Goodwill Honors Rocky Castro as 2010 Graduate of the Year

May 16, 2011 - PRLog -- Ruben “Rocky” Castro may use a wheelchair to get around, but he doesn’t define himself by his disability.  On Friday, May 6, Castro was honored with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s “Graduate of the Year” award, given annually to an individual who has utilized Goodwill’s services to overcome disabilities or other barriers on their path to employment and independence.  

Castro, a 22-year-old from Fort Myers, received the honor at Goodwill’s (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) Annual Awards Luncheon, held at the Harborside Event Center. Goodwill’s High School/High-Tech (HS/HT) Program Manager, Tim Goodman, presented the award.  

HS/HT (http://www.goodwillswfl.org/HSHT/) is a program designed to provide mentoring and career guidance to students with developmental disabilities.  Castro was involved in HS/HT while a student at Cypress Lake High School.

Castro recently earned his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Southeastern University.  Having used a wheelchair since middle school because of a neuromuscular disease, he is passionate about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Law. At the Southeastern, he led a successful effort to have an elevator installed in a previously inaccessible classroom building.

“Rocky’s gone on to do some great things,” explained Goodman while presenting the Graduate of the Year Award.  “His resume’s already bigger than mine, and he’s half my age.”  

Castro is also a frequent guest speaker for students with disabilities, and serves on Goodwill’s HS/HT Business Advisory Council.

“I’m a product of what Goodwill does for youth with disabilities,” said Castro, who plans to attend law school in the fall to continue fighting for the rights of people with disabilities.

Castro was one of five honorees at the Goodwill luncheon.  Also honored were Volunteer of the Year Carolina Rodriguez, Business of the Year LYNX Services, Employer of the Year BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Achiever of the Year Ruth Moise.

The goal of the annual awards, according to Goodwill CEO Tom Feurig, is to put a face on Goodwill’s mission.

“It’s all about the people,” Feurig said at the close of the luncheon.  “We want you to see the faces behind the number of people we serve.”

The Goodwill Annual Awards Luncheon was sponsored by SunTrust Bank.  The afternoon’s keynote speaker was Jason Gunter, a Fort Myers resident who recently completed the Ironman Triathlon as a double-amputee.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida provides programs and services for people with disabilities and other disadvantages in Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties.  Revenue generated by Goodwill’s 25 Southwest Florida Retail & Donation Centers is used to support these programs.

Watch video of Rocky Castro:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2festOUkeCM



For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit the agency’s website at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.

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Goodwill operates 25 thrift stores in SW Florida to support its mission of removing barriers to independence. Programs include income-sensitive housing, career placement assistance, the L.I.F.E. Academy Charter School, Four Wheels for Work, and others.