Horizon Goodwill Awards Mission Partner of Year to Employee Benefits Services

May 11, 2023

Horizon Goodwill Awards Mission Partner of Year to Employee Benefits Services

(Hagerstown, Maryland, May 2023) Employee Benefits Services was named “Mission Partner of the Year” at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ (HGI) 68th Annual Power of Work Awards. The event, held in Hagerstown on May 3, 2023, is scheduled annually to coincide with National Goodwill Week.

The Power of Work Awards recognizes HGI’s participants’ and community partners’ hard work, dedication, and mission support each year. These individuals and businesses embody the HGI Mission of Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities for employment throughout their four-state territory.

This year, nearly 150 people were in attendance including local officials, program participants, staff, representatives from partnering organizations, and community members.

The Mission Partner of the Year award recognizes a business or organization that provides aid or has otherwise supported Horizon Goodwill in its efforts to assist individuals with overcoming barriers to employment, thereby helping Goodwill fulfill its mission.

Horizon Goodwill’s leadership team has committed to integrating their mission of removing barriers and creating opportunities into their daily business practices. This includes recognizing the need to support their employees with the same compassion and creativity used to support program participants. Like many of the individuals served by HGI’s mission team, access to affordable healthcare presents a challenge to its employees. Employee Benefits Services Solutions (EBS) was an early adopter of the mission integration philosophy and quickly helped HGI find affordable healthcare solutions that met their employees’ needs. EBS has been on the front lines advocating for HGI, removing barriers to access to quality care, and creating opportunities for HGI employees to manage their health while keeping overall program costs lower than more traditional solutions.

Ben Bohonowicz, Director of Client Services for EBS, stated “We are honored to be named Horizon Goodwill’s 2022 Mission Partner of The Year. This recognition means a lot to us, as we’ve long admired the incredible work this organization does to empower individuals and strengthen our community.”

“As a Mission Partner, we have had the privilege of collaborating with Horizon Goodwill on various healthcare initiatives that align with our shared goal of helping to improve better access to care, putting people first, and putting money back into members’ pockets.” He added.

Partnership creates pathway to life-changing career opportunities

October 7, 2022

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: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD with responsibility 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 and creating opportunities 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

September 20, 2022

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 been providing creative business solutions for private industry as well as 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 of which require security clearances. HGI is currently 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. The addition of 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.” Added Chris Austin, Environmental Services Manager for Meritus Health, “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, but 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, whose mission is “Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities,” is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to sustaining and meaningful employment. Ninety cents of every dollar earned by Horizon Goodwill is invested in putting people to work and strengthening communities across a 17-county region throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit https://www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org

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

May 15, 2022

(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. Donation bins were provided to all the schools by Horizon Goodwill, 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 was able to generate 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

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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

2022 Power of Work Awards

March 22, 2022

67th Annual Power of Work Awards

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022

This year’s awards event is going to be a little different. Instead of a sit-down dinner in a sea of tables, we’ll invite you to experience how we are More Than Just A Store!

Each year, our Awards Program recognizes the hard work, dedication, and mission support of our clients and partners in the community. These individuals and businesses embody our mission of
removing barriers and creating opportunities for employment throughout our four-state territory. We hope that you will consider sponsoring this day of recognition. Thank you!

TITLE SPONSORSHIP $3,000.00 (SOLD!)

Most prominent Corporate Logo Placements on all Promotional Materials, Advertising, and highlighted
on Social Media
Company banner placed outside of the building during the event and for one (1) week following the event.
Recognition at the Power of Work Awards as the Title Sponsor.
Recognition during Award and Recipient Video Presentation during Power of Work Awards.
Acknowledgment as the Title sponsor in the Power of Work Awards Program.

PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP $2,000.00

Corporate Logo Placements on all Promotional Materials, Advertising, and highlighted on Social Media.
Your company banner will be placed outside the building during the event.
Recognition at the Power of Work Awards as a Platinum sponsor.
Recognition during Award and Recipient Video Presentation during Power of Work Awards.
Acknowledgment as a Platinum sponsor in the Power of Work Awards Program.

GOLD SPONSORSHIP $1,000.00

Corporate Logo Placements on all Promotional Materials, Advertising, and highlighted on Social Media.
Your Company logo was placed on a banner outside the building during the event.
Recognition during Award and Recipient Video Presentation during Power of Work Awards.
Acknowledgment as a Gold sponsor in the Power of Work Awards Program.

SILVER SPONSORSHIP $500.00

Corporate Logo Placements on all Promotional Materials, Advertising, and highlighted on Social Media.
Acknowledgment as a Silver sponsor in the Power of Work Awards Program.

BRONZE SPONSORSHIP $250.00

Sponsorship Recognition.
Acknowledgment as a Bronze sponsor in the Power of Work Awards Program.

To pay by credit card, please click the button located below to reach our financial donation page. Use the ‘custom amount’ option and put your sponsorship level in the comments field.

* For more information on these sponsorship opportunities or Horizon Goodwill Industries and its Mission in the Community, don’t hesitate to contact Amanda Rossen at arossen@goodwill-hgi.org or call 301-988-0501.

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

February 23, 2022

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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