Good News

Stores expected to open in Phase 2, but Goodwill needs donated items in the meantime ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Goodwill of the Finger Lakes is accepting donations — contactless donations, that is — effective immediately per state and county reopening guidelines. Donation doors are open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days a week at all stores and Donation Centers across the Finger Lakes…

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Appoints Jennifer Lake as CEO The Board of Directors of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes has appointed Jennifer Lake as chief executive officer, effective immediately. She replaces Dr. A. Gidget Hopf, who is retiring after 34 years. Lake joined Goodwill of the Finger Lakes in 2007 and was appointed president in September 2019, when Hopf announced her retirement. Prior, she…

A Message from Our President & CEO, Jennifer Lake:   Right now, the cash registers in our Goodwill stores are silent. But Goodwill of the Finger Lakes has not been quiet during the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve been delivering critically-needed services to our community.   And even though you currently can’t score great deals in the stores, your support can mean a great…

GOODWILL CALLING UPON COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MAKE FACE MASKS – OVER 50,000 MASKS NEEDED FOR ROCHESTER & FINGER LAKES NONPROFIT STAFF AND CLIENTS Rochester, NY – (April 6, 2020) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Monroe County Department of Health recommend wearing cloth face masks in public settings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Nonprofit organizations throughout our…

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes CEO Dr. A. Gidget Hopf was honored by Goodwill Industries International (GII) with the prestigious J.D. Robins, Jr. Distinguished Career Award during the GII Annual Meeting of the Conference of Executives event held in Nashville, TN during the last week of February. The award recognizes annually one Goodwill CEO for outstanding career contributions and dedication to…

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 the grand opening weekend for it’s first dedicated book store, located at 1250 Creek Street in Webster, NY.   The grand opening takes place on Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16, 2020. The Goodwill Book Store…

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 bring…

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 Goodwill of the…

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 gift themselves.…

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 October…

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 female…

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 costume…

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…