home of Paul and Judy Beckett. This may be the only Goodwill with the founding address of one of its CEOs.The state charter of Goodwill of KYOWVA Area, Inc. was signed on October 31, 1973 with Bud Williams as its first Board Chairman. November 5, 1973 marked the official date of incorporation for the agency. The official address of Goodwill Industries on the Articles of Incorporation is 326 W. 12th Avenue, the home of Paul and Judy Beckett. This may be the only Goodwill with the founding address of one of its CEOs.
On April 15, 1974 a fundraising campaign, dubbed “Dollars for Dignity,” was launched to raise the $25,000 necessary to match a Benedum Foundation grant. According to news articles, the amount needed to start a successful Goodwill was closer to $100,000.
To indicate the level of money raised, a tape was stretched along 4th Ave between 8th and 16th Streets. If $5 could be raised for each foot of tape, the goal would be reached. Doug Glover, then President of Goodwill said individuals could either attach their donations directly to the tape or call to pledge contributions. Marshall University students and Huntington businessmen collected $600 to kick-off the fund-drive. According to Bragg, Marshall students with donation cans collected money on the street corners of Huntington.
Later in April, a miniature train - the Precious Cargo Line, donated by the local chapter of the Railroad Community Service Committee - offered rides through the downtown area to help raise the matching funds. Rides were $.25. By August, the agency was looking for temporary space and asking for donations of office equipment and store fixtures.
The goal of $25,000 had been reached in August, but an additional $10,000 - $15,000 was needed to insure the successful operation for two years. A search for a facility in which to house Goodwill had begun. Additionally, the board was conducting a search for an executive director and other staff.
In October, Goodwill collected used telephone books as part of their fundraising effort. They recycled the books by selling them to Tri-State Waste paper for $5 a ton. They hoped to receive 100,000 books and raise $250, but according to Bragg, the effort was not successful.
A $10,000 Community Development Block Grant from the city of Huntington and a $5000 donation from the Ashland Oil, Inc. Foundation helped support the match while the WV Department of Vocational Rehabilitation pledged grants for equipment and materials as an in-kind donation to complete the total needed.
In February 1975, Bernard Kern was hired as the first Goodwill CEO and the agency began accepting clients.
Also of interest:
-- For more of our history, click here.
-- For answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
-- 2010 Annual Report (2.5 MB .pdf)