stores, upskilling their retail workforce and increasing their capacity to deliver on their non-profit mission. This effort is set to revolutionize recycling and reuse by investing in cutting-edge technology to convert textiles, glass and plastic into raw materials that can be upcycled into new goods.
The collaborative, powered by Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Goodwill of Greater Washington, and Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County was conceived during discussions on how to leverage the collective reach and resources of their organizations to make a tangible impact on the environment while fostering economic growth.
“By turning unsold donated items into a resource, we’re tapping into opportunities to upskill our retail team members and presenting people with opportunities to increase their computer skills and earn industry-recognized sustainability certifications,” said Catherine Meloy, CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington. “These experiences and certifications come with opportunities for career advancement and higher wages.”
With a focus on people, planet and prosperity, the three Goodwill organizations will come together to leverage intellectual capital and physical resources in pursuit of opportunities to convert used textiles into raw materials and new fabrics, to shred plastic, and implode glass (separately) into raw materials that can be sold to existing domestic markets. Glass for example can be imploded into sand and cullet for use in construction and manufacturing projects, while shredded plastic can be used to manufacture an array of items from park benches to plastic pallets for warehousing.
“Goodwill organizations have been recycling household goods since we were founded, more than 100 years ago. We have a responsibility to do more to bring sustainable practices to the end-of-life cycle of donated goods that don’t sell in our stores. By upcycling textiles, glass and plastic into raw materials for use in manufacturing and construction projects, we’re creating a more sustainable future for the planet,” said Colleen Morrone, CEO of Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County.
“As we brainstormed ways to contribute to a more sustainable future, we realized that by combining our efforts, we could tackle an issue that affects us all: what we do with unsold items and the opportunity to both lower our trash bills and create new revenue streams to fund our mission delivery,” said Lisa Rusyniak, CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake.
“It’s a win-win-win situation for our team members, our communities and our mission.”
For more information about this sustainability collaborative please visit Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake; Goodwill of Greater Washington, or Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County.
About Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc.
Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. prepares people to secure and retain employment and build successful independent lives. Goodwill annually provides services to more than 4,000 people in need of assistance because of physical, mental or other social barriers and places approximately 1,000 into jobs giving them “Not a charity, but a chance.” For more information, visit: goodwillches.org.
About Goodwill of Greater Washington
Goodwill of Greater Washington transforms lives and communities through the power of
education and employment. For more information, visit: dcgoodwill.org.
About Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County
Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people facing barriers to self-sufficiency, through the Power of Work! Our community-based workforce development programs provide essential job skills, work-based learning opportunities and employment support services that empower people to reach their full potential, provide for themselves and their families, and contribute to the economic and social growth of their communities. Please visit http://www.goodwillDE.org, to learn more and join us in building brighter futures.
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