Goodwill Honors Carolina Rodriguez as 2010 Top Volunteer

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- When Carolina Rodriguez first started volunteering for Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida two years ago, she didn’t likely anticipate the influence she’d have on the area nonprofit agency.

On Friday, May 6, Rodriguez was named  Goodwill’s (http://www.goodwillswfl.org) first-ever “Volunteer of the Year,”  an award that the agency hopes to give annually to an individual who has provided outstanding volunteer service, and who supports the agency’s mission of helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages.  The award was presented at Goodwill’s Annual Awards Luncheon.  

Rodriguez, a Lehigh Acres resident, began her volunteer service in 2009 at Goodwill’s Lehigh Retail & Donation Center.  

“She volunteered there for a year and a half,” explained District Manager Tony Petraglia, who presented Rodriguez with the award.  “She did an outstanding job, was very dependable, and just pleasant to be around and work around.”

Rodriguez’ volunteer work was so impressive that Lehigh Store Manager Sandra McClam recommended Rodriguez for an available position as an Assistant Manager in August 2010.

When Goodwill opened its new LaBelle store in early 2011, Rodriguez was promoted to the store manager position, a job she continues to hold today.  The Volunteer of the Year recipient credits McClam, her former supervisor, for her success.

“She taught me everything I know about Goodwill, to love and appreciate every single donor and customer that comes into our store,” says Rodriguez.  “I’m happy to be part of a company that helps builds lives and communities.”

Rodriguez was one of five honorees at the Goodwill luncheon.  Also honored were Graduate of the Year Rocky Castro, 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.

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.