Goodwill® Named Disability Nonprofit Brand of the Year in 2015 Harris Poll Equitrend® Study

FORT MYERS, Fla. - March 31, 2015 - PRLog -- Goodwill was named the Disability Nonprofit Brand of the Year as part of the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study, an annual brand equity study which was released this week. The study ranked consumer awareness and perception of charitable nonprofit brands based on three factors — familiarity, quality and purchase consideration — that result in a brand equity rating for each brand. The study, which was conducted for the 27th year, surveyed more than 38,000 Americans who assessed brands across 148 categories.

For more than 110 years, Goodwill has helped people navigate the challenges they face when seeking employment, including disabilities, lack of education or work experience, and other factors that make it difficult for them to gain employment and build careers. Goodwill staff members work with people to develop their employment skills, including résumé writing, job interview practice, job search help and other career services.

Roughly four out of five people with disabilities nationwide are outside of the labor force. People with disabilities can receive a number of services through Goodwill, including access to assistive technology, soft skills training, occupational therapy, transportation, and other accommodations that may be needed to perform their jobs. In addition, Goodwill trains people to work in a variety of high-growth industries outside of Goodwill such as computer programming, construction, financial services, health care and many others.

About Harris Poll EquiTrend:

Harris Poll EquiTrend is based on a sample of 38,670 U.S. consumers ages 15 and over surveyed online in English between January 8 and February 2, 2015. , Of the 1,410 total brands included in this year’s study, each respondent was asked to rate a total of 40 randomly selected brands. Each brand received approximately 1,000 ratings. Data were weighted to be representative of the entire U.S. population of consumers based on age by sex, education, race/ethnicity, region, and income; and data from respondents ages 18 and over were also weighted for their propensity to be online. Respondents to this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the survey, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.:

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties. Revenue earned at Goodwill’s 30 Southwest Florida thrift stores supports Goodwill’s mission of helping people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. Goodwill’s programs in Southwest Florida include Job-Link outreach centers, small business training classes, disability-accessible housing, the Goodwill L.I.F.E. Academy charter school, and more.  For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, visit http://www.goodwillswfl.org.