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Horizon Goodwill & the Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools Announce Results of Annual Spring Donation Drive

Horizon Goodwill & the Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools Announce Results of the Annual Spring Donation Drive

EF WCPS Check Presentation(Hagerstown, Maryland, August 2023) Each spring, Horizon Goodwill Industries partners with the Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools (EF/WCPS), and Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) to engage the community in a donation drive to raise funds for the EF WCPS.

This year, Middletown Valley Bank stepped in to sponsor the Goodwill Cup. They donated $1,500 to be split between the top collecting elementary, middle, and high schools.

The “Spring into Education Clothing Drive” resulted in the collection of 23,568 pounds of donations. Each of the 50 schools throughout Washington County (including the Center for Education Services – CES) participated. Donation bins were provided to all the schools by Horizon Goodwill. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators were then challenged to fill them. The donation competition was so intense that many schools had to have additional bins delivered due to the high volume of participation.

At the close of the collection period, the three schools that collected the most donations per student were Cascade Elementary, Clear Spring Middle School, and Williamsport High School. Each of those schools was awarded the Goodwill Cup and $500 from Middletown Valley Bank. Special recognition was given to Autumn Slick from Williamsport High School, who donated 760 items! Through this effort, Horizon Goodwill was able to generate over $9,124.80 for the Education Foundation of WCPS – a dramatic increase from $5,240 in 2022.

Sheila Evers, Executive Director of the Foundation, said, “We cannot thank Horizon Goodwill & Middletown Valley Bank enough for their collaborative sprint and the outreach to support education in Washington County. This was a colossal effort, with over 50 schools participating. Thank you for all your hard work and the support of WCPS students. We can’t wait to see what schools will win next year’s Goodwill Cup!”

Horizon Goodwill President/CEO David Shuster added, “We are glad to see this partnership continue to grow and are thankful for the Goodwill Cup prize funding contributed this year by Middletown Valley Bank. It is great to see the increased support of each school community since this initiative began, all of which helps the Education Foundation provide funds that help improve educational outcomes for students of WCPS.”

The Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools (EF/WCPS), Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), Middletown Valley Bank, and Horizon Goodwill Industries would like to thank everyone who supported this collection by making donations.

Filed Under: News

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About Horizon Goodwill: About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org.

About the Education Foundation of WCPS: The Education Foundation of WCPS was incorporated in 2009 as the “WCPS Education Foundation” to respond to the local need for increased community involvement and support for public education. The foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of parents, business and civic leaders, as well as WCPS staff. Each year the Education Foundation awards thousands of dollars in Innovative Grants to WCPS educators. The Education Foundation of WCPS Financial Literacy and Super Reader programs support established classroom curricula. For more information visit www.educationfoundationofwcps.org. For media inquiries, contact Sheila Evers, Executive Director at 301-766-2925 or visit execdirector@educationfoundationofwcps.org

About Middletown Valley Bank: Since 1908, Middletown Valley Bank has been the cornerstone for our customers’ financial planning, residents and businesses alike. Though many advances of the 21st century have made the financial world more competitive, Middletown Valley Bank continues to provide the flexibility and responsiveness only a true community bank can offer. Our exceptional customer service combined with state-of-the-art technology, provides our customers with the best banking experience. For more information, visit https://mvbbank.com.

Partnership creates pathway to life-changing career opportunities

Partnership creates pathway to life-changing career opportunities

Innovative pilot program provides job opportunities at Meritus Health

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – For people trying to change their quality of life, sometimes a pathway needs to be found. Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care have created that pathway to connect people with opportunities.

A team consisting of members representing Meritus Health, Horizon Goodwill Industries, and Maryland Physicians Care have crafted an innovative pilot program, Pathway to Healthcare, to path low/moderate income candidates directly into living wage positions in one of five identified divisions at Meritus. “We are honored to play a connecting role in this program to help support county residents and businesses,” said David Shuster, Ed.D., president and CEO of Horizon Goodwill Industries. “Through this program, we are able to directly improve the lives of the participants and strengthen the health system that serves the community. We see this as a very valuable initiative and are thrilled to be the lead sponsor,” said Jason Rottman, CEO of Maryland Physicians Care.

The concept is simple: Employment is offered in one of the numerous areas at Meritus Health. Maryland Physicians Care provides the administrative staff for program design and deployment. Training and development are provided by Horizon Goodwill Industries through the ‘Get Onboard!’ soft skills academy. Additionally, Maryland Physicians Care will cover program costs, including the candidates’ pre-employment training expenses, uniforms, and a potential bonus upon completion of the probationary period. “In fulfillment of our mission, Maryland Physicians Care is looking at factors beyond clinical care that affect our member’s health outcomes, and improving income stability is foundational to ensuring individuals have the resources and means to live healthy lives,” said Lorena de Leon, D.P.A., Sr. Director of Population Health, Maryland Physicians Care.

Once employment is underway, a probationary period begins. After six months of employment, Meritus Health reviews the employee’s performance and will offer support in furthering education and training in healthcare-specific roles. “Our health system and many industries need good, committed, and loyal workers. We are looking to the strengths that already exist within our own community and connecting them with the skills and training to develop them,” said Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president and CEO of Meritus Health.

“In the current labor market, it is vital that we have community partners who are willing to take bold new approaches to recruit and retain employees. Creating training pathways that lead to living-wage employment opportunities for “hidden workers” is a win-win,” said Brooke Grossman, Horizon Goodwill Industries, chief mission officer.

The pilot has already taken off.

Hires have already been made following a job fair in September at Horizon Goodwill’s Human Services Building on North Prospect Street in downtown Hagerstown.

“This is just the beginning. Joshi said. “It’s not just a pathway to a job, this partnership provides an opportunity for a better life. And as the employer, it’s a great way to have a workforce representing our local community.”

Filed Under: News

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About Horizon Goodwill: About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

Meritus Health Donation to Horizon Goodwill Industries

Meritus Medical Center Donates Equipment to Horizon Goodwill Industries

(Hagerstown, Maryland, August 2022) Meritus Medical Center recently donated various floor cleaning equipment to Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) Business Services division. HGI is very grateful for the donation, which will enable the various cleaning crews to be more efficient and perform more work across many of our contracts.

The Business Services division of HGI has provided creative business solutions for private industry and local, state, and federal governments for more than 65 years. The Commercial Cleaning Solutions group employs over 120 people, cleaning over 1.9 million square feet of contracted building space daily. Our contracts include Federal, State, and private sector locations, some requiring security clearances. HGI is responsible for cleaning over 100 buildings at Fort Detrick, MD, including the base hospital, Child Development Center, Youth/Teen Center, and many offices.

Brandon Marks, Director of Business Services, said, “We are so grateful for the generosity displayed by Meritus. Adding this equipment to our division will provide job training opportunities and upskilling for our teams. By learning the specialized skill of floor maintenance, our custodians will be able to earn higher wages and increase theIr quality of life.” Chris Austin, Environmental Services Manager for Meritus Health, added, “At Meritus Health, we are always looking for ways to partner with other local organizations that work to better the lives of others. It’s not just about the equipment; the bigger picture is that the donations will impact the workers at Horizon Goodwill. It’s the people that matter to us.”

Filed Under: News

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About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 orcfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

Horizon Goodwill & the Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools Conclude Spring Donation Drive

(Hagerstown, Maryland, June 2022) During the spring, Horizon Goodwill Industries partnered with the Ed Foundation of Washington County Public Schools (EF/WCPS), and Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) to engage the community in a donation drive to raise funds for the Education Foundation.

The “Spring into Education Clothing Drive” resulted in the collection of 9,166 pounds of donations. Each of the 50 schools in Washington County (including the Center for Education Services – CES) participated. Horizon Goodwill provided Donation bins to all the schools, and then the students, parents, teachers, and administrators were challenged to fill them. Many schools had to have additional bins delivered due to the high volume of participation.

At the close of the collection period, the three schools that collected the most were Old Forge Elementary, Hancock Middle-Senior High School, and Clear Spring High School. Each of those schools was awarded the Goodwill Cup. It should be noted that Old Forge Elementary was the overall winner with 684 pounds collected.

Through this effort, Horizon Goodwill generated over $5,240 for the Education Foundation of WCPS. Sheila Evers, Executive Director of the foundation said “We cannot thank Horizon Goodwill enough for their collaborative sprint and the outreach to support education in Washington County. This was a colossal effort with over 50 schools participating. Thank you for all your hard work and support of WCPS students. We can’t wait to see what schools will win next year’s Goodwill Cup!”  Horizon Goodwill President/CEO David Shuster added “We are honored to have the opportunity to partner with our public school system and community on this initiative to raise funds that will support programs leading to improved educational outcomes for students of WCPS.”

The Education Foundation of Washington County Public Schools (EF/WCPS), Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), and Horizon Goodwill Industries would like to thank everyone who supported this collection by making donations.

Filed Under: News

_________________

About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

About the Education Foundation of WCPS: The Education Foundation of WCPS was incorporated in 2009 as the “WCPS Education Foundation” to respond to the local need for increased community involvement and support for public education. The foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of parents, business and civic leaders as well as WCPS staff. Each year the Education Foundation awards thousands of dollars in Innovative Grants to WCPS educators. The Education Foundation of WCPS Financial Literacy and Super Reader programs support established classroom curricula. For more information visit www.educationfoundationofwcps.org. For media inquiries contact Sheila Evers, Executive Director at 301-766-2925 or visit execdirector@educationfoundationofwcps.org

Horizon Goodwill & Meritus Health Obtain Grant for Downtown Hagerstown ‘Health Hub’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Hagerstown, Maryland, February 2022) Horizon Goodwill Industries in partnership with Meritus Medical Center are among nine grantees selected to receive funds from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission’s “Pathways to Health Equity” program.

The $925,000 two-year grant allows for opening a primary care office at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ downtown Hagerstown location at 200 N. Prospect Street. Meritus Medical Center will provide a full-time nurse practitioner to staff the site and mental health case management staff will be provided by Horizon Goodwill. Patients will not be turned away based upon insurance status; they will be seen and then connected to a health care navigator from AHEC West to assist them in becoming insured. This project will be known as the Hagerstown Health HUB and co-located with the full-service grocery store HGI is opening.

“Access to care is essential to the quality of care. We are proud to partner with Horizon Goodwill to improve access to care for many of our neighbors, helping to reduce disparities in care.” said Doug Spotts, Chief Health Officer, Meritus Health.

This facility will be able to help address many of the existing healthcare issues facing residents of the Hagerstown core. Recent surveys show that 10.4% of city residents in the 21740 zip code do not have health insurance and are turned away from traditional healthcare facilities. Existing data also highlights that there were about 1100 visitors to the Emergency Department at Meritus and users of that facility responded that it was “extremely difficult” for them to have their needs met.

David Shuster, President, and CEO of Horizon Goodwill explained that “Receipt of this funding from the MD CHRC supports another positive step forward on the journey to restore access to critical services for City residents by bringing the services closer to the people who need them most. We, along with Meritus Health and AHEC West, recognize the importance of addressing these issues in order to help foster a healthier, vibrant, and thriving community.”

Ron Bowers, HGI Board Chairman added “The inclusion of this type of service in the upcoming grocery still will provide a one-stop visit for food, sundries, and health care services.” He highlights that “The continued determination of the HGI Board of Directors was integral to the addition of this service for the community”.

AHEC Executive Director, Susan Stewart stated “AHEC West understands how important this health hub will be for the residents of Hagerstown and are quite excited to be a part of it by providing English and Spanish language health insurance navigator services.”

“This project is further investment from Horizon Goodwill to provide equitable access to vital resources to residents of the Core of Hagerstown. Rapid assess to primary care coupled with health care navigation, nutritional education, care coordination, and case management creates a one-stop environment to empower City residents to take control of their health,” stated Chief Mission Officer Brooke Grossman

The Hagerstown Health Hub will be located adjacent to the previously announced grocery store at the Horizon Goodwill Industries building in downtown Hagerstown. It will be in a separate location within the same building. Construction on the full project is anticipated to begin in later summer 2022.

Filed Under: News

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About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

October is National Work & Family Month

national work and family month

This month marks the 10th anniversary of National Work & Family Month. During this time, Congress, businesses, advocacy groups, academic institutions and other organizations encourage employers to think strategically about family-friendly policies and work-life benefits to help their employees succeed at home and on the job. Some of these policies may include workplace flexibility, health and wellness initiatives, and community involvement. The message is simple: a healthy balance between work and personal life is in the best interest of the worker, the employer and the national workforce.  [Read more…] about October is National Work & Family Month

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