NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 25, 2011
Northern New England — For the third year in a row, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and Family Circle magazine are teaming up for a Back-to-School Clothing Drive at stores and donation centers across the community and the country. The drive, which runs July 22 through August 23, aims to encourage families to donate their gently used clothing to fund support services that help them become financially stable and support themselves and their families.
Expanding the Partnership Online
In conjunction with the Clothing Drive, Goodwill® and Family Circle are also hosting a co-branded Facebook photo contest inviting donors to snap and share a creative picture of their family donating to Goodwill. Donors can drop off their clothing items at any one of Goodwill’s 25 donation centers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. In addition, families can plan their own donation drive at schools, businesses, or anywhere friends and neighbors gather. The contest runs July 22 to August 23 and the grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 back-to-school shopping spree to send their kids back to school in style. To enter, contestants can visit the Family Circle or Goodwill Facebook page. More information can also be found at http://donate.goodwill.org/familycircle.
“Goodwill and Family Circle’s Back-to-School drive supports Goodwill’s Donate Movement, a public awareness initiative that educates consumers about how donated goods have the power to make a difference in people’s lives, strengthen communities and create a healthier environment,” said Michelle Smith, Communications Manager for Goodwill Industries of Northern New England. “Parents can use the clothing drive as a means to teach children that donating positively impacts both people and the planet.”
The drive is an essential part of the Back-to-School signature promotion, which teaches kids to give back. Goodwill and Family Circle have partnered for back-to-school donation drives since 2009. In its first year alone, the partnership exceeded its 5 million pound goal, giving 11 million pounds of clothing a second life and contributing to the environment by diverting those items from landfills. In total, Family Circle readers contributed to an increase in donations at local Goodwills of approximately 20 million pounds over the past 2 years.
“At Family Circle we encourage our readers and their families to give back,” said Lee Slattery, publisher of Family Circle. “We are thrilled to join forces with Goodwill and reinforce to children and their families that the act of a donation has a tremendous impact on someone’s life.”
Calculate the Impact of a Donation
Visit http://locator.goodwill.org to find a Goodwill store or donation center. After donating items they no longer need, consumers can calculate the impact of their donation through the patent-pending Donation Impact Calculator at http://donate.goodwill.org. The calculator demonstrates how donated goods become jobs. For example:
- One working computer donated to Goodwill provides 8 hours of on-the-job training.
- Two suits, one dress and one jacket donated to Goodwill provides 1 hour of resume preparation.
- Five sweaters, one lamp and two bikes provide 2 hours of career counseling.
###
About Goodwill Industries of Northern New England
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England has a 78-year history of providing innovative services that eliminate barriers to opportunity and help people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work. Last year, we served over 80,000 individuals through job training and placement, career counseling, family strengthening services, youth employment opportunities, brain injury programs, and other community support services for people with disabilities. Our programs are funded by revenue from our 26 retail stores, grants, fees, and financial gifts. Please visit www.goodwillnne.org for more information.
ABOUT FAMILY CIRCLE
Published 15 times a year by Meredith Corporation, with a circulation of 3.8 million and nearly 19 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in the world. Family Circle provides smart relevant advice, sensible solutions, and inspiration in a voice that encourages and celebrates success in its pages and online at www.familycircle.com. Family Circle has always been committed to women’s issues and in 1973 became the first women’s magazine to fully underwrite a professional women’s sporting event, the Family Circle Cup, an annual women’s tennis tournament held in April in Charleston, S.C., at Family Circle Magazine Stadium.
CONTACT:
Michelle Smith, Communications Manager
michelle.smith@goodwillnne.org
(207) 699-0724
Cell: (207) 239-7225
Blair Decembrele (Family Circle)
Phone: (212) 551-6955
blair.decembrele@meredith.com
Goodwill is partnering with Family Circle now through August 23 for a back to school donation drive – take a… http://fb.me/RNSarhMM