Success Stories - Goodwill Industries of New Jersey and Philadelphia

At Goodwill, every donation changes lives. We use the proceeds from donated items to fund Goodwill’s job training programs and career services for individuals facing barriers to employment. Our goal is to end the need for charity by providing long-term solutions, not handouts. Thousands of success stories prove the difference we make, one life at a time.

Jo Anne Proudly Passed All Hi-Set Tests

At just 17, Jo Anne made the brave decision to leave high school to work and provide for her family by babysitting the children of her mom’s friend. Though this path set her back academically…

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Goodwill Gave Me Hope

Fresh out of an abusive relationship and hundreds of miles away from home, Jane* arrived at Goodwill’s Career Opportunity Center frightened and lacking confidence but ready to forge ahead…

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Mrs. & Mr. Francois Learn English

Mr. and Mrs. Francois have been in the States for only six months but were eager to learn English, as they spoke only Haitian Creole and French. Their main goal was to understand the English language…

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Tamika Gets Promoted

I am a recent graduate of Helms. Before getting my diploma, I was stuck in one position at work. Since I have received my diploma, I have taken two exams, and I have advanced to a…

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Janiya Enrolls in Community College of Philadelphia

After completing my experience with Helms Academy, my life changed dramatically. A year ago, I never thought I would…

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Amber Passes Her GED Exam in a 2-Month Span

Alone and faced with medical complications during pregnancy at age 16, Amber didn’t have much of a choice other than dropping…

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Elbawati is Awarded an ESports Scholarship

Having faced mental health challenges and the aftermath of a concussion, Elbawati dropped out of high school in 2019 during…

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Thelonius Scores the Highest in Math

Scoring the highest in Math, and having the highest overall scores, Thelonius was thrilled about the day. “I didn’t expect this; I’m glad that I came,” he said as he smiled widely…

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Fischer is Accepted into Pierce College

61-year-old Fischer left high school to serve the military. Due to knee and back injuries, he could no longer do labor-intensive work. Fischer had not been in a classroom for over four decades…

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Denilson Got His First Job at Goodwill

Born and raised in Haiti to a family of three, Denilson’s early life was marked by academic excellence and unwavering ambition. However, when the climate in Haiti became increasingly unstable…

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Miriam Passes Her HiSet Exam

I became a single mom at age 15. When my son was born, he weighed less than two pounds and was just 12 inches long! There were some very scary days but he beat the odds…

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