Generous donation supports Goodwill effort
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas received a $350,000 grant this week thanks to the Walmart Foundation and the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
Goodwill is the primary charitable beneficiary of this year’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, which got underway this week amid triple digit temperatures at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark. The funds the organization received will be used to support a program called Providing Opportunities for Women through Education and Resources (POWER).
According to Brian Itzkowitz, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, the gift will allow the POWER program to reach 44% more women in Northwest Arkansas, representing as many as 350 women in 2012.
“In short, this gift will help us greatly expand if not transform our program in Northwest Arkansas, and allow us to reach many more women in need in this area,” Itzkowitz said. “We are grateful for this grant and support, and moreover are looking forward to partnering to positively impact the lives of hundreds of families in Northwest Arkansas and to help them live better lives.”
The POWER program specifically helps women who are living in poverty and unemployed. POWER provides a variety of support and services, including job skill assessment and training, job placement and job retention. It also includes specialized support that helps women with childcare, transportation and other basic barriers to successful employment. Currently the Goodwill POWER program operates outreach facilities in Springdale and Fayetteville, Ark.
“Providing women with training and support to help them find jobs and build careers, not only changes the lives of their own families, it benefits their communities as a whole," said Matt Cockrell of the Walmart Foundation. “At Walmart, we are committed to empowering women domestically and abroad, and through this partnership with Goodwill Industries of Arkansas we are proud to help women right here in our backyard."