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Goodwill Korea Opens Tenth Store in Jeonju

New Store Helps People with Disabilities Get Jobs


ROCKVILLE, MD – WEBWIRE

Since 2003, Goodwill Industries International has partnered with the South Korean nonprofit, Together Foundation, to help bring the Goodwill mission and model to South Korea. Goodwill Korea (GIK), an international nonprofit in Seoul that helps prepare people to secure and retain employment and build successful, independent lives, recently held a grand opening for its 10th retail store in Jeonju. GIK stores operate like their counterparts in the United States: the acquisition and sale of donated goods in retail stores provides the funds to employ people with disabilities and to provide job training services.

“GIK’s mission is to put people to work through job placement, job training programs and employment services. I am excited and confident that Goodwill Korea will continue to change lives and change futures in the communities it serves in Korea,” said Kim Zimmer, chief marketing officer and senior vice president, global development.

Goodwill Korea employs 300 people at its 10 locations, most of whom are people with disabilities and North Korean refugees. Services provided by GIK include workforce training, rehabilitation, and employment, with a goal to improve individuals’ ability to work and function in society. The new store will create 24 jobs in the local community.

Known for its tourism, food, historical sites, and other cultural assets, the city of Jeonju is located in the province of North Jeolla, which is on the southwest end of the Korean peninsula. GIK stores will add another cultural dimension to the city focusing on the importance of community donations to serve persons with disabilities.

To celebrate the opening, the new Goodwill® store held a ribbon cutting ceremony, which included a speech by Reverend Jungil Hong, Chairman of the GIK Board.

“The Goodwill Store is a blessing from God for the people with disabilities and their families,” said Reverend Jungil Hong.

 Goodwill was first introduced to Korea in 2003 by Dr. Young Woo Kang, a White House-appointed policy advisor on the U.S. National Council on Disability.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with a presence in 14 other countries. Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,000 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Goodwill also builds revenue and creates jobs by contracting with businesses and government agencies to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2013, more than 9.8 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill’s career services. Goodwill channels 83 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

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