14530 FM 2100

Goodwill was founded in Boston by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms created the Goodwill philosophy of “not charity, but a chance” when he collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired people who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then sold or given to the people who repaired them. Over a century later, Goodwill remains a household name and leading nonprofit provider of educational and workforce-related services. Goodwill Industries International (GII) is based in Rockville, MD, outside of Washington, D.C. The Goodwill enterprise is a network of many community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in a dozen other countries. To meet the needs of their local communities, each local Goodwill organization designs its own programs and services to help people find work near where they live.