Good News

ROCHESTER, NY -- The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), a mission of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, has selected Destiny Diaz as its 2020 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year. As ABVI’s Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year, Diaz will accompany ABVI leadership to the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) National Conference being held in Washington, D.C., and will be…

ROCHESTER, NY – Following a successful pilot in its Henrietta and Macedon, New York stores, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will remove single-use plastic shopping bags from all of its Rochester and Syracuse area stores on Saturday, February 1. The elimination of these single-use plastic comes one month ahead of the state ban that takes effect on March 1. Goodwill shoppers are encouraged to…

ROCHESTER, NY - The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), a mission of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, joins the global community of individuals who are blind or visually impaired in celebrating World Braille Day on January 4, 2020. According to the United Nations, World Braille Day is celebrated to "raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the…

ROCHESTER, NY – Employees in all three of CooperVision, Inc.’s Rochester-area locations really felt the holiday spirit of giving this year as they donated 1,051 pounds of stuff during the first ever Give to Goodwill corporate donation drive this November. “CooperVision has been a long-time supporter of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), a mission of…

ROCHESTER, NY - Do not be surprised if one or more of the gifts you give or receive this holiday season is thrifted. According to Accenture’s “13th Annual Holiday Shopping Survey”, almost half of the survey respondents (48 percent) would consider giving a gift of secondhand clothing. In fact, an even greater number (56 percent) said they would be happy to receive a thrifted…

WHAT Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, a local not-for-profit providing services and programs that empower people to overcome barriers to independence, is opening a new donation center in Webster. WHEN Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. WHERE 1250 Creek Street, Webster, NY 14580 WHY “When Goodwill of the Finger Lakes closed the Attended Donation Center (ADC) on Bay Road at the end of…

This year you can celebrate #GivingTuesday and ROC the Day for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) and Goodwill of the Finger Lakes! Join the Rochester community on 12.3.19 in a day of unprecedented giving. It’s your chance to make a real difference and we’re hoping you’ll make a difference by supporting ABVI and Goodwill of the Finger Lakes. There are…

ROCHESTER, NY – Every so often, an online rumor titled “Think Before You Donate” makes the rounds on social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. This collection of misinformation includes false statements about a number of charitable organizations, including Goodwill, and claims to expose inflated salaries and financial mismanagement. The information included in the viral…

Rochester, NY – Beginning Monday, November 4, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes will pilot the removal of plastic bags at its Macedon and Henrietta, New York stores. Goodwill plans to eliminate plastic bags from all of its Rochester and Syracuse area stores ahead of the state ban that will take effect on March 1, 2020. During the pilot, shoppers at the Macedon and Henrietta Goodwill stores are…

ROCHESTER, NY - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) CEO Dr. A. Gidget Hopf has been named to the list of finalists for the 2020 ATHENA International Award by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and its Women’s Council affiliate. According to the Chamber, “The ATHENA International Award is given annually to a professional…

ROCHESTER, NY - According to a recent study, 70 percent of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween this year. Yet, 75 percent of them do not have a plan for their Halloween costume. This statistical disparity got Goodwill's Halloween Stylists thinking. What their ghoulish design minds came up with is nothing short of spooktacular. "We're excited to announce Goodwill's all-new online…

We’re excited to announce that Newell Brands (DYMO) has been named Larger Supplier of the Year 2019 by the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind (NAEPB). This award recognizes Newell Brands’ support of the AbilityOne program and dedication to finding new and innovative ways to provide job opportunities for people who are blind through its partnership…

Rochester, NY - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and its affiliate, The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, (ABVI) announce CEO Dr. Gidget Hopf will retire on June 30, 2020, after nearly 34 years in her role. Through Dr. Hopf’s leadership, this not for profit organization has grown into a $50 million social enterprise with 90 percent of its revenue self-generated by four…

WHAT: National Suicide Prevention Week 2019 is set for Sunday, September 8 through Saturday, September 14. The 17th Annual World Suicide Prevention Day is Tuesday, September 10. WHY: 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness Nearly 1 in 25 adults live with a serious mental illness One half of all chronic mental illness starts by age 14, ¾ by age 24. 90% of those who die by suicide have an…

As part of our Mission programs, our teams work with youth to help prepare them for the workforce and in development a career path.  Last week, a group of 11 teenagers (ages 13-18) went on a field trip to local places to learn about career paths, employer expectations, job opportunities, and volunteer opportunities.  Some of the youth were enrolled in a week-long pre-vocational course…

The “Book Bus” made its inaugural run on July 15th, bringing the gift of books to a few different neighborhoods within the York School District; the York Fire Hall, where students and families were welcomed to meet the bus; and to the participants in the York-Leicester Recreation Program which is held at the school.  Over 2000 books were collected from the Donated Goods Retail…

The new donation center will begin accepting donations on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Rochester, NY - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, a local not-for-profit providing services and programs that empower people to overcome barriers to independence, today announced it will open a new store and donation center at Eastview Mall with a grand opening weekend celebration on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday,…

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes today announced the launch of Everyday Deals pricing throughout all of its retail stores in the Rochester and Syracuse markets beginning on Monday, March 18, 2019. “Many of our Goodwill shoppers have asked us to lower our clothing prices, and we listened! We are excited to announce our new Everyday Deals pricing, which lowers our prices and gives our customers…

Throughout the years, the Joseph and Nancy Briggs Family have made contributions to the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) that have demonstrated a commitment to the organization’s mission and to preserving its ability to serve those in our community who are blind or visually impaired well into the future. As a result of this generosity, ABVI, a mission program of…

The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), a mission program of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, is celebrating 50 years of providing Low Vision Services to the Finger Lakes region at its 2019 Visionary Gala: Hearts of Gold presented by Smola Consulting, taking place on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency Rochester. Fifty years ago, in 1969, low vision,…

There are more than 2,000 local individuals and families impacted by the ongoing partial government shutdown. At 2-1-1/LIFE LINE, a mission program of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, we stand ready 24 hours a day, every day, to support our community, including the government employees affected by the furloughs. Dial 2-1-1 any time to talk to a trained telecounselor who can connect you to resources…