Goodwill Foundation Funds Future Workforce

When fourteen year old Mikeisha Mobley thought about getting a summer job, she hardly knew where to begin. 

“I had done some babysitting before but you never had to fill out an application to do that,” Mikeisha admitted. 

Then one day her mom brought home a paper describing a program called the Summer Youth Program offered by Goodwill.

“I thought it was a job interview,” explained Mikeisha.  “I got all dressed up in a business suit and went to the office.”  But when she arrived she found that she was the only one dressed to impress. 

The appointment Mikeisha mistook for an interview was actually a six day training to prepare youth between the ages of 14 and 21 for getting a summer job.  Topics covered in the training included how to fill out an application, preparing for an interview, strategies for keeping a job, as well as what to do if you experience problems at your job.

Youth who completed the six day training then put their new skills to the test as the program staff worked with them to find summer employment.

Mikeisha accepted a position with the Kline Branch of the Dauphin County Library System assisting the library staff in a variety of tasks. 

“This program prepares today’s youth to become productive members of tomorrow’s workforce.  The skills they are learning will be invaluable as they continue to participate in employment in the community,” stated Leah Easterday, Manager of Youth and Collaborative Services.

Funding provided by the Goodwill Keystone Area Foundation was instrumental in getting the Summer Youth Program off the ground.  The Foundation, which is a tax-exempt 501C3 organization, is dedicated to supporting innovative services to persons challenged by disability and other barriers though job training, employment opportunity, and support services designed to enhance independence, dignity, self-respect, and participation in the broader community.  The Foundation gives its highest level of funding consideration to projects that promote and support the mission of Goodwill Keystone Area.

“When we read the grant proposal for the Summer Youth Program we knew this was a program we wanted the Goodwill Keystone Area Foundation to support,” said John McHenry, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Development.  “We specifically look for initiatives that are going to change lives and impact the community and this program certainly fit the bill.”

The Foundation is a new venture for Goodwill and the initial funding came from endowment funds accumulated by the three local Goodwills.  The Foundation is now structured to accept gifts from a variety of sources, including cash contributions, real property, bequests and personal endowments.  A volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for protecting and increasing the Foundation’s assets and grant making.

Since its creation, two named funds have been established within the Foundation. The first fund was created as a lasting tribute to Dr. Claude E. Nichols, Jr.   The purpose of the fund is to provide resources for employment and training services to individuals with barriers to employment served by Goodwill Keystone Area.    The second fund was created from a gift by the family of Eric N. Stein to support the development and enhancement of retail technology within the Goodwill Keystone Area organization.

Since its inception in July 2004, the Foundation has granted over $300,000 to a variety of programs including the one Mikeisha participated in.  Although Mikeisha’s work experience has ended for the summer, she is already talking about getting another job next summer.  

When asked what her favorite part of her summer experience was, Mikeisha admitted she loved everything about her job.   “But one of my favorite parts,” she chuckled, “would have to be being in air conditioning all day through a very hot summer!” 

Even at fourteen, Mikeisha is beginning to understand there are all kinds of great benefits to working in the community!

Funding for the Summer Youth Program was also provided by the United Way of the Capital Region

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