Metropolitan Community College, Clarkson Construction, and Hallmark featured as Award-Winning Business Partners
Kansas City, MO (September 1, 2022) – Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas (MOKAN Goodwill) announced the winners of the 2022 Power of Work Awards at a luncheon held at The Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. This year, MOKAN Goodwill is celebrating 128 years of empowering job seekers of all abilities to enter the workforce.
Funmi Popoola, President and CEO of Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, stated, “Today we are here to celebrate and recognize several of our program participants who have overcome significant barriers, are actively working, and are making a better life for themselves and their families. We are also recognizing our business partners who continue to support us and drive this work forward.”
The 9th edition of the Power of Work Awards, emceed by Fox 4 television anchor John Holt, showcased the strength and success of Goodwill participants who have overcome barriers and continue to bravely build Kansas City’s workforce, and the local businesses that support them. The event also recognized the rich history of the nonprofit and the innovative programs and services that MoKan Goodwill offers to empower people to discover their potential.
“This event is so important because it recognizes that everyone has dignity in work. Many people that society might tend to write off have the ability to succeed, the ability to excel and to become productive members of society,” said Jameson Auten, Chair of the Board of Directors for MOKAN Goodwill.
Nearly 300 influential corporate and community leaders joined to honor and hear stories of local individuals and employers. All proceeds from the event will benefit MOKAN Goodwill’s programs and services.
Nancy Hintz, President of Kansas/Missouri & Heartland Thrivent Member Networks, which served as an EMPOWER sponsor of the event, stated, “Thrivent supports the power of work and the mission of Goodwill. We believe in helping people with financial clarity that can help sustain themselves and their communities. Our efforts perfectly align with the work of Goodwill.”
The 2022 Award Winners are:
Bright Future Award – Jennifer Orrick
This award recognizes a graduate of the Goodwill Artemis Institute who is successfully pursuing a career change or career growth. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Elevation Award – Dwight Thomas
This award recognizes a Goodwill employee with a compelling story of success who has gained new skills, a promotion, and/or a wage increase. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Cultivation Award – Jade Breshears
This award recognizes a participant who is actively working to overcome barriers and is successfully pursuing continued education or workforce training. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Empowerment Award – Sean Bornstein
This award recognizes a participant with a compelling story of success who has overcome significant challenges and is employed. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Generational Strength Award – Autumn Marcella
This award recognizes a person whose employment and or education has positively impacted their entire family. The person has a strong family support system and has gained the tools to improve the household’s health, housing, education, transportation, finances, and or confidence. View the award winner’s profile video here.
The Bob Smart Legacy Award - Hallmark
This award recognizes an organization with 500 or more employees that has a history of diversity in workplace opportunities aligning with Goodwill’s mission to competitively employ people with disadvantages and different abilities. This award is named in memory of Bob Smart, who served on the Goodwill Board of Directors for more than 58 years. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Corporate Visionary Award – Clarkson Construction
This award recognizes an organization that has inclusive practices, policies, and culture. This organization leads innovative practices that welcome Goodwill’s participants and promotes self-sustainability for its employees who have been marginalized. View the award winner’s profile video here.
Community Impact Award – Metropolitan Community College
This award recognizes an employer who significantly contributes to the power of work through hiring or training practices for Goodwill program participants. View the award winner’s profile video here.
About Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas
Founded in 1894, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas is a CARF-accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals of all abilities obtain jobs, essential skills training, and personal development opportunities. Recognized as an “Employer of Choice” with a GuideStar Seal of Transparency, our agency operates regional retail stores and donation centers that generate funds to support our Mission, with 88¢ of every dollar earned committed to empowering local job seekers. As a Kansas City Industrial Council (KCIC) gold medal winner, MoKan Goodwill is also recognized as a leader in sustainability, annually diverting more than 16 million pounds of donated materials to resell, reuse or recycle. In 2021, we served 4,840 individuals, providing nearly 9,000 employment services, and assisting with 811 job placements.
Learn more at www.mokangoodwill.org. To see all the good we do together, follow us on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
