Area Goodwill reports paying $4M to its employees in 2007

Goodwill employed 302 people in five local counties.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries paid $4,309,000 to its employees in 2007, who in turn paid $914,000 in local, state and federal taxes.

At the end of 2007, Goodwill employed 302 people, including clients, in the five-county area: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana in Ohio, and Lawrence and Mercer in Pennsylvania, said Michael W. McBride, executive director, in his annual report.

Goodwill also spent over $360,000 on capital improvements over the last year. Most of the money was spent on roof repairs at Goodwill’s main facility in Liberty; heating, ventilating and air conditioning replacement and water heaters at various sites; and the new Boardman store, which opened in August, McBride said.

Goodwill is a private nonprofit organization that operates programs and activities to help people with disabilities and specials needs achieve full participation in society by expanding their occupational capabilities and personal independence.

Goodwill vocational services, which include skills training, sheltered and transitional employment, job coaching and placement in the private sector; amblyopia screening; social services to the visually impaired; and radio reading services were provided to nearly 6,000 people in 2007. Radio reading and vocational services reported increases in the number served last year, McBride said.

About 75 percent of Goodwill’s direct labor was performed by people who are handicapped, and Goodwill assisted an additional 39 people with employment in the community.

Goodwill retail stores, janitorial services and other contract work with businesses support its employment programs and help to meet its mission of providing job training and employment services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment in the community, McBride said.

Goodwill visual services include:

UThe Youngstown Radio Reading Service, which operates over the side band of WYSU-FM, serving the print-impaired by broadcasting print materials not otherwise available to its listeners, such as local newspapers, books and magazines. Specially tuned radios are provided free of charge to qualified listeners.

UBraille classes; amblyopia screening; adaptive aids; and an eyeglass program, funded through the Lions Club and Lens Crafters, under which eligible residents may apply for free vision examinations and eyeglasses.

Goodwill also operates an apartment complex on Hillman Street in Youngstown, which has one- and two-bedroom barrier-free units. Rent subsidies are available to those who qualify.

Goodwill also recently finalized its 2008 board of trustees, the president of which is Patrick Briceland. Other officers are: Toby Mirto, vice president; Janice JanJanin, treasurer; and Robert Fulton, secretary.

New trustees elected for two-year terms include: Sharon Wathen, a retired certified public accountant; Sara Brown-Clark, clerk of Youngstown Municipal Courts; Eric Folsom, Compco; Jeff Houlette, National City Insurance; Irv Lev; and Anthony Sertick, magistrate of Youngstown Municipal Court.

Elected for additional terms are current trustees Fulton, Mirto, Briceland, Jack Savage, Ron Shaklee, David Wolf, JanJanin, Joe Fleming and Sue Stricklin. Also, C. Clark Hammitt was elected to the position of board of trustees emeritus in recognition of his 35 years of service as a board member.

alcorn@vindy.com