April 5, 2024

Announcing the honorees for Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County’s 2024 Inspiration Awards Luncheon. The Goodwill Inspiration Awards celebrates and recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that reflect Goodwill’s mission of overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency through the Power of Work.

The Inspiration Awards Luncheon will be held Friday, May 10, 2024, from 11:30am – 1:30pm, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware. To participate as a sponsor or to purchase tickets, visit www.GoodwillDE.org/Awards. The 2024 award recipients are:

Community Partner of the Year Award – Ministry of Caring. The Community Partner of the Year Award recognizes an organization that has partnered with Goodwill to help advance our non-profit mission to improve the quality of life for people facing barriers to self-sufficiency, through the Power of Work! Ministry of Caring partners with Goodwill to host several people through the Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCEP), helping seniors rediscover a sense of purpose and put to use the skills they have learned and developed at Goodwill.

Employer of the Year Award – New Castle County HOPE Center. The Employer of the Year Award celebrates an organization’s commitment to fostering the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and disadvantaging conditions in the workforce. The New Castle County HOPE Center team draws upon the support of our Goodwill Staffing Services program to source Case Monitors to optimize the center’s operations, allowing the HOPE Center to serve the most vulnerable populations in Delaware. The HOPE Center also leverages the services of our Employment Support team who provide comprehensive case management and employment assistance to their residents.

Achiever of the Year Award – Amanda Favazza. This award honors an outstanding person with a disability or other disadvantaging  condition who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming barriers to employment, while receiving services to support employment in the community. Despite her disability, Amanda’s unwavering work ethic, bravery, optimism, and ability to look beyond her disability are the driving forces behind her success. Amanda initially connected with Goodwill at a job fair in 2021 and is currently participating in the Goodwill Employment Support program and is employed through Goodwill Staffing Services.

Advocacy Award – U.S. Senator Tom Carper. Goodwill is recognizing Senator Carper for his steadfast support and advocacy for Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County throughout his tenure as Congressman, Governor of Delaware, and United States Senator. Senator Carper has participated in numerous Goodwill events, including luncheons, store openings, program graduations, and Goodwill’s centennial anniversary in 2021. In alignment with his work on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, where he helps lead the fight to address the climate change crisis, in 2022 Senator Carper toured the Goodwill Recycling Center in New Castle, Delaware lending support to the advancement of Goodwill’s sustainability and workforce development initiatives. In 2023 Senator Carper, Senator Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester jointly announced Goodwill’s congressionally directed funding award of $1.128 million to connect job seekers in all three counties of Delaware with training, case management, social services, job support services and employment opportunities via kiosks in Goodwill stores (Goodwill Connect launches summer 2024).

Arline Docherty Team Member of the Year Award – Maria Deluna. Named for Goodwill team member Arline Docherty in 2019, this award recognizes a Goodwill team member who exemplifies the mission of Goodwill and displays the values of unselfish service to people with disabilities or other disadvantaging conditions. Maria, a Production Associate in a Goodwill retail store, was nominated by her manager, who cited Maria’s top performance in the store and her dedication as a valued mentor and trainer for her colleagues. Maria will celebrate 20 years of employment with Goodwill in December 2024.

ABOUT GOODWILL OF DELAWARE AND DELAWARE COUNTY

Goodwilll 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 www.GoodwillDE.org to learn more and join us in building brighter futures.