Accenture Awards Goodwill® $1.5M for New Skills-Building Initiative

Skills To Succeed Corporate Citizenship Grant Aimed At Helping Close The Job Skills Gap

Goodwill Manasota will benefit from a $1.5M grant awarded by Accenture to Goodwill Industries International for a new program aimed at helping more Americans achieve the skills needed for college and career success. The grant is part of Accenture's corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed, which plans to equip 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with skills to get a job or build a business.

Through GoodProspects® for Credentials to Careers, 40 Goodwill agencies across the country will connect more than 15,000 people with the credentials and assistance they need to equip job seekers with career readiness skills.

"Goodwill was founded more than 112 years ago to help all people find opportunity and reach their goals, utilizing the power of work," said Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota. "Thanks to the generosity and foresight of Accenture, we will be able to help more people over the next year."

Over the course of the grant cycle, Goodwill Manasota will develop credentialing partnerships and offer the opportunity to provide program participants with mentoring and skill building support. The grant will also help leverage local training and educational opportunities through community colleges to help address the skills gap in businesses across the country.

About Accenture  

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company, with approximately 281,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of $28.6 billion for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About Goodwill Manasota

Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work.  With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2013, we served more than 16,000 people, placed 537 people in jobs and assisted 329 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $39.3 million.  We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. For 111 years, Goodwill has provided opportunities through such programs as Donated Goods Employment Services, Job Connection, American Veterans & their Families Initiative, JobsPlus, Supported JobsPlus, GoodwillWorks, Mission Development Services, White Glove Services, Good Neighbor Program and Ambassadors Program. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted 37 million pounds out of the landfill.  Goodwill Manasota is legally organized under the laws of the United States and the State of Florida. We are accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota in essence belongs to this community, and is NOT owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit EXPERIENCEGOODWILL.ORG.