California Goodwill® CEO Recognized for Creating a Socially and Environmentally Sustainable Culture

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA — William Rogers has made countless efforts to protect the environment, benefiting the San Francisco community and creating an internal sustainable culture at the local Goodwill. For his efforts, Goodwill Industries International is honored to present him with the 2019 Goodwill Sustainability Champion Award.

Rogers is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties, Inc. His hard work and dedication to sustainability resulted in a multi-million dollar grant that helped transition the Goodwill transportation fleet to environmentally sustainable E-Trucks.

Historically, the fleet was 100 percent diesel powered. Now, more than 50 percent of the San Francisco Goodwill’s fleet is electric with charging stations that cut down on greenhouse gases. Each year, this innovation eliminates 55,000 miles of diesel emissions. Over three years, diesel use will be reduced by 40,000 gallons which enables a reduction of carbon emissions by 400 tons and also reduces the overall costs to operate. The organization estimates that the program will prevent more than 135 tons of greenhouse gases each year.

Under Rogers’ leadership, the local Goodwill also operates electronics donation drives that provide a much-needed service for the SF-Bay Area. Working with local municipalities and community donors to collect and recycle electronics, the Goodwill keeps harmful electronics out of landfills. The Goodwill’s donated goods model diverts 31 million pounds of waste from local landfills annually. And, in the fiscal year 2017–2018, the Goodwill recycled nearly two-thirds of all of its trash and unused products, including electronics, cardboard and plastic items.

To create sustainable values internally, Rogers implemented the Goodwill employee recycling program in 2016. All employees received training on how to sort paper, plastics, and food scraps — or compost — keeping them from landfills. The proper bins with signage were placed at workstations and kitchen and rest areas to support recycling efforts.

“William Rogers has done a tremendous job at educating his team on the importance of sustainability and making it a priority of the culture,” said Dennis Brice, president and CEO at Chattanooga Goodwill Industries, who nominated Rogers for award. “His work has not only impacted the local Goodwill but the environmental well-being of the greater San Francisco Bay area.”

Additionally, Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin engaged in a partnership with Task Rabbit to increase efficiencies and quality of material donation collection while also connecting people to transitional work. Through this partnership, the Goodwill has provided job opportunities to program participants that specifically leverage those their skill sets in the gig economy model that is gaining traction in the Bay Area and beyond. This partnership bridges the employment gap for people behind and left out of the Bay Area economy and provides an efficient collection and delivery of donations model to Goodwill. This innovative collaboration with Task Rabbit has become a win-win for both the donated goods and workforce development sides of the organization while simultaneously creating a socially and environmentally sustainable service model.

The Goodwill Sustainability Champion Award is presented to a Goodwill executive in recognition of outstanding sustainability practices and accomplishments. The award recognizes a CEO who consistently demonstrates strong leadership in support of the Goodwill triple bottom line: people, planet and prosperity.

Rogers will receive his award at Goodwill Industries International’s annual meeting of the Delegate Assembly this June in Pittsburgh, PA.

CONTACT:

Deborah Bouck
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties, Inc.
Phone: (415) 575-2161
dbouck@sfgoodwill.org

Savanna Mickens
Public Relations Specialist
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5293
Savanna.Mickens@goodwill.org

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN FRANCISCO, SAN MATEO AND MARIN COUNTIES, INC.

Since 1916, Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties has been committed to providing tens of thousands of local people with barriers to employment a second chance through training and the dignity of work. Goodwill is an innovative nonprofit social enterprise that each year trains thousands of people with histories of unemployment or underemployment and places them in jobs, either with Goodwill or with one of its hundreds of business partners. Goodwill is equally committed to environmental sustainability. It prepares job seekers for 21st-century jobs that are environmentally conscious and trains its staff in best practices for diverting millions of pounds of goods every year from local landfills.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 160 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 13 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities. For the past three years, Goodwill was ranked in the top five brands that inspired consumers the most with its mission in the World Value Index, commissioned by the creative agency, enso. Goodwill has been on Forbes’ list of top 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years, the only nonprofit featured on that list.

Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that offer job placement and training services, and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,300 stores collectively and online at shopgoodwill.com®.

Goodwill helps people facing challenges to finding employment, including people with disabilities, veterans and military families, youth and young adults, older workers, people reintegrating into society, and others working to advance their careers. Local Goodwill organizations build revenues and expand employment opportunities by contracting with commercial, state, government and non-government organizations to provide a wide range of business services, including janitorial and grounds maintenance, flexible staffing, food service, manufacturing and contracts packaging, reverse logistics, document imaging and shredding, and laundry services.
Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed more than 288,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 36 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills, and more than two million people received in-person services.

Goodwill is both an icon and accessible neighbor: more than 82 percent of the U.S. population resides within 10 miles of a Goodwill location.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl.

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