Press Releases

We let the public and local news media know about Goodwill news stories through Press Releases and more frequent Media Alerts. Our most recent Press Releases are below. To join our news media list and receive our periodic Media Alerts, please email us at marketing@goodwillvalleys.com.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Media Contacts

Chelsea Moran, Director of Marketing & Communications
Email: marketing@goodwillvalleys.com

Media Kit

The Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Media Kit includes a history of both Goodwill Industries International and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. It also includes a fact sheet with interesting facts about our organization and a list of media contacts.

Interested in a story about individuals with disabilities who receive services through Goodwill programs? The National Center on Disability and Journalism provides an excellent language style guide for those journalists seeking the appropriate and accurate language to use when writing or talking about people living with disabilities.

Goodwill Industries International Contacts (National Inquiries Only)

For national media interviews, email pr@goodwill.org.

General Goodwill Information

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys serves 35 counties and 14 cities throughout Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia. Our vision to eliminate poverty is fueled by our mission of empowering individuals, strengthening families, and inspiring communities. Your donations and shopping allow Goodwill to provide skills training, job placement, and support services to help people achieve their fullest potential.

Melrose Plaza Launches Restoring Greatness Campaign

Carilion gift brings campaign halfway toward $3 million goal Roanoke, Va. (May 22, 2024) – With $1.5 million toward its $3 million goal, Melrose Plaza, a transformative project to revitalize Northwest Roanoke, publicly launched its Restoring Greatness fundraising campaign. Contributions to the capital campaign will help renovate the former Goodwill Industries of the Valleys headquarters into four distinct areas focusing on food accessibility, wellness resources, financial empowerment and adult education. The renovation will include community gathering space and local history tributes. “The Restoring Greatness Capital Campaign announces that Goodwill is fulfilling its promise to Northwest Roanoke to provide the resources needed…

Bruce Phipps Honored with Goodwill Hall of Fame Award

A tribute to the former CEO of Goodwill Industries® of the Valleys Roanoke, VA. – Bruce Phipps, the former CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, has been awarded the prestigious Goodwill Industries International Hall of Fame Award for his outstanding contributions to the Goodwill enterprise. The award ceremony took place in early March as part of the Goodwill Industries International Annual Conference of Executives. Bruce Phipps’ leadership in the Goodwill network began at Goodwill Industries of Lima in 1978. Throughout his tenure, Phipps served at Goodwill organizations in Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia. He was the founding Goodwill…

Goodwill Opens New Forest Road Store and Donation Center

New Store Features Expanded Shopping and Donation Spaces and New Signage with Familiar Faces Lynchburg, Va. – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys opened a new store location at 19325 Forest Road in Lynchburg. The new Forest store features more than 12,000 square feet of shopping space along with a convenient, covered drop-off donation center. “We are excited that the new location allows us to provide the Forest community with a larger, more convenient location for them to donate and shop,” said Richmond Vincent, President & CEO for Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “Sales from the store support our local employees…

Goodwill Relocates Program Offices in Roanoke

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys recently relocated the Roanoke Program Offices from Melrose Avenue to Thirlane Road in Roanoke. The new office, located 3601 Thirlane Road, Suite 5, NW in Roanoke, will host an open house on Thursday, February 29th from 11 am to 12 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn more about the programs and services Goodwill offers to the Roanoke Valley and take a tour of the new space. The location is open Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm to provide program services including:  Career Navigation Discovery Services Senior Community…

Commonwealth’s First Adult High School Approved by VDOE for The Excel Center

Housed at Melrose Plaza, the school will be run by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Roanoke, Va. – In a monumental step forward for Virginia adults lacking a high school diploma, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys announced approval from the Virginia Department of Education to operate the first adult high school in the Commonwealth. The Excel Center allows adults to finish high school courses in a supportive environment while simultaneously earning industry-recognized workforce credentials. More than 670,000 adults in Virginia do not have a high school diploma. Lack of a high school diploma is connected to decreased income, decreased life…

Goodwill Breaks Ground on Melrose Plaza

ROANOKE, Va. (Nov. 14, 2023) – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys celebrated the next steps in the Melrose Plaza initiative with a groundbreaking ceremony to signify the start of construction. Melrose Plaza will bring positive change to Northwest Roanoke by providing services currently lacking in the community, such as a full-service grocery store. “Investing in the Melrose Plaza project is investing in the future of the Northwest Roanoke community,” stated Richmond Vincent, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “This initiative will create a hub of needed services for learning, working, and community engagement that will empower individuals…

Goodwill Announces Construction Management Partner for Melrose Plaza

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys welcomes another new partnership for Melrose Plaza. The pre-construction and construction management partner was selected through a public Request for Proposals, and Goodwill selected Kjellstrom + Lee, a leader in construction management, for the development of Melrose Plaza, a transformative project aimed at revitalizing the Northwest part of our community. The Melrose Plaza initiative will contribute to the strength and resilience of Northwest Roanoke and is being driven by the needs of the community. Melrose Plaza will feature a full-service grocery store, retail banking center, adult high school with free childcare, and…

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys receives $15,000 from Sentara Health to Support Reentry Program & Job Starter Training Initiative

Funding supports collaborative partnership with Sentara Health Staunton, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, a social enterprise dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our communities, is pleased to announce a generous contribution of $15,000 from Sentara Health to assist with the GoodStart Reentry Program & Job Starter Training Initiative. The $15,000 donation from Sentara will be utilized by Goodwill to support the GoodStart Reentry Program & Job Starter Training Initiative. Goodwill’s reentry program provides case management services, employment and occupational skills training, and job placement to individuals reentering society after incarceration. The program leverages community resources to…

Jazz in July @ Melrose Plaza

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is hosting Jazz in July on Friday, July 14th from 6 pm – 9 pm at the Goodwill Roanoke Jobs Campus (future home of Melrose Plaza). The event will be the first of many to come and will be held outside in the parking lot at 2502 Melrose Ave, NW, Roanoke. Jazz in July is free to the public and will happen rain or shine. Goodwill asks everyone to please bring a canned food item to be donated to the Lion’s Share food pantry at St. Mark’s Church. Attendees should bring their…

Goodwill, Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board, & TAP Hosting 2023 Graduation Carnival and Summer Youth Work Programs

Roanoke, Virginia – Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board, and Total Action for Progress (TAP) are hosting a 2023 Graduation Carnival on Tuesday, June 6th from 3 pm – 6 pm at the Goodwill Parking Lot, 2502 Melrose Avenue, NW, Roanoke. The Graduation Carnival will be a fun event for graduating students from Patrick Henry and William Fleming High Schools. There will free food, haircuts, cap decorating, music, as well as community resources and employers represented. Goodwill, Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board, and TAP are also working together to offer Summer Youth Work Programs to Roanoke…