Letter to the Editor
Herald-Dispatch

Dec. 23, 2009

Huntington and surrounding areas have an awesome opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of young people in our community.  So many times we complain about the direction that our youth are going in. I challenge our wonderful citizens to step forward and be a part of an exciting new program offered by Goodwill Industries. ®

The program, known as Goodwill GoodGuides, ® is aimed at 12- to 17-year-olds who face such risk factors as school failure, juvenile delinquency, family violence and other challenges. Through the use of trusted adult mentors, the program helps these young people build career plans and skills. The basic idea is that if we can keep these youth out of trouble now, they will be less likely to face even greater hardships down the road.

Goodwill GoodGuides® is funded through a $19.1 million grant to Goodwill Industries International from the U.S. Department of Justice. I am happy to say that Goodwill Industries® of KYOWVA Area, Inc. is one of 56 community Goodwill agencies in 38 states that will receive funding from this grant to provide career-focused youth mentoring so that youth can build career plans and skills as they prepare for school completion. Goodwill is an especially good match for this program because of its long history of helping people find jobs, and its emphasis on building strong families.

In the end, offering youth a pathway out of crime and toward a better future truly is a good thing for all of us.

Trusted adults interested in mentoring youth in our community or youths interested in participating in the program  should contact Roger Rash, our GoodGuides® program manager at 304.522.3624.

Sincerely,

Kimberly B. Lewis
Executive Director
Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc.